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Batting and fielding tweaks needed if Proteas Women are to lift World Cup trophy in UAE

Batting and fielding tweaks needed if Proteas Women are to lift World Cup trophy in UAE
Scotland's Rachel Slater reacts as Laura Wolvaardt (c) of South Africa looks on Scotland Women v South Africa Women, ICC Women's T20 World Cup,Dubai International Stadium, Dubai, UAE - 09 Oct 2024.(Photo: Avijit Das/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock)
Yanga Sibembe
By Yanga Sibembe
10 Oct 2024
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The South Africans’ batting and fielding have been talking points, despite two wins from three matches in the United Arab Emirates.

At the ongoing T20 World Cup, the Proteas Women have put up contrasting performances. From the three matches they have played, in two the team has shown why it reached the final at last year’s World Cup on home soil.

In their opening match, they bamboozled former T20 world champions West Indies with a 10-wicket victory. 

Most recently, they comfortably beat tournament debutants Scotland by 80 runs at the Dubai International Stadium. This after posting the highest batting total (166) at the United Arab Emirates-hosted tournament to date.

Sandwiched between those two emphatic victories is a defeat to old foes England. 

It was the third time that the two sides had clashed at the T20 World Cup, with the South Africans enjoying the psychological advantage after two previous victories over the English at the global showpiece. One of those came in the semifinals of the 2023 edition.

Weaknesses exposed


However, this time around it was the English who won the battle as their bowling attack took advantage of the spin-friendly conditions to expose weaknesses in South Africa’s batting lineup and restrict it to a modest 126 for six.

South Africa’s world-class bowling unit might have rescued a result, were it not for some erratic fielding. As Proteas captain Laura Wolvaardt stated after that defeat: “We were 10 to 20 runs short. Obviously, we did not take our chances in the field either.”

Nonkululeko Mlaba of South Africa celebrates the wicket of Sarah Bryce of Scotland at the ICC Women's T20 Cricket World Cup. (Photo: Avijit Das / ZUMA Press Wire / Shutterstock)



“The dropped chances were crucial. Two of them came from me, which is not ideal. In these competitions the best fielding side has a great chance of making it very far. It’s something we’ll have to look at. It’s not that we did not practice it coming here, but it’s very frustrating when it happens in the game,” Wolvaardt said.

When they eased past Scotland on Wednesday, this aspect of the Proteas’ game drastically improved as the team took a few stunning catches on their way to victory over the minnows. 

As Wolvaardt pointed out, if they are to reach a second consecutive World Cup final, this is an aspect of their game at which they must consistently excel.

Batting issues


Another area of concern is the batting line-up. Over the past year, the Proteas have relied heavily on openers Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits for runs, with superstar all-rounder Marizanne Kapp chipping in as well. When that trio has faltered, South Africa have struggled to post competitive scores.

It is an area that the team will have to address if they are to win their maiden World Cup, which is what they are targeting in the United Arab Emirates, and especially because they possess the required tools.

Scotland's Rachel Slater reacts as Laura Wolvaardt of South Africa looks on at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in Dubai. (Photo: Avijit Das / ZUMA Press Wire / Shutterstock)



Players such as Suné Luus, Chloe Tryon and Nadine de Klerk are quality all-rounders on their day. However, in recent months they have struggled with the bat, exposing South Africa’s middle order. Arresting this torrid form will be essential for the Proteas henceforth.  

One aspect in which the South Africans can take pride is their bowling. Almost everyone has played their part with the ball, even the part-timers.

Spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba (who is among the tournament’s top wicket-takers after picking up eight scalps in three matches) has been the pick of the bowlers. Kapp recently reserved special praise for the bowler.

“Looking at the lead-up to this World Cup she was not at her best, and she knew that. Then she gets to the World Cup and somehow finds her best. So, it’s a good sign for us,” Kapp said.

“Hopefully she can continue like that for the next couple of games. But yeah, very proud of her for turning things around so quickly.”

Crucial in frustrating opposition batters


Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka have also led from the front with the ball. Although not taking as many wickets as Mlaba, the pair of experienced quicks have been crucial in frustrating opposition batters.

“We are probably one of the few teams that have quite a few seam bowlers within our bowling line-up. The seamers have done well. With Marizanne and Ayabonga in the powerplay, they’ve been brilliant,” said medium-pacer De Klerk.

“A lot of teams went the other way with bowling a lot of spin, where we probably still bowl 12 or 15 overs of seam on spin-friendly conditions. But our seamers have done really well.”

With their emphatic victories over the West Indies and Scotland, the Proteas have boosted their chances of making the semifinals. They possess a healthy net run rate of 1.317, which may prove to be decisive at the end of the group phase.

They next face Bangladesh on Saturday, 12 October 2024. Another convincing win in that match will see them put one foot in the last four. DM

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