Disappointing Proteas look to Cape Town

THE South African women’s team’s coach Hilton Moreeng did not mince his words following a heavy defeat yesterday. “It was a very disappointing display,” he commented.

South Africa were comprehensively outplayed by a West Indies team who according to Moreeng applied themselves better and tied the T20 series up at 1-1. The deciding match will be played at Newlands on Wednesday.

South Africa had a measure of control after skipper Mignon du Preez chose to bowl field first. They picked up two early wickets and although West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor and the big hitting Deandra Dottin put on 68 for the third wicket, they never ran away with proceedings.

Taylor made a fine 63 (53b, 7x4, 1x6) but she and Dottin were out in quick succession and South Africa would have felt confident of restricting the West Indies to less than 130.

The defining period of the match, however, came in the 19th over in which StacyAnn King swatted 18 runs off Moseline Daniels, giving the touring team a timely boost, and striking a significant psychological blow in the home team’s dugout.

“We had them under control, especially on this ground, on that good pitch, but that over just gave them the momentum,” said Moreeng.

The West Indies then struck a major blow early, when Danè van Niekerk, one of the star SA players this season, edged Tremayne Smartt to the sole slip as she attempted to run the ball down to third man. Van Niekerk was rightly furious, and from there matters only worsened for South Africa.

“Overall the batters were disappointing,” remarked Moreeng. Marizanne Kapp’s 17 was the highest score in a disjointed batting performance. The pressure has been heaped back on Du Preez’s team after their historic first win against the West Indies in Durban on Friday. “This West Indies team is dangerous, you can’t give them a sniff, and now we have done that which will make Wednesday’s game tougher,” said Moreeng.

South Africa will hope that wicketkeeper Trisha Chetty recovers from the illness which prevented her from playing yesterday.

Overall South Africa will want to put this match out of their heads as quickly as possible.

The players have achieved a number of historic firsts this season – and they will have to achieve another in Cape Town, if they are to go into the Women’s World T20 in confident mood. – Stuart Hess