Proteas Women Final T20 Warm-Up Defeat Against India – Khaka Fifer heroic wasted. In the final warm-up match before the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, the South African Proteas women’s cricket team faced a tough defeat at the hands of India, despite Ayabonga Khaka’s stellar bowling performance. The game, held in Dubai on Tuesday evening, saw the Proteas fall short by 28 runs after India posted a total of 144/7 in their 20 overs. Khaka was the star performer for South Africa, securing a remarkable five-wicket haul, but her efforts were ultimately not enough to prevent the Proteas from losing their final warm-up match.
Match Overview
The Proteas Women won the toss and elected to bowl first, giving Khaka the opportunity to shine right from the beginning. India’s innings started shakily as Khaka made an immediate impact, dismissing key players Shafali Verma and Harmanpreet Kaur within the first two overs. By the end of the powerplay, India was reeling at 29/2, a testament to the disciplined bowling attack led by Khaka. However, India managed to rebuild their innings, thanks to crucial contributions from Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, and Deepti Sharma, which helped them reach a competitive score of 144/7.
The South African chase struggled to gain momentum, and despite a determined effort from batters like Laura Wolvaardt, Chloé Tryon, and Annerie Dercksen, they could only muster 116/6 in their 20 overs. The disciplined Indian bowling attack, spearheaded by Asha Sobhana, who took two wickets for 21 runs, played a pivotal role in India’s victory.
India’s Innings: Khaka’s Early Strikes
South Africa opted to bowl first, and their decision appeared to pay off when Ayabonga Khaka delivered an inspired performance with the ball. Khaka’s first wicket came in her opening over, when she dismissed the dangerous Shafali Verma for a duck, setting the tone for South Africa’s bowling dominance in the early overs. In her next over, Khaka removed Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur for just 10 runs, leaving India at a precarious position of 29/2 at the end of the powerplay.
At this point, India’s innings looked in jeopardy, but the duo of Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues managed to steady the ship. They added 40 valuable runs for the third wicket before Mandhana was dismissed by Nonkululeko Mlaba, who managed to get the crucial breakthrough in the 10th over. Mandhana’s departure left India at 63/3, but the team had already laid a strong foundation to build upon.
Shortly after the drinks break, South Africa struck again. All-rounder Annerie Dercksen, known for her accurate bowling, managed to dismiss Rodrigues with the help of a spectacular catch by Tazmin Brits in the deep. Rodrigues had been in good form, scoring 30 runs, and her wicket further dented India’s progress.
India Middle-Order Recovery
Despite the early setbacks, India found heroes in Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma, who combined for a crucial 70-run partnership that helped India cross the 100-run mark. Ghosh, who top-scored for India with 36 runs off 25 balls, played an aggressive knock that included boundaries at critical junctures, while Deepti Sharma remained calm and composed throughout her innings, finishing unbeaten on 35.
The Ghosh-Sharma partnership was pivotal in India’s recovery, taking them to 137/4 before the final over of the innings, which once again saw Khaka making an impact. The South African pacer delivered a sensational last over, dismissing Ghosh, Pooja Vastrakar, and Shreyanka Patil in the space of four balls, completing her five-wicket haul. This effort limited India to 144/7, which, while competitive, seemed within South Africa’s reach at the time.
South Africa Response
Chasing 145 for victory, South Africa’s top-order batters found it difficult to get going against a disciplined Indian bowling attack. Openers Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits struggled to find the gaps early on, as India’s bowlers kept things tight. However, the pair managed to put on 31 runs during the first six overs, with Brits taking the lead in scoring.
Just when the South African innings seemed to be settling, Asha Sobhana struck, dismissing Brits for 22 in the seventh over. This proved to be a major blow for South Africa, as Wolvaardt, despite her best efforts, could not maintain the required run rate. Wolvaardt’s patient knock of 29 came to an end when she was dismissed by Deepti Sharma in the 12th over, leaving South Africa in a precarious position at 66/3.
The dismissal of Wolvaardt triggered a mini-collapse, as South Africa lost quick wickets in the middle order. Anneke Bosch (3) and Suné Luus (3) were dismissed cheaply, and the Proteas soon found themselves at 66/4 after 12 overs, struggling to keep up with the required run rate.
Late Resurgence by Tryon and Dercksen
Despite the loss of wickets, South Africa still had some hope with big-hitters like Chloé Tryon and Annerie Dercksen at the crease. Tryon, known for her ability to clear the boundary, attempted to turn things around with a quickfire 24, while Dercksen remained unbeaten on 21. The pair added 40 runs for the sixth wicket, but it proved to be too little too late, as India’s bowlers maintained their stranglehold on the game.
Tryon’s dismissal in the 18th over, followed by disciplined bowling from Asha Sobhana and Deepti Sharma, sealed the game for India. South Africa ended their innings on 116/6, falling short of the target by 28 runs.
Key Highlights of the Match
- Ayabonga Khaka’s Five-Wicket Haul: Khaka was the standout performer for South Africa, picking up five wickets for just 25 runs. Her lethal bowling at both the start and the end of India’s innings was a major highlight of the match, and her efforts helped restrict India to a manageable total.
- Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma’s Partnership: The 70-run partnership between Ghosh and Sharma was the cornerstone of India’s innings. Ghosh’s aggressive approach and Sharma’s steady hand ensured that India had a competitive total on the board.
- Disciplined Indian Bowling: India’s bowlers, led by Asha Sobhana and Deepti Sharma, kept things tight throughout South Africa’s innings. Sobhana’s figures of 2/21 were crucial in breaking key partnerships and slowing down South Africa’s run chase.
- South Africa’s Struggles with the Bat: South Africa’s top order failed to provide the necessary platform for a successful chase. Despite a promising start from Brits and Wolvaardt, the middle order collapsed under pressure, leaving too much for the lower-order batters to do.
India Winning Streak Continues
This victory was India’s second consecutive win in the warm-up matches, having previously defeated the West Indies by 20 runs. The Indian team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, looked in good form heading into the T20 World Cup, with both their batting and bowling units firing in unison.
Proteas Women Fixtures for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024
Following their warm-up matches, South Africa is set to begin their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup campaign with a series of challenging fixtures:
- Friday, 04 October: South Africa vs. West Indies at Dubai International Cricket Stadium
- Monday, 07 October: England vs. South Africa at Sharjah Cricket Stadium
- Wednesday, 09 October: South Africa vs. Scotland at Dubai International Cricket Stadium
- Saturday, 12 October: Bangladesh vs. South Africa at Dubai International Cricket Stadium
The tournament’s semi-finals will be held on 17 and 18 October, with the final scheduled for 20 October at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Proteas Women Squad for the T20 World Cup
The South African squad for the T20 World Cup is led by captain Laura Wolvaardt and includes several key players like Ayabonga Khaka, Marizanne Kapp, and Chloé Tryon. The squad also features rising stars like Mieke de Ridder and Annerie Dercksen, who will be looking to make an impact on the world stage.
Conclusion
While South Africa’s defeat to India in their final warm-up match was a setback, the team will take confidence from Ayabonga Khaka’s outstanding performance and look to bounce back in the tournament proper. With a strong squad and a series of crucial fixtures ahead, the Proteas Women will be hoping to make their mark at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. India, on the other hand, will be buoyed by their warm-up performances and will aim to carry their winning momentum into the tournament as they bid for the coveted trophy.
