Wolvaardt Proteas Nervously Await. In their final group match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, South Africa’s Proteas Women secured a commanding seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh at the Dubai International Stadium. While the win placed them temporarily atop Group B, the Proteas are now left with an anxious wait as other results will determine their fate in the competition. Captain Laura Wolvaardt and her team will be keeping a close eye on the crucial fixture between England and West Indies, which will ultimately decide whether the Proteas progress to the semi-finals or face an early exit from the tournament.
Proteas Objective in the Group Stage
The Proteas entered their last Group B match with two clear objectives: to win and to improve their net run rate. While they succeeded in achieving the first, their inability to chase down the target in a more decisive manner has placed their future in the hands of other teams. Their net run rate, which was 1.53 before the game, slipped to 1.38 after the match, adding extra pressure on them. Given that England and the West Indies still had matches to play, South Africa’s semi-final hopes now hinge on those results.
A Solid Start but Missed Opportunities
The match itself was a tale of mixed emotions for the South African team. Having won the toss, Bangladesh elected to bat first, and the Proteas bowlers quickly made an impact. Marizanne Kapp, renowned for her precision and control, struck early, dismissing opener Dilara Akter for a second-ball duck. Kapp’s excellent figures of 1/10 in four overs, combined with disciplined spells from other bowlers, helped restrict Bangladesh to a modest total of 106/3.
Despite the early success, the Proteas were not as clinical as they would have liked, particularly when it came to controlling the flow of runs in the middle and death overs. Ayabonga Khaka and Nadine de Klerk both struggled with consistency, conceding 53 runs in seven overs combined. A significant concern was the number of extras the team gave away, including 11 wides—an issue that had surfaced in their previous match against Scotland as well.
The standout bowler for the Proteas was undoubtedly Nonkululeko Mlaba, who continued her impressive form in the tournament by picking up another crucial wicket. Mlaba’s tally of wickets reached nine by the end of the group stage, making her one of the top performers in the competition. Her ability to stifle the opposition with tight, accurate spin bowling proved invaluable once again.
Bangladesh Innings
Bangladesh found the going tough on a pitch that did not offer much for shot-making. Their innings was characterized by slow, gritty partnerships rather than any explosive batting. After the early dismissal of Akter, Sobhana Mostary (38) and Shathi Rani (19) worked hard to rebuild the innings, putting together a 35-run partnership for the second wicket. However, South Africa’s bowlers continued to apply pressure, with Annerie Dercksen breaking through by dismissing Rani just as Bangladesh seemed to gain some momentum.
The captain Nigar Sultana (32*) led the charge in the final overs, but even her efforts, alongside Mostary’s, could not push the score beyond 106/3. The Bangladesh team managed to add 23 runs in the final two overs, a small boost to their total, but it never felt like a competitive score on a ground like Dubai’s.
South Africa Run Chase
Chasing a target of 107, South Africa’s innings started steadily but lacked the aggression needed to make a statement in terms of net run rate. The opening pair of Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits took the score to 23/0 before Wolvaardt fell for 7, attempting an ambitious shot off the bowling of Fahima Khatun, only to be stumped by Nigar Sultana.
Wolvaardt’s early departure brought Anneke Bosch to the crease, and together with Brits, they forged a critical second-wicket partnership of 53 runs. However, both batters found it challenging to break free from Bangladesh’s disciplined bowling attack, particularly on a pitch that made timing difficult. Brits, who was later named Player of the Match, struggled to find the boundaries, eventually scoring 42 off 41 balls.
Despite her struggles, Brits’ innings was crucial in anchoring the chase. She admitted that the slow nature of the pitch made it difficult to accelerate. “It was a very difficult wicket to bat on. They bowled so slowly, which was the right thing to do on that pitch, and I just kept hitting it to fielders,” said Brits. Bosch, who scored 25 off 25 balls, also found it difficult to up the scoring rate, resulting in the partnership consuming more deliveries than the Proteas would have preferred.
When both Brits and Bosch were dismissed in quick succession, it was left to the experienced Marizanne Kapp (13*) and Chloe Tryon (14*) to see South Africa over the line. Their calm, composed partnership ensured that the Proteas reached the target with 16 balls to spare, but the slower-than-expected chase meant their net run rate took a hit.
Concerns Over Extras and Bowling Discipline
While the Proteas were successful in limiting Bangladesh to a sub-par score, there were clear areas for improvement, particularly in terms of bowling discipline. The 11 wides conceded were a glaring issue that captain Laura Wolvaardt acknowledged after the match. In a tournament where net run rate could be the deciding factor for progression, such lapses can prove costly.
Spinner Chloe Tryon was one of the culprits, bowling four wides herself, a fact that did not go unnoticed by the team management. “The number of extras is concerning, and it’s something we need to clean up if we make it to the semi-finals,” said Wolvaardt. The Proteas have prided themselves on their disciplined bowling performances in recent times, and this slip in standards was certainly out of character.
The Road Ahead
With the victory, South Africa ended the group stage at the top of Group B with six points, having won three out of their four matches. However, their progression to the semi-finals is far from certain. Both England and the West Indies still have crucial matches to play, and a victory for the West Indies in their match against England would eliminate the Proteas based on net run rate.
Wolvaardt was candid about the team’s situation after the match, acknowledging that the fate of her side now rests in the hands of others. “It was great to get the win, but now we have to wait and see how the other results go. Hopefully, we’ve done enough to make it to the semis,” she said.
Key Performers in the Tournament So Far
The group stage of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 has seen several standout performers from the Proteas. Tazmin Brits, with 155 runs at an average of 51.66, has been the leading run-scorer for South Africa, though her strike rate of 105.44 is something she admitted she is working on. Brits has been instrumental in setting the foundation for the Proteas’ batting efforts, particularly in the powerplay.
On the bowling front, Nonkululeko Mlaba has been the star, with nine wickets in the tournament so far, making her one of the leading wicket-takers. Her ability to bowl economically while taking key wickets has been a cornerstone of South Africa’s bowling strategy.
Marizanne Kapp has continued to prove her worth as one of the best all-rounders in world cricket. Her economical bowling and crucial contributions with the bat have been vital to the Proteas’ campaign. In the match against Bangladesh, her figures of 1/10 in four overs were a testament to her skill and control.
Conclusion
As the Proteas Women await the outcome of the final Group B matches, they can take pride in their performances throughout the tournament. With three wins from four matches, they have shown resilience and skill, but the fine margins of T20 cricket mean that their fate could still hang in the balance.
