Proteas tough under pressure
NEVER-SAY-DIE: TEAM HAS COURAGE, DETERMINATION
Andrie Steyn is impressed with how the Proteas women have begun to find a way to emerge victorious in their close matches during this year’s inbound tour against Sri Lanka.
South Africa have – twice in four fixtures – found themselves in tight endings, winning by two wickets in the second Twenty20 International in Johannesburg with one ball to spare, and the first One-Day International on Tuesday by seven runs after the visitors had, at a time, needed to bat at a run a ball for what would have been their first win on tour.
While she admits it is not ideal for them to find themselves in those situations too often, the opening batter is delighted to see her side is beginning to commit to their game plans.
“It’s a never-say-die, don’t-panic, fight-to-the-very-end type of cricket we have begun to play and it’s really pleasing that we have come out on the winning side of all the close games we have found ourselves in lately,” she said.
“Dane [van Niekerk] talks a lot about our attacking brand of cricket and we are living it, not only when we bat and bowl, but in our fielding as well.
“It’s those game-changing moments like Tumi Sekhukhune’s catch in the Jo’burg T20 that can turn a match on its head.
“I think we’ve learned a lot when it comes to pressure situations,” she continued. “We’ve learned not to panic because in the past we would sort of fold. That’s the senior players stepping up now, but not only that, the juniors seeing that example and following it.”
The win saw them take a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series and Steyn believes it will do wonders for the team’s confidence as they look to make further gains in the International Cricket Council Women’s Championship log.
She and captain Van Niekerk shared a match-winning 117-run, third-wicket stand while she notched up her fourth ODI half century (75 off 100 balls) and the skipper hit a maiden ODI century (102 off 117 balls).
“I think it’s very big [the confidence boost], especially with the ICC [Women’s] Championship.
“Our goal is to get six points from these three games to give ourselves the best chance to qualify [for the 2021 ICC Women’s World Cup].
“So it’s a massive confidence booster especially because it was such a close game and we pulled it through. We can only improve from that.”
The hosts find themselves on the brink of a series win if they can successfully clinch today’s match. Steyn is confident they have what it takes. – ANA