The Proteas Women’s historic victory over their Australian counterparts in Canberra at the weekend is an achievement that the visitors will be looking to draw inspiration from during Tuesday’s series-deciding third T20I in Hobart.
Australia have won the toss and elected to bowl first in the third T20I against the Proteas Women at the Bellerive Oval.
Despite having proved that they can beat Australia, the South Africans will still need to put all the excitement aside and focus on the task at hand this morning – and potentially become the first Proteas team to return home with a series victory against the most successful team in women’s cricket.
As a result, captain Laura Wolvaardt wants her team to refocus their attention on the basics of the game to stand a chance of beating their hosts at the Bellerive Oval from 10am.
“We’ve still got to go back to the basics,” said Wolvaardt.
“I know they will probably come even harder in Hobart with the series on the line. They are still the best side in the world and we still have to play some really special cricket.”
A lot is going right for the team this season and from an individual point of view. For instance, Wolvaardt (T20Is) and Nadine de Klerk (ODIs) both made it into the ICC’s teams of the year in the different formats.
De Klerk, in particular, has had a career-defining 12 months. The all-rounder only just became a regular in the side and has gone on to become the backbone of the team alongside fellow all-rounder Marizanne Kapp.
Moreover, De Klerk has been called up to be part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore franchise in the 2024 edition of the Indian-based Women’s Premier League (WPL).
Wolvaardt spoke highly of De Klerk. The captain also showered fellow opening batter Tazmin Brits with praise for showing signs of good form. The pair will be vital once again today if South Africa are to win the third T20I.
“De Klerk has been amazing for us over the past year, making the ICC ODI Team of the Year as well. She’s just been incredible,” said Wolvaardt.
“To have that seam option that can bat the way she does is really amazing. To have both her and Kappie (Kapp) in the same team is awesome. She just adds so much.
“(Brits) wan’t entirely happy with her performance in the first T20I just because of her strike rate. But cricket is a really funny game, sometimes you’re not really trying and you get off to a quick start but sometimes you can get frustrated. The freedom she played with in the second T20I was very awesome.”
With Brits firing, De Klerk high on confidence and with the experienced heads in Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka and Chloe Tryon all available and fit for today’s match, the Proteas Women look set to make history Down Under.
• The Proteas Women put up a spirited performance with the bat, posting 162/7 in their allotted 20 overs. Brits and Wolvaardt gave them a solid start, adding 54 runs for the first wicket. Brits was the aggressor, smashing 45 off 28 balls with six fours and a six.
Wolvaardt played the anchor role, scoring 38 off 37 balls. Kapp and De Klerk chipped in with some useful contributions in the middle order, scoring 24 and 23 respectively. The Australian bowlers struggled to contain the South African onslaught, with only Brown and Wareham taking two wickets each.
The Proteas Women have set a challenging target for the hosts, who will need to chase down 163 to clinch the series.
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