SA women avoid Aussie semifinal

The Proteas women were happy to qualify for the semifinals of the ICC Women’s World Cup on Thursday with a match to spare after their game against the West Indies was washed out at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.

The point picked up from a no-result moved the Proteas on to nine points ahead of their final pool match against India on Sunday.

Regardless of that result though, they have sealed second spot on the log, meaning they will face the team that finishes third in the semis.

“We are just happy to have qualified today. Our focus is now on India and there are still a few things we would like to work on,” said Proteas all-rounder Marizanne Kapp.

“It doesn’t matter who we come up against in the semifinal, I feel like this time around we will be better prepared.

“So going forward we need to focus on our game against India because we want to finish the group stage well and then we will shift our focus to the semifinal and see who we are going to face.”

In the West Indies match, persistent morning rain saw the toss delayed before the match finally got underway after lunch, reduced to 26-overs a side.

The Proteas top order were blown away and in trouble on 22/4, before Mignon du Preez (38*) and Kapp (5*) took them to 61/4 in the 11th over before rain returned to wash out the rest of the day.

“I feel like it would have been a challenge for us to complete the 26 overs after the way we started, but I felt like we could still do it,” said Kapp.

“Then with our bowling attack on that wicket...we always get excited as bowlers when we see the opposition pace bowlers bowling the way they did on that wicket.”

Looking ahead, the Proteas will now avoid facing table-topping Australia in the semis, and being the only team to have beaten the Proteas so far in the competition it means they could be set for a rematch in the final.

“The last game (against Australia) was the first time in five years that we played them, so you can’t look too much at previous records. I believe if everyone rocks up on the day we will be a force to be reckoned with,” said Kapp.

“So our focus is on India, then the semis and hopefully them (Australia) again in the final.”