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Number one ranking is irrelevant, all I care about is contributing: Shamsi

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Last updated on 30 Oct 2021 | 02:50 PM
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Number one ranking is irrelevant, all I care about is contributing: Shamsi

The wrist-spinner took 3/17 against Sri Lanka in Sharjah to set-up victory for South Africa

South Africa’s Tabraiz Shamsi, whose sensational spell of 3/17 earned him the Man of the Match award and helped the Proteas register a crucial four-wicket win versus Sri Lanka, insisted that he is proud to be a part of ‘one of the finest bowling attacks in the world’ and said that he cares only about performances, and not the number one ranking.

Shamsi, brought into the attack in the midst of a good period for Sri Lanka, claimed the crucial wickets of Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Avishka Fernando in consecutive overs to blow the Lankan innings wide open. He then dismissed the dangerous Wanindu Hasaranga in the final over, and his spell set the tone for the Proteas, who restricted Sri Lanka to 142 before chasing the target down in the final over.

Speaking after the game, the left-arm wrist-spinner described his showing on Saturday as a special moment.

“My first Man of the Match trophy in the World Cup, so it's a special moment, but not to take anything away from Nortje, Markram, Miller and Rabada, they played their parts really well,” Shamsi said after the game.

“I haven't had a great number of chances previously, but I kept working hard, was looking to do something special, try and win games for the country. 

“The number one rank doesn't really matter for me,  I'm just glad that I am bowling well, we have one of the finest bowling attacks in the world and I'm just happy to be part of it.”

With four wickets, Shamsi is now the third-highest wicket-taker for the Proteas in this World Cup, behind Anrich Nortje (5) and Dwaine Pretorius (6).

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