Aiden Markram was an elated captain as South Africa outclassed Afghanistan by nine wickets in the first semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2024 to qualify for their first-ever final in the history of the tournament.

However, Markram acknowledged the difficulty on playing this knockout fixture at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad, saying that he did not wish to play another game on this field.

The pitch offered a lot of seam movement, which South African pacers exploited brilliantly to bowl out Afghanistan for a mere 56 in 11.5 overs.

"If we reflect back on this wicket, we'll probably be pretty happy that we're not playing here again. T20 cricket as a whole, you want entertainment," said Markram in the post-match presser.

Markram was glad that his team managed to emerge victorious on such a difficult pitch.

"The wickets that we've had throughout the competition have been pretty challenging. It's hard to tell that a wicket is not good because it can't just always be a batter's game.

"Having said that, still taking the positives we can. Wickets are tough. So, finding a way to win is probably the most important thing."

The Proteas will now face either India or England in the title clash in Barbados on Saturday (June 29).

"We've been doing it for most of our careers, you jump from venue to venue where conditions are quite different. So, it's again just adapting and playing the pitch and the game that's in front of you.

"We'll try to find ways to always take wickets with the ball and from a batting point of view try to get to a score that's defendable. Both teams have to play on the same wicket," he remarked.

For now though, Aiden Markram wants to relish the success of making it to the T20 World Cup final.

"The bits that we're realising now, it's obviously a really nice feeling. This team's been together for a long time now as a white ball group, and it's nice for us to get to a final.

"We feel and believe that we can compete with the best in the world and we can win trophies. It's nice for us to now have that opportunity."

The South African skipper stated that winning close games in the Super 8s and group stages gave them more confidence.

"You do get belief from winning close games and potentially winning games that you thought you weren't going to win.

"It does a lot for your changing room vibe. So, we'll take a little bit of confidence from that and see if we can put it to any use in the final," he said.

South Africa have been at the receiving end of close defeats in the knockouts over the year, but Markram maintained that the past was not discussed in the present team's locker room.

"We haven't spoken about it to be honest. I think it's a personal and individual motivation that you get to a final; to earn the opportunity to lift the trophy.

"So, if you reflect back, we couldn't get over the line in that semifinal (in the 50-over World Cup against Australia) and you look at tonight, a few things went our way. We managed to win the game and we found ourselves in the final."

The 29-year-old lauded his bowlers for bundling Afghanistan out for a paltry total, which turned the semi-final into a lopsided affair.

"The bowlers, the whole competition, they've been really good. Probably saving the batters on certain occasions. So, you have to give a lot of appreciation towards them.”

Ten years ago, Aiden Markram had guided South Africa to the Under-19 World Cup title win, but he wasn't really counting on that to help him this time.

"It's a really long time ago and my memory is not great, but you get a little bit of confidence and belief knowing you have done it on a certain level before. There are similar pressures that you have to deal with being in a final," he added.

Markram also acknowledged Afghanistan's outstanding performance in this tournament.

"It's really cool to see. They have some of the best (players) in the world at the moment. So, they're really on a good track. Making a semifinal for them is obviously massive. I think they've inspired a lot of people back at home.

"I've seen some pictures that inspire us as well to try and make that difference to people back at home. I'm sure it's not going to be the end of them making knockout cricket," he concluded.

(With PTI Inputs)