Proteas out to reclaim respect in Kimberley
THE Sri Lankan women’s national cricket team arrived in South Africa carrying the underdogs’ tag, due to Proteas Women’s status as a respectable team. However, the visitors achieved a historic feat when they beat them 2-1 in the T20I series.
Here are five players to watch in the second ODI in Kimberley tomorrow.
Chamari Athapaththu
The Sri Lanka Women’s captain has looked on song in her three innings on this tour. The composure she brings at the top of the order is invaluable, more so in a side that has a fairly young batting unit.
The skipper scored one halfcentury during the T20I series decider. The Diamond Oval tends to favour the batters so she will be a threat to the Proteas.
Laura Wolvaardt
The SA Women’s captain has been in fine form. Her matchwinning century in the first T20I match in Benoni was the highlight of the series for the home side.
The tour has now switched to the 50-Over format, Wolvaardt’s favourite format.
Vishmi Gunaratne
Gunaratne, 18, has almost two years of international cricket under her belt. She plays aesthetically pleasing drives, is able to time the crispiest of cut shots and plays the on-drive – like a natural.
Gunaratne has one half-century on this tour, but one can tell that a batter of her calibre will score many more runs.
Karabo Meso
The country has seen little of the 16-year-old wicketkeeper/batter since she made her T20I debut. Her wicket-keeping skills were on display during the two T20Is, but we are yet to see much of her with bat in hand.
Meso has the potential to win matches for the country if given an opportunity to bat higher up in the batting order.
Nadine de Klerk
De Klerk has been impressive this season with bat and ball.
Her maturity as an all-rounder has seen her promoted to the number-six position, while with ball in hand she is normally used as a first or second-change bowling option.
The all-rounder will be key tomorrow as the hosts look to go 1-0 up in the series.