Proteas put their Women’s T20 World Cup campaign back on track with Scotland thrashing

Laura Wolvaardt of South Africa playing a shot during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup match between South Africa and Scotland at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on October 09, 2024 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Isuru Sameera/Gallo Images)

By Keanan Hemmonsbey

9 Oct 2024

South Africa 166 for 5 (Kapp 43, Brits 43, Carter 1-17) beat Scotland 86 (Fraser 14, Mlaba 3-12, de Klerk 2-15) by 80 runs.

The Proteas set the highest total of the Women’s T20 World Cup so far with 166 for the loss of five wickets as they beat Scotland by 80 runs at Dubai International Stadium in the United Arab Emirates.

The Scots, who are playing at the T20 World Cup for the first time, were bowled out for just 86 in 17.5 overs, with left-arm tweaker Nonkululeko Mlaba taking three wickets for 12 runs in her four overs to become the leading wicket-taker in the tournament with eight scalps.

The platform was set with the bat, however, after skipper Laura Wolvaardt won the toss and elected to bat. She led from the front with 40 off 27 balls. Fellow opener Tazmin Brits (43 off 35) and Marizanne Kapp (43 off 24) played vital knocks in getting South Africa to a defendable total.

“We can’t ask for much more, we were excellent all round,” Wolvaardt said after the match. “It was a great first half and then followed it up with some very tight bowling as well.”

Wolvaardt’s innings also made her the leading run-scorer in the tournament and she also became the all-time leading run-scorer in T20 internationals for South Africa, passing Lizelle Lee’s total of 1,896 runs by 10.

Proteas women Laura Wolvaardt plays a shot against Scotland during their T20 World Cup match at Dubai International Stadium on 9 October 2024. (Photo: Pankaj Nangia / Gallo Images)

Bossing the batting

South Africa’s innings nearly got off to a disastrous start when Wolvaardt hit a full-toss straight to mid-off in the second over, but the simple chance was spurred by Katherine Fraser.

Making the most of the good fortune, South Africa’s openers piled on the misery for Scotland. Wolvaardt struck one big six and five fours as the team went at 10 runs an over during the powerplay.

In a twist of fate, Fraser dismissed Wolvaardt in the eighth over after the skipper nailed the ball to an outstretched Olivia Bell at cover.

No 3 Anneke Bosch’s (11 off 13) struggles with the bat continued, failing to strike at faster than a run-a-ball again as the momentum slowed down slightly.

But Kapp, coming in at four, added much-needed impetus, facing only two dot balls in her 24-ball stay at the crease. She used her feet well, skipping down the wicket as well as going deep to access every nook of the ground, striking six fours.

South Africa, though, limped to the end of their innings instead of sprinting, losing Kapp and Chloe Tryon (two off four) in the final five overs and adding only 44 runs after a solid platform was set.

Nonkululeko Mlaba of South Africa celebrates the wicket of Katherine Fraser of Scotland. (Photo: Pankaj Nangia / Gallo Images)

Tazmin Brits plays a shot during the Proteas’ T20 World Cup match against Scotland. (Photo: Isuru Sameera / Gallo Images)

Skipper Laura Wolvaardt in action during South Africa’s match against Scotland in Dubai. (Photo: Isuru Sameera / Gallo Images)

Mlaba magic

Scotland were never in the chase as they lost two wickets in the opening four overs and then lost a wicket every over from the sixth to the ninth as they found themselves on 46 for six at the end of the ninth.

Both Bryce sisters, Kathryn and Sarah, fell the same way, a leading edge off the bowling of Tryon, landing comfortably in the hands of the left-arm orthodox bowler.

No 4 Ailsa Lister (12 off 13) was the only batter in the top seven to reach double digits, but she was cleaned up by the dangerous Mlaba soon after.

The left-arm orthodox then bowled Darcey Carter around her legs with the first ball of her next over to sit on a hat-trick for the second time at this year’s T20 World Cup.

Read more: Proteas Women outmatched by England’s spin bowling and solid batting in UAE, falling by seven wickets

It wasn’t to be again, but she did eventually pick up her third wicket, that of Fraser neatly pouched at point by Bosch who dove forward nimbly.

Sune Luus and Annerie Dercksen also picked up wickets in the single over each of them bowled while Nadine de Klerk took two with her clever change-ups. Ayabonga Khaka collected the other one, as she remarkably conceded only eight runs in her three overs.

Kapp was the only bowler to not tick over the wickets column, but the all-rounder still collected the player of the match award for an incredible batting performance.

South Africa are now at the summit of group B with four points after three matches and a healthy net run rate of 1.53, better than England and West Indies, who have only played two matches so far.

South Africa’s final group-stage match is against Bangladesh at the same venue on Friday, which is a must-win, regardless of other results, to reach the semifinals. DM

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Bossing the batting

Mlaba magic