Bavuma urges Proteas Women to focus on execution ahead of England semi-final

Proteas Men’s captain Temba Bavuma has thrown his full support behind the national women’s team as they prepare for their ICC Women’s World Cup semi-final against England on Wednesday.

The match will be played at the Barsapara Stadium, with the first ball set for 11.30am (SAST). It will be broadcast live on SuperSport’s SS Cricket and SS GrandStand channels.

Victory for the Proteas Women would secure them a first-ever place in a World Cup final — a milestone that Bavuma believes could leave a lasting mark on South African sport.

‘We’ll be right behind them’

“I’m super proud. I think the ladies have had a really good run to get to this stage of the tournament — the knockout stages,” Bavuma said. “Now it’s the business end of the campaign, where everything counts. I’m sure they’ll go into the game with a lot of confidence.”

“Yes, they had a tough encounter with England earlier on, but that means nothing when it comes to the playoffs.”

“We’ll be supporting them all the way, Laura Wolvaardt and the rest of the team. Hopefully, they’ll be able to perform close to their best come Wednesday.”

Seeking redemption and a place in history

The Proteas Women have endured a rollercoaster journey to reach the semi-finals, mixing brilliant all-round performances with two heavy defeats — including losses to England in the tournament opener and to Australia in their final group game.

England also has a history of ending South Africa’s World Cup dreams, having eliminated the team in a previous edition of the tournament.

Still, Bavuma believes this is a defining opportunity. “I think it would add so much to South Africa’s story, both from a cricketing and sporting point of view,” he said. “As a country, we’ve really been doing well, and seeing the women reach that point would only strengthen our legacy.”

“It would show again that we are truly champions of the world. There’s no pressure on the ladies; we’ll be right behind them, supporting them all the way. We just want them to be part of history.”

Praise for Wolvaardt’s leadership

Bavuma also praised captain Laura Wolvaardt for her consistent performances at the top of the order.

“Laura Wolvaardt has been incredible. She’s winning games and giving us memories of Marizanne Kapp from when we were growing up,” he said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for her, and she’s handled it really well at the top.”

“It always helps when the captain is leading from the front. There are also other players who’ve stepped up and made big contributions.”

Focus and execution the key

Drawing on his own leadership experience, Bavuma shared advice on how to handle the pressure of a knockout match.

“I think in a World Cup campaign, you’re never going to be at your best all the time — there’s almost a science to losing, and sometimes that makes sense,” he said. “From a captain’s point of view, the key is motivating the players to perform as close to their best as possible.”

“By now, everyone knows their role within the team, and it’s about executing that to the best of their ability, regardless of the opponent or the occasion.”

“Nothing really changes from that perspective; you don’t want to start doing things differently.”

Catch the mouthwatering semi-final between England and the Protea’s live on SuperSport on Wednesday, October 29 at 11.30am.