Proteas didn’t underestimate Kiwis – Ingram

Colin Ingram in action against New Zealand. Picture: Schalk van Zuydam/AP

Ragged and undisciplined doesn’t often describe a Proteas performance.

But after five run-outs and a 27-run defeat which saw them lose the second One Day International against New Zealand in Kimberley, it is an apt description.

Achieving an elegant 76 and sharing in a 129-run partnership with Graeme Smith, Colin Ingram said the team never underestimated New Zealand even though they could not go the five days in the Test series.

“We’ve run into them plenty of times in the past and they have always been a competitive unit, so it hasn’t been an underestimation,” Ingram said.

“It is a quite a tough one to swallow but I don’t have many words for what went wrong. There were a few things that were out of our control. The ball did not bounce our way. We threw away a good position.”

On a personal level, Ingram said he knew the importance of doing well while the big guns were not in the picture.

“Any game for the country is a massive bonus for me and it adds massive pride to my performance. Anywhere I can add value is what I’m looking to do,” Ingram said.

“You never know when there are injuries so I just look to keep contributing and just enjoy the opportunities that I do get.”