No spotlight on other SA WT20 semi-finalists

Times Media

TELFORD VICE, Johannesburg

Contrary to what most SA cricket fans believe, the national team will play England in the World T20 semi-finals in Dhaka tomorrow.

Also unlike what has been reported frequently in the past few days, SA have reached this stage of the tournament by beating Pakistan, Ireland and New Zealand by 44 runs, 86 runs and five wickets respectively, and slipping to a sole defeat against Australia, by six wickets.

Who are this team, and why does none of the above square with what SA fans know of the Proteas’ performance at the WT20?

They are the SA women’s team, who have not been afforