CAPE TOWN –The Proteas women suffered a close, three-run loss in their second unofficial warm-up match against India at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Thursday.
India posted 146/4 at the end of their allotted overs after electing to bat first. Jemimah Rodrigues was the leading run scorer with 50 from 44 balls (1x4, 2x6s), followed by captain Harmanpreet Kaur who hit 31 from 29. Taniya Bhatia made a good cameo, chipping in with 26 runs from 21 deliveries.
Although there were a few missed opportunities with the fielding, the bowlers did well to restrict the sub-continent side to their final score. Masabata Klaas was the pick of the bowlers returning figures of 2/15 in three overs while Tumi Sekhukhune (1/25) and Marizanne Kapp (1/30) adding one each.
South Africa’s batting reply got off to a good start thanks to captain Dané van Niekerk who came out swinging from ball one. Although they lost Lizelle Lee for nine, the skipper continued to charge ahead smashing 35 from 22 balls (5x4s, 1x6) before her progress was ended by Radha Yadav.
Laura Wolvaardt, batting at No 3 top-scored for South Africa, hitting 42 in 45 deliveries as she tried to get her side over the line. South Africa’s old foe, though, crept up when they lost two wickets in quick succession – Suné Luus for six and Mignon du Preez for one.
The Proteas women ahead of their second unofficial warm-up match against India on Thursday. Photo: @OficialCSA on twitter
Chloe Tryon then stepped to the crease and bashed two sixes in her 23 (17 balls) before Anuja Patil stopped her in her tracks. South Africa needed 29 from 16 when Kapp entered the fray. She added 18 from 12 deliveries but ran out of overs rendering the battle lost on 143/6.
Yadav and Patil were the best bowlers with 3/15 and 2/42.
South Africa will now look to consolidate their preparation with their two official warm-up matches of the ICC Women’s World T20. They will play Pakistan at the Coolidge Cricket Oval in Antigua on Saturday, 03 November followed by Australia in Guyana on Tuesday, 06 November.
Meanwhile, Cricket South Africa (CSA) have announced two changes to the Proteas’ ICC Women’s World T20 squad.
Raisibe Ntozakhe has been replaced by Yolani Fourie, a right-hand off-spinner from Gauteng after she was withdrawn from the squad while she works on remodelling her bowling action. Saarah Smith has also been replaced by Moseline Daniels after she sustained a proximal phalanx basal fracture on her pinkie finger during a practice session on Saturday, 27 October. The injury will take four to six weeks to resolve.
“It’s very unfortunate. We feel her pain as one of our squad members who worked extremely hard through the winter to find herself in her very first World Cup. To end it so prematurely for her it’s very disappointing and we wish her a speedy recovery and we know that she will make a good come back.
She’s got a strong head on her shoulders,” said Proteas coach Hilton Moreeng.