Proteas look for strong start against unpredictable West Indies in Women’s T20 World Cup opener

Seshnie Naidu of Team South Africa in action at the women’s cricket final at the Achimoto Cricket Oval at the 13th African Games on 13 March 2024 in Accra, Ghana. (Photo Roger Sedres / Gallo Images)

By Keanan Hemmonsbey

3 Oct 2024

Proteas Women skipper Laura Wolvaardt is wary of the batting threat West Indies pose in the first match of the T20 World Cup.

The Proteas will not take their Caribbean opponents lightly when they face the West Indies in the Women’s T20 World Cup opening match on Friday in Dubai.

West Indies have historically had the rub of the green over South Africa in T20I cricket, winning 14 of their 22 previous encounters. That has begun to shift in recent years with their last victory over the Proteas Women coming back in 2021.

proteas women wolvaardt Laura Wolvaardt of South Africa celebrates a century in the Women’s T20I match against Sri Lanka at Willowmoore Park in Benoni on 27 March 2024. (Photo: Sydney Seshibedi / Gallo Images / Getty Images)

Laura Wolvaardt and her charges, though, are aware of the threat the Caribbean side pose, particularly with the return of explosive Deandra Dottin, who retired from international cricket in 2022.

“[West Indies] is definitely not a team we can take lightly,” Wolvaardt said. “You never really know what you’re going to get with the West Indies.

proteas women west indies dottin Deandra Dottin of West Indies. (Photo: Nathan Stirk / Getty Images)

“They can chase down 250 in a T20 — when Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin are on song.

“We’re definitely going to have to play our best cricket.”

West Indies skipper Matthews is another player Wolvaardt identified as a possible threat.

“Hayley Matthews is probably in the best form that she has been in a long time … she’s the main wicket, definitely,” Wolvaardt said.

“If we can find a way to get her out early or keep her quiet that will be good for us.”

The team will also look for a better start than in 2023, where despite making the final they lost the opening match of the tournament to Sri Lanka by three runs.

Learning on the job

Wolvaardt, who was the leading run-scorer in last year’s T20 World Cup at home, is taking on more responsibility this time around — captaining the side in her first major tournament.

The 25-year-old took over from Suné Luus who stepped down after the tournament in which the Proteas became the first senior national cricket side to make the final of a Cricket World Cup. Luus, though, has been a shoulder to lean on for the new skipper.

“At the last World Cup, I remember speaking to [Luus] and she said there was a lot of extra stuff that she had to do off the field and I didn’t really believe her, but I’ve seen it first-hand now,” Wolvaardt said.

“It’s been a lot this week. A lot of interviews and appearances and a lot less free time than I’m used to heading into a competition.

“It comes with the job. It’s just going to be a very busy two or three weeks and if I can give all my focus in this time then I can have some time off [after].

“It’s good to have senior players around me as well to help – and a great coaching staff and management too – so I’m not all alone in the meetings.”

Spin options

South Africa have identified spin bowling as playing a big role on the traditionally slower pitches in the United Arab Emirates.

Their options in that department have expanded dramatically over the past few months. Chloe Tryon and Nonkululeko Mlaba have been the team’s main options over the past few seasons, but offer little variety given that they are both left-arm orthodox.

But in recent matches, Luus has started bowling again – this time off-spin and not the leg-spin that she bowled at the beginning of her career – while 18-year-old leg-spinner Seshnie Naidu has made the World Cup squad.

proteas women Seshnie Naidu Seshnie Naidu of Team South Africa in action at the women’s cricket final at the Achimoto Cricket Oval at the 13th African Games on 13 March 2024 in Accra, Ghana. (Photo Roger Sedres / Gallo Images)

“To have that off-spinner in the top four or five just gives us that different dynamic if there’s left-handers which helps a bit with match-ups,” Wolvaardt said about Luus rolling over her arm again.

“Previously, we’ve just had the two left-armers which makes it difficult if there’s two left-handed batters in because it bowls into their arc.

“Seshnie had a good run in Pakistan as well. That was great exposure for her. Now we have quite a few spin options to choose from, which is good.”

South Africa’s batting has also been strengthened by the emergence of Annerie Dercksen who has proven to be a real power-hitter down the order.

She recently struck 44 not out off 23 deliveries against Pakistan, which included six fours and two sixes.

This will take some load off Tryon, who for a long time has been the team’s main six-hitter.

Does the formidable composition and depth of the Proteas side mean they can be a threat deep into the World Cup? Wolvaardt is confident.

“I definitely think so,” the skipper said. “We’re a very talented group of players.

“We’ve had a few ups and downs in recent times but I like to think we’ve put in a lot of good, hard work and have a lot of really clear plans heading into this World Cup.

“Hopefully we’re peaking at the right time and if we all play our best cricket we stand a really good chance.”

Bangladesh, Scotland and England round out South Africa’s group. DM

The first ball of South Africa’s opening T20 World Cup match against West Indies will be bowled at noon on 4 October.

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South Africa

Learning on the job

Spin options