The Momentum Proteas will host Australia in a crucial Group A match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Gqeberha on Saturday.
The Proteas lost their opening match against Sri Lanka before thumping New Zealand by 65 runs in their second game in Paarl on Monday.
Speaking to the media on Friday, skipper Sune Luus said her side is not feeling any pressure but is rather excited to take the game to the visitors.
“I don’t think there’s a lot of pressure; tomorrow is just a great opportunity for us to go and play another game of cricket,” she said.
“We know Australia is a good side, and it’s going to take a special performance from us to beat them.”
After losing that opening encounter at Newlands, South Africa looked like a completely different side against New Zealand. Luus revealed how the team got over that disappointing result.
“Losing that first match against Sri Lanka wasn’t part of the plan; it was always going to be a tough match being the opener of the World Cup.”
“It was very disappointing but we had a long session afterward on how we wanted to approach the next coming games and how we want to play for the rest of the World Cup and I think that showed against New Zealand”
The Proteas’ opponents on Saturday currently sit first in the ICC rankings, having dominated for the last couple of years.
However, Luus believes that her side has taken lessons from their previous encounters.
“If we look at all the previous games we’ve played against them, it’s all been close games, and they’ve never run away with it.”
“That gives us a lot of confidence at the moment because we have a world-class bowling and batting attack against a world-class team, so I think it’s going to be a great clash tomorrow.”
“The only way to beat a team like Australia is to take the fight to them, and that’s what we’ll try to do,” she concluded.
The clash between South Africa and Australia will kick off at 19:00 on Saturday in Gqeberha—St George’s Park.