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After finally getting the monkey off their back by beating England for the first time during an ICC tournament, South Africa are setting their sights on the newcomers to the scene – Thailand.
The Proteas Women take on the southeast Asian country in Canberra, Australia, early on Friday morning (6am South African time) with wind in their sails.
“We knew England were going to be the first big hurdle, but there are still three games to go before we reach the semifinal stage,” Mignon du Preez, who hit the winning runs during her 100th T20 international this past weekend, said earlier this week.
“That was the first hurdle. We still have another three and we can’t take any team lightly, but we are confident that we want to make it to the semifinal.”
Having played five teams from the top nine in the women’s game, and losing to all of them, Thailand will be playing hard to beat South Africa. This will be the first time the teams will meet on the pitch.
But that task will be an uphill battle considering that they weren’t able to get more than 78 runs in their previous two games – they lost to West Indies by seven wickets and lost to England by 98 runs.
However, led by their enigmatic captain Sornnarin Tippoch and the women’s emerging player of the year Chanida Sutthiruang, they could give the Proteas Women a run for their money.
Sutthiruang has career bowling figures of 42 wickets at an average of 9.8, and a strike rate of 15.7. To be fair, these have mostly come against teams outside the top nine, but are nevertheless impressive.
The team will want to improve on their previous two performances and could target South Africa as the game in which they make their stand.
All-rounder Nattaya Boochatham says they know they haven’t given a good account of themselves yet, but “South Africa are an aggressive batting team and we will have to bowl well and tight”.
SA go for the kill
South Africa will not want to let their early advantage slip and will keep their foot firmly on the pedal.
Captain Dané van Niekerk said: “Our first main goal is to get to the semifinals, and the next two games could secure that for us.”
However, she doesn’t want to get too ahead of herself, but rather “make sure we get over the line”.
“We will never underestimate Thailand. There are good things coming from them, especially in them making it to their first World Cup.”
Ayabonga Khaka led the bowling attack well in the opening game, bagging 3/25, and will be looking to keep up her good form together with senior bowlers Shabnim Ismail and Marizanne Kapp.
Considering that they still have Pakistan and the West Indies to play, they may be tempted to experiment now by giving talented rookie all-rounders such as Nondumiso Shangase or Nadine de Klerk a start.
Canberra seems to offer something for the bowlers early on, however, it will be up to the batters to make the mistakes or to be put under enough pressure for the fielding side to take advantage.
If South Africa win and England beat Pakistan in the later game (10am start), the Proteas Women will be in prime position to finish at the top of the log.
But if Pakistan manage to deliver another body blow to England, the South Africa versus Pakistan game on Sunday will be a mouthwatering one that could decide the final group standings.
Local players to watch
Lizelle Lee was dismissed early on against England, but the destructive opener has been in good form since her return to the national team after fitness concerns early last year. She’s contributed to some good partnerships, but needs to remind the world what she can do with the willow, and this is the perfect opportunity to do so.
Shabnim Ismail is one of the fastest bowlers in the world and her raw pace, control of the ball and experience put her on a level few others can achieve. With 10 wickets in the Women’s Big Bash League a couple of months ago, and an economy rate at fewer than six, Ismail could shine against a weaker batting lineup.
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