Proteas women in the driving seat

Ayabonga Khaka's stingy bowling helped South Africa to a six wicket win over Scotland in the Women's World Cup qualifying tournament in Sri Lanka on Wednesday. Photo: Frikkie Kapp/BackpagePix

Ayabonga Khaka's stingy bowling helped South Africa to a six wicket win over Scotland in the Women's World Cup qualifying tournament in Sri Lanka on Wednesday. Photo: Frikkie Kapp/BackpagePix

Published Feb 8, 2017

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JOHANNESBURG - A stellar display from 24 year old Ayabonga Khaka helped the South African to a comfortable six-wicket victory over Scotland on Wednesday, giving them control of Group B in the Women’s World Cup qualifying tournament being played in Sri Lanka.

Khaka picked up the player of the match award for an incredible spell of bowling which saw her end with figures of 2/9 from 10 overs, which included six maidens. Half of those maidens came at back end of Scotland’s innings, with the South Africans bowling out the Scots for 142.

It was Khaka who made the initial breakthrough after the Scots had chosen to bat when she had opener Sarah Bryce caught behind by wicket-keeper Trisha Chetty.

The pressure Khaka exerted at one end brought reward for her fellow new ball bowler Shabnim Ismael who had Olivia Rae also caught behind for 16 in the seventh over.

The Scots never recovered from their poor start and only veteran Kari Anderson was able to provide the South Africans with any concern as she made a gritty 50 off 119 balls. However Anderson couldn’t get any of her teammates to stay with her long enough to build a partnership with wickets falling at regular intervals.

There were three run outs, while skipper Dane van Niekerk also picked up two wickets with her leg-spin to knock the stuffing out of the Scottish middle order.

Khaka clean bowled Anderson in the 46th over, putting paid to any hopes the Scots had of setting the South Africans a challenging target. Ismael finished with 3/30 from her 10 overs.

South Africa faced little trouble in chasing down that miniscule target, and once again Chloe Tryon showed that she was in excellent form by backing up the 79 she made in the opening game against Pakistan on Tuesday with an unbeaten 45, which again came at better than a run-a-ball and included eight fours and a six.

Wednesday’s win couple with Pakistan’s victory against Bangladesh meant South Africa sit atop Group B.

There’ll be a break on Thursday before the tournament resumes again on Friday. South Africa’s next match is against Bangladesh on Saturday.

The top four teams in the competition will qualify for the World Cup which will be played in England in June.

Independent Media

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