Proteas Women target redemption against England despite harsh Australia defeat
Proteas Women wicket-keeper Sinalo Jafta noted that the team would be working closely with batting coach Baakier Abrahams before Wednesday’s semi-final against England in Guwahati to prepare themselves for the spin threat that England poses.
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The Proteas Women’s team have no intention of abandoning their aggressive approach, even after a humbling loss to Australia in Indore on Saturday exposed their ongoing struggles against spin bowling.
IOL Sports correspondent Zaahier Adams reports that the seven-wicket defeat brought an abrupt halt to their momentum and highlighted a pattern that has troubled South Africa throughout the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup.
Their right-hand heavy batting line-up has often battled against bowlers who turn the ball away, with Australia’s leg-spinner Alana King and England’s left-arm spinner Linsey Smith both inflicting serious damage in earlier matches.
With no left-handed top-order batters to offer variation, the Proteas have had to rely on technical adjustments and focused preparation against spin. Wicket-keeper Sinalo Jafta noted that the team would be working closely with batting coach Baakier Abrahams before Wednesday’s semi-final against England in Guwahati.
Jafta said King was an intelligent bowler who had known exactly where to land the ball, and that she deserved credit for bowling superbly. She added that the defeat presented the team with a valuable opportunity to reflect and identify where things went wrong ahead of the play-offs.
Refusing to back down
Despite their setbacks, the Proteas remain committed to the bold batting strategy that carried them through five consecutive wins earlier in the tournament — including their first-ever 300-plus total at a World Cup.
Jafta said the loss to Australia had hurt, but that one bad day did not define the squad. She explained that the team would continue to focus on playing positive cricket and assessing conditions carefully, with several players capable of stepping up when needed.
She said the group had already faced England once, and although that match did not go to plan, the team now knew exactly what to expect. Jafta added that she personally aimed to play positive cricket, following coach Mandla Mashimbyi’s instruction to go “100% or nothing”.