Editor's Note
The Proteas Women aim to make history
The Proteas Women have been the shining light in South African cricket. They have played with aggression, confidence and as a united unit as they reached the T20 World Cup semi-final.
With all the disappointing results that have occurred in the Men's side, it is refreshing for South African Cricket Fanatics to have a team to rally behind, as they aim to be the first Proteas side to win an ICC World Cup.
What has stood out is that they have focussed on their performances as a unit and have not placed too much emphasis on the opposition. There have been some great lessons to learn from the ladies and their approach in the tournament. We have done some insightful stories on their progression in the tournament.
We have also covered the Proteas' series against Australia. It's been a full roller coaster ride with. Results have varied between extremes, by giving fans hope with an amazing performance, only to be humiliated in the next clash.
We also bring to you some of the best features and interviews that we have done in the last week.
For the love of the game,
KHALID MOHIDIN
Editor
Cricket Fanatics Magazine
Advertisement
WOLVAARDT HALF-CENTURY CRUCIAL AS PROTEAS WOMEN REACH SEMI-FINAL
By Naeemah Benjamin
Laura Wolvaardt’s unbeaten 53 helped the Proteas Women beat Pakistan by 17 runs on a sluggish pitch to make it three from three and secure their semi-final spot with one game left vs West Indies.
On a slow surface where the top order failed and slipped to 54/3. Laura Wolvaardt joined Marizanne Kapp (31) at the crease.
Pakistan kept things tight and at one stage looked as if they’d restrict the Proteas to below the 130-run par score by picking regular wickets and not allowing the batters to settle.
Wolvaardt scored an unbeaten 53 from 36 deliveries including 8 fours. Her ability to clear the ropes at the back end to steer the Proteas Women past 130 was remarkable. Her glorious cover drives were majestic and a lovely sight to see.
Ian Bishop hailed Wolvaardt’s knock on Sunday as one of the tournaments best.
“I think this is definitely the most valuable contribution I’ve made to the team. Just honoured to be here” said Wolvaardt.
“The tournament so far has been amazing, everyone has chipped in.”
The bowling was once again impressive, as they picked up wickets at crucial stages.
Dane van Niekerk 1/17, Ismail 1/17 and Mlaba 1/20 were the wicket takers.
Scorecard
Photo: BackpagePix
“I always focus on my basics” – Laura Wolvaardt
by Khalid Mohidin
Proteas Women batter Laura Wolvaardt‘s 36-ball 53 against Pakistan proved once again that T20 cricket is not only for “big hitters”.
It was a brilliant knock by the 20-year-old, who played what was a defining knock for her side.
Being a top-order batter for the Proteas Women in ODIs, Wolvaardt has been given the task of batting lower down the order for the T20 side.
There’s been a consensus that she is not a typical big-hitter, but she proved with some gorgeous drives that she can be dangerous by playing “proper” cricket shots and her natural game.
“Right. I guess I’m not a natural big hitter, as they would say,” said Wolvaardt.
“It’s been quite a journey for me to kind of get my spot here in this T20 side, and it’s been something that I’ve been working on pretty hard.
“I guess I always focus on my basics, and I guess if the base is really good, you can kind of go on from there.
“It is something I’ve been working on really hard and just kind of figuring out my approach and my plan.
“Yeah, I’m happy it’s finally showing in the games now.”
With regards to her performance against Pakistan, Wolvaardt has ranked it as a one of the most important knocks in her career.
“It really meant a lot to me,” she said.
“I think it’s probably the biggest contribution I’ve made to this team, if I think about the importance of today and the World Cup.
“So I’m really happy things that worked out the way they did.”
PLAYER MOMENTS: HEINRICH KLAASEN, KYLE VERREYNNE, DAVID MILLER SAVE PROTEAS INNINGS
By Khalid Mohidin
The Proteas’ middle order put in an innings-saving performance, with Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller continuing where Kyle Verreynne left off.
Verreynne solidified the Proteas innings after a top-order collapse saw them lose 3 wickets for 48 runs.
Verreynne, on his debut, worked hard running between the wickets to build his side’s momentum and pull them after a serious spot of bother.
Sitting outside in the newly built media tent, it was a chance for me to soak up the atmosphere to its fullest. I could feel the hope spread through the crowd.
After a hard-fought 64-ball 48, Kyle pulled the ball straight to Mitch Marsh. A sigh of sadness spread through the crowd as they shouted words of encouragement and applauded with appreciation at what he had done.
From there on out, Klaasen took over. He managed to score his maiden century. And with the help of a David Miller half-century, took the Proteas past 250.
Klaasen showed his ability to take the game by the scruff of the neck and push the side forward.
Miller backed his partner hitting 4 fours and a six before losing his wicket, which gave Australia the chance to drag back the run rate and squeeze the total.
Klaasen finished with an unbeaten 123 off 114 balls, 7 fours and 3 sixes.
The Proteas ended on 291/7 after their 50 overs.
Scorecard
Photo: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
PLAYER MOMENTS: LUNGI NGIDI LEADS TIDY BOWLING EFFORT
By Khalid Mohidin
Lungi Ngidi finished with figures of 3/30 as the Proteas defended their 291/7 total to clinch a 74-run victory against Australia in the first ODI, writes Khalid Mohidin from Boland Park.
The Proteas’ first innings was highlighted by a middle-order fight started by Kyle Verreynne, supported by David Miller and finished off by Heinrich Klaasen.
The Proteas went from being 48/3 to 291/7 by the end of the 50 overs. With the highest chase at Boland Park being 250/2 when the Proteas chased down Sri Lanka’s 247/4 against Sri Lanka, the home side would have felt confident.
READ: Player Moments: Heinrich Klaasen, Kyle Verreynne, David Miller save Proteas Innings
Australia’s chase was broken up at decisive intervals to ensure that that the visitors stayed behind the required run rate.
Great bowling from Lungi Ngidi kept the Aussies at bay, while Keshav Maharaj held his own and Anrich Nortje once again dismissed the big gun in the match – Steve Smith trapped lbw on 76.
Tabraiz Shamsi's hard work paid off in the 39th over when he dismissed Australia's last recognised batsman, Alex Carey.
As Australia hit the 40 over mark, they needed 95 runs from 60 balls.
A sharp run out from Quinton de Kock off the bowling of Andile Phehlukwayo saw the end of Mitchell Starc, as the Proteas continued to squeeze the Baggy Greens.
Tabraiz Shamsi beat D'Arcy Short for flight, only for the Aussie to watch his bails being knocked off by De Kock behind the stumps.
The target continued to slip away from the visitors.
The 9th wicket, and Phehlukwayo's 1st, was courtesy of a sublime diving catch from Verreynne, running in hard from long-on.
Nortje sent the bails flying to finish off the Aussies as the Proteas won by 74 runs.
“IT’S NOT A QUINTON DE KOCK SHOW” – HEINRICH KLAASEN
by Khalid Mohidin
Heinrich Klaasen revealed that hard chats have taken place amongst the players and coaching staff to ensure that the Proteas avoid heavily relying on Quinton de Kock to score all the runs.
It has been a common trend that when Quinton de Kock doesn’t score runs, the Proteas lose. It happened against England, and once again in the T20s against Australia.
However, against Australia in the first ODI at Boland Park, the Proteas middle-order stood up to the plate and produced two crucial partnerships to help them set a decent target for Australia to chase.
Heinrich Klaasen was the talisman on the day with an unbeaten century, while he received crucial support from Kyle Verreynne (48) and David Miller (50).
When asked about what the difference was in this match against Australia compared to the 1st and final T20 where they were completely humiliated, Klaasen answered honestly.
“[We had] hard chats. That’s the one thing we’ve been doing the last couple of weeks,” said Klaasen.
“It’s not a Quinton de Kock show. He’s an incredible player but we can’t put all the pressure on him.
“The coach and Quinny also asked us, that if he doesn’t score runs that someone needs to step up. We chatted about that against England as well.
“Quinton had a fantastic 2/3 series’, but someone also has to help him score the rest of the runs. He can’t bat for 50 overs on his own.
“So the big conversations and hard chats we had is that someone else also needs to take it on the chin, man up and produce runs as well.”
The Proteas played amazingly as a unit in the first ODI and will look to build on their performance in the next match on Wednesday 4 March in Bloemfontein.
THE GREAT DEBATE: TO AB OR NOT TO AB
Should AB de Villiers return for the T20 World Cup? Daniel Orsmond and Alasdair Fraser debate the controversial issue.
AB MUST RETURN
Sportsmen and cricketers, in particular, tend to only have a handful of years to apply their craft and to earn an income from their exceptional abilities.
Ab de Villiers made a financial choice to opt for the global T20 circuit at the expense of his international Test and ODI career.
De Villiers has not played any 4-day or 50 over cricket on the South African domestic scene for a while now and I agree he should not be eligible to play Test and ODI cricket until he has done so.
Having said that, if we make the criteria that you need to be involved at a domestic level to be eligible for international selection, then Ab de Villiers has in fact met those requirements by playing in the Mzansi Super League in 2018 and 2019.
I’m against the idea of him walking into the T20 World Cup playing XI (especially given that his T20 stats aren’t great by any stretch of the imagination) but I have no problem with him earning it.
He is a world-class cricketer and I expect to see him feature in the 5 T20’s against the West Indies later this year, where he will be given the opportunity to find form and earn himself a position just like everyone else who is fighting for only 15 slots.
