Dane: Not ‘too cute’ this time
Proteas skipper lauds young team for desired aggressive approach with the bat
SOUTH AFRICA WOMEN 163/5 SRI LANKA WOMEN 124/8 SA won by 39 runs
PROTEAS captain Dane van Niekerk praised her young side’s liberated approach with the bat yesterday as they wrapped up the T20 International series against Sri Lanka 3-0.
Gone were the nerves of the first two matches in a much better performance by the South Africans after they’d stumbled across the line to claim the series at the Wanderers last Sunday.
They were aggressive with the bat and played more freely than had been the case a few days ago. And more importantly, they weren’t as reliant on Van Niekerk as they’d been in the first two matches.
The skipper still top scored with 38, but there were good innings from Tazmin Brits, who scored 36 (30b, 4x4, 1x6), and Lara Goodall, who struck the ball cleanly in a lively knock of 35 (30b, 3x4).
“At the Wanderers we were a bit too cute and ‘pushy’ towards the ball, and while we know that there’s a lot of inexperience in the side, we wanted everyone to back their ability to hit the ball,” Van Niekerk said.
For Sune Luus, yesterday’s match was redemptive. Left out of the squad initially, after her performances last year were deemed disappointing by the selectors, she has taken the opportunity granted to her by the injury to Chloe Tryon to show she had heeded the call to perform more consistently and aggressively.
Luus played beautifully in scoring 26 off just 15 balls, hitting a four and two sixes to finish off the Proteas’ innings, and later added a wicket to walk away with a second consecutive Player of the Match prize.
Van Niekerk acknowledged that the decision to axe opener Lizelle Lee because she did not adhere to the requisite fitness standards was a shock.
“She’s a massive player for us, as destructive as any batter in the world. But you have to make those decisions, to draw the line somewhere and we did just that.
“No individual is bigger than the team or the badge. That’s a message to everyone, myself included: If you don’t put the badge first and don’t put in the hard work then somebody else is going to take your place,” said Van Niekerk.
“To see the juniors put up their hands is a massive message to all the seniors in the side; you can’t be complacent anymore.”
Next week South Africa play Sri Lanka in three ODIs during which points are at stake for the ICC Women’s Championship. The top four teams in that competition, which is played over two years, will qualify automatically for the 2021 World Cup.