Aussies and India lay down World Cup marker but Proteas not far behind, says Abrahams

The Proteas Women have been provided with a stark reminder of the challenge they face at the upcoming ICC World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

Mandla Mashimbyi’s team may have already clinched the on-going series against Pakistan 2-0 ahead of tomorrow’s final ODI, and his team’s top-order batters, particularly Tazmin Brits with successive centuries, are in fine form, but there is still plenty of work to do if they are to go head-to-head with the heavyweights of the women’s game.

Hosts India and Australia have laid down an emphatic statement during their thrilling ODI series, which culminated in a record-breaking decider in Delhi on Saturday.

Defending world champions Australia ultimately triumphed by 43 runs after equalling their highest-ever ODI score of 412 – which they famously made back at the 1997 World Cup, and which included Aussie legend Belinda Clarke’s 229 out in Mumbai. 

World No 1 ODI batter Beth Mooney’s 138 off just 75 balls (23x4, 1x6) was the cornerstone of the carnage at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium.

It was the perfect response after the Aussies suffered their heaviest ODI defeat by 109 runs in the previous match against India.

The hosts never shirked the challenge of chasing down a record target, and once again spearheaded by the Proteas’ nemesis Smriti Mandhana, who struck 125 off 63 balls (17x4, 5x6) to lift India to a valiant 363.

Mandhana’s century came off just 50 balls, which was the second fastest ever in Women’s ODI’s. It was also the second time the elegant left-hander had struck successive centuries after she scored two against the Proteas last year.

The match sum total 781 runs is also a world record aggregate for a Women’s ODI, which included another record 111 boundaries (99x4, 12x6), eclipsing the 630 between India and the Proteas last year.

Mooney certainly laid down the challenge to any opposition looking to dethrone the six-times champions at the upcoming World Cup.

“There is absolutely no ceiling for this group,” she said. “We can really put a marker out there for this World Cup.

“To win World Cups, you have to be the most adaptable team, and the most composed team, and we showed that."

Proteas batting coach Baakier Abrahams, though, feels that they are not too far behind, judging by their recent performances both here in Pakistan and India last year.

"I think seeing that game unfold yesterday (Saturday) is good for the women's game. It just shows it's a nice little something for us to work towards," Abrahams said.

"I just think obviously from our side, from a batting unit point of view, we're trying to push the boat out as far as we can. We're also trying to sort of almost lead the standards in terms of batting and shaping women's cricket

"I mean, you need still the good conditions, you need the small boundaries, but I think we're tracking in the right direction from our own batting unit and how we want to go about our business."

Monday's third ODI against Pakistan (start 12:30pm) might be a dead-rubber, but Abrahams stated the Proteas are unlikely to alter too far from the "coaches' initial strategy" and that it remains an opportunity to complete a 3-0 clean sweep over Pakistan leading into the World Cup.