Dane exhorts SA: Go for broke

I DON’T THINK THERE’S ANY PRESSURE ON US Hosts England fancied to again beat the Proteas.

Proteas Women’s captain Dane van Niekerk has urged her side to use their underdog status to their advantage when they take on hosts England in the World Cup semifinals in Bristol today.

England posted a record 373/5 at the very same County Ground in their group match two weeks ago which set up a closer than expected 68-run victory against the gallant South Africans.

The expectations are high for England, ranked No 2 in the world, to beat South Africa again in their quest for a fourth World Cup title.

“I don’t think there’s any pressure on us at all, I don’t think most people thought we would be here. In that sense I’m very proud of the girls, it’s our first semifinal since 2000,’’ said Van Niekerk, the tournament’s best bowler with 15 wickets to her name.

“We’re excited, we know any team that is in the semifinal is going to be tough to beat so we’re going to have to bring our very best.”

Van Niekerk expected a massive improvement in the field from her side from their 59-run loss to Australia in their last group match in Taunton on Saturday.

“It was probably one of the poorest performances I’ve seen us have on the field. It just went straight through our legs. Small things like this can cost you a semifinal,” she said.

In their only semifinal appearance in 2000, the Proteas got a nine-wicket hiding from Australia. The Aussies, who came into the tournament as the top-ranked side, play India in the other semifinal on Thursday.

England batting ace Tammy Beaumont has cautioned that her side’s big win over South Africa will count for nothing when the two sides face today.

“We did beat them in the group game, but it is going to be a clean slate with a lot more to play for and they will come out hard and try and make up for that defeat in the group stages,’’ said Beaumont.