England coach Ashley Giles was left feeling mixed emotions after the three-run World Twenty20 defeat to South Africa.
The loss extinguished Giles’ team’s hopes of reaching the last four of the competition.
Yet the man tasked with overseeing England’s charge could take solace from watching his men almost complete a second successive record chase.
Having overhauled 190 versus Sri Lanka, Stuart Broad’s side nearly got to the required 197 against the Proteas.
“It’s pure frustration to play so positively with the bat in the three games and come up short,” he said.
“Some of the things we've been looking to do since Australia - not losing wickets up front, getting a base, expressing ourselves...we've done.
“But there were areas we need to improve - certainly in the field and with the ball at times.
“You can't pull the wool over anyone's eyes: we've just been knocked out the World Cup. But there were positives, quite a few of them.
“The group as a whole has worked very hard and maintained a good spirit, they've run headlong into these games and Sri Lanka are a fantastic outfit, so to win that game was a highlight.
“I'm disappointed for the guys because they have worked hard. I can't knock the effort.”
The target now is to end the tournament on a high, with a game against Netherlands – who have impressed in patches – tomorrow rounding off their campaign.
"It does represent a banana skin, as it has to a couple of the other teams - or very close to that," Giles said.
"South Africa probably should have lost that game; I couldn't quite understand what the Dutch were doing at the back end, and they gave New Zealand a good run as well.
"I made it very clear last night as we left the ground that we must prepare for this game as we would have if we'd beaten South Africa.
"It's a World Cup game, we're playing for England and we need to win the match. Whether we're in the competition or out of it, winning games of cricket is important."