AB MUST NOT RETURN
Before I begin I would like to categorically state that having AB de Villiers in any side is a luxury. What he brings reflects his T20 market value.
But, given the on/off relationship he has had with the Proteas since ‘that’ semi-final in 2015, it’s time to say goodbye. No one is bigger than the badge and AB shouldn’t have the right of choosing when to play international cricket when it suits him.
It’s a level that only a handful of cricketers on this planet get to play and just a mere pipe dream that the masses or the unlucky ones who just missed out on selection will never get to experience.
Here’s the real question, though, will AB actually make a difference? We haven’t won any World Cups with him. Would he have made a difference at the 2019 showpiece? I doubt it.
And funnily enough, his respective franchises that he represents in the IPL and Big Bash T20 leagues often end up in the basement of the standings.
Putting AB into the Proteas T20 set-up for the World Cup later this year sends the wrong message to all the mere mortals fighting for a place in that squad.
His return won’t paper over the glaring cracks that have been forming in South African cricket in recent times.
JANNEMAN MALAN HAS SIGHTS ON WORLD T20 SPOT
Cobras and Proteas batsman Janneman Malan has expressed his desire to make the Proteas’ World T20 squad.
The 23-year-old is one of South Africa’s brightest talents. Since his move to Cape Town he has proved his ability for the Cobras across all formats, but he has caught the eye of many admirers particularly in the shortest format.
He made his Proteas debut in T20Is and now he is looking to earn a spot in the T20 World Cup side for the tournament in October/November in Australia.
In an exclusive interview with Cricket Fanatics Magazine, he speaks about his time in the KFC bucket, his aims of making the T20 World Cup squad, his experience with Jacques Kallis and gives some advice to young cricketers.
PLAYER RADAR: AIDEN MARKRAM BACK TO SCORING WAYS
In his second game back for the Titans after a lengthy injury layoff, Aiden Markram hit a century for the Titans against the Knights on Sunday.
The 25-year-old, who suffered an injury during the Boxing Day Test against England, made his return to cricket in the clash against the Dolphins on 27 February, but only managed 36 as the table-toppers beat them by 35 runs (D/L method).
Just 3 days later, Markram was back to his best, with a century against the Knights. His 103 came off 94 balls at a strike rate of 109.57 and included 2 sixes and 8 fours.
His form in the Momentum One Day Cup will be crucial as he fights for a place in the national setup, after an underwhelming World Cup campaign. His run in ODI cricket hasn’t been a true reflection of his ability.
There have been a number of young batsmen who have put up their hands for national selection in the 50-over side, namely Zubayr Hamza and Grant Roelofsen, who sit No 1 and No 2 on the scoring charts.
With Markram already on the Proteas radar, finding form in the domestic competition might be all he needs to navigate his way back into the Proteas side.
Let us know what you think about Markram and where he stands with regards to the Proteas.
Scorecard
Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/ BackpagePix
PLAYER RADAR: ANDRIES GOUS HITS CAREER-BEST 163
Andries Gous scored a career-best 163 to help the Knights continue their One-Day Cup revival after they chased down 308 to beat the Titans in Kimberley on Sunday.
The right-hander struck 163 off 145 balls, including 13 fours and three sixes, in a match that saw three hundreds in total scored as Aiden Markram (103 off 94 balls, 8 fours, 2 sixes) and Diego Rosier (112 off 108 balls, 7 fours, 1 six) also made merry at the Diamond Oval.
But Gous’ fourth List A ton trumped them both to help the Central Franchise record their highest successful run chase in history and with it move off the foot of the table into fifth place.
They are now ahead of the World Sports Betting Cape Cobras (eight), level on 10 points with the Titans and one point adrift of the Warriors (11) with the race for the semi-final places hotting up.
Gous was not the only Knights player to shine too, with Mbulelo Budaza earlier claiming a career-best haul of five for 44 to help his side dismiss the visitors for 307 in 49.5 overs.
It was his second career five-for and beat the five for 58 he claimed for Northern Cape against Northerns in Pretoria last season.
However, the Titans still managed a formidable total thanks to Markram and Rosier, who put on a franchise record of 196 together for the second wicket to lead the batting.
The former, who was playing in his second match since returning from injury, posted his ninth List A ton and the latter his fourth.
Rivaldo Moonsamy (22) and Grant Thomson (21) were the only others to post double-figure scores.
Jacques Snyman (6) fell to Markram (2/39) early in the chase, but Gous then dominated in an innings that saw him go past his previous best highest score of 149 for Free State against Northern Cape in Kimberley during 2016/17.
He shared in a 135-run second-wicket partnership with Keegan Petersen (45), before putting on 69 with Grant Mokoena for the next wicket.
Seventy-nine unbroken in just 7.2 overs then followed with Wandile Makwetu (47) as the Knights chased down over 300 for the first time to secure a vital win.
Photo: BackpagePix