“I’d rather lose than get a free pass to WC final”

Dane van Niekerk addressed the media, post World Cup semifinal match, with a lot of positivity and incredible respect for her teammates and the women’s game, writes Ongama Gcwabe.

The Proteas had not lost a single game before tonight’s semifinal against Australia, but their perfect record was ruined as the Ausies progressed to the finals.

“Should I say my emotion!…I mean, everybody knows that it’s very upsetting. The team is quite destroyed at the moment. It’s now the second time we’ve come really close in the semifinal, somehow we didn’t get over that hurdle. Everybody’s hurting and that hurts me,” said Van Niekerk.

“I cannot fault my teammates one bit in any facet of the game, I have to give credit where it’s due, Australia bowled really well.”

It seems we always end up at the wrong end of the D/L method in the semis of a World Cup, which is infuriating for Proteas fans.

But captain cool, van Niekerk, emphasized that her side came to Australia to play cricket not to cross fingers for a rained-out game.

“We’re here to play cricket, I’d rather lose than get a free pass to the World Cup final,” she emphasised.

Needing 19 runs to win from the last over, Chloe Tryon marched onto the middle with confidence knowing that the entire team backed her to get the team over the line. But it was just not meant to be.

“I was still quite confident when Chloe went out there even with the last over, it’s three hits away especially for somebody with her power but unfortunately she miscued a full-toss and nine-out-of-ten times she’ll hit that probably to the top of the roof,” she said confidently.

“That’s the nature of the game, it’s not easy to come in and swing away no matter how strong you are.”

Van Niekerk showered praise to youngster Laura Woolvaardt who continued to impress with the bat in high pressure situations.

“She loves the game of cricket. The fact that she gave up medicine to play cricket says a lot,” said Van Niekerk.

“She just wants to bat all the time, she gets upset if she’s doesn’t bat, she gets upset when she sits on the side which showed in this World Cup she wanted to be out there.

“She actually apologized for not getting the last runs.. I was like: you couldn’t have done anything more.

“I think for someone like her it’s easy, the hunger to play for the country is always there. She’s been brilliant, she’s been my pick of the tournament as well, she’s been brilliant.”

With Marizanne Kapp out sick, van Niekerk and the coaches appointed Nadine de Klerk to play in the semis, which was her first game of the tournament.

“I have to give credit to Nadine de Klerk, what a standout performance tonight with the ball. She came to me she had a plan, it’s always nice when a bowler comes to you and they’re so confident with what they want to do.”

Not everyone can be captain of a team. It’s not just about the performances, but mostly about the character and maturity of the individual that makes a great captain.

Dane van Niekerk embodies the traits of a champion captain, she always looks at the bigger picture and puts the team first.

The culture that she built with this squad is something special indeed.

“Everybody probably knows our hashtag, it’s #WeAreMore. The culture within this team is we’re more than cricketers, we’re wives , we’re daughters, we’re sisters and aunts. We’re a lot more than that,” she explained.

“I thought tonight was the night it wasn’t meant to be. I had a calm heart about tonight, when I came to the ground no matter what happened rain or shine I was really calm. I knew if it wasn’t meant to be it wasn’t and it wasn’t. I wish Australia and India all the best.

“Both of the teams that are in the final are deserved finalists. I wish them the best, I’m not going to give a tip because I think it’s gonna be an incredible game of cricket.

“For me the big thing is that women’s cricket gets 90 thousand fans there. Women’s cricket deserves it. It’s been there for a long time. It’s now the time for us and obviously for women’s sport to rise.”

South Africa is proud of the efforts of the women down under. It has been a special tournament and hopefully it will be enough to be a wake up call for everyone to treat the women’s game with the respect it deserves.