The chase did not start well with the ever-reliable Laura Wolvaardt departing without troubling the scorers after being caught behind off the bowling of Sophie Devine
The Protea Women produced a powerful performance from their bowlers to cruise to a decisive 2-0 series win in the ODI series against New Zealand Women at Eden Park yesterday, winning the second game by eight wickets to back up their seven-wicket win in the first.
The victory was set-up by some impressive pace bowling from Marizanne Kapp, who along with Shabnim Ismail were parsimonious with the new ball.
The latter, despite not taking a wicket, conceded just 10 runs from her eight overs, while Kapp (pictured) claimed impressive figures of 4/29 in her eight overs, and Ayabonga Khakha continued her return from injury with 2/21 in seven.
Clinical
As in the opening ODI when the Protea Women restricted the White Ferns from dominating with the bat with only veteran Suzie Bates contributing with a respectable 38 off 60 balls, the entire attack was clinical.
Kapp knew that the momentum was with the Protea Women and never relented. She landed the ball around off-stump with remarkable consistency, using a hint of swing to angle the ball in at the pads, and a hint of seam or bounce to challenge the outside edge.
However, the chase did not start well with the ever-reliable Laura Wolvaardt departing without troubling the scorers after being caught behind off the bowling of Sophie Devine.
Instead of crumbling under pressure with the score at 15/1, Lizelle Lee was her usual destructive self with five boundaries and a maximum in a quickfire 38 off 43 deliveries.
The dismissal of Lee in the 13th over didn’t bother the Proteas, especially not once Sune Luus (20) and Mignon du Preez (31) put on a third wicket partnership of 50 in 52 balls to lead the Proteas to victory.
The added significance of the win was that it took SA up to fourth in the Women’s ICC ODI Championship standings, which runs from 2017 till 2020. The top five of the eight competing countries qualify automatically for the ICC 2021 World Cup.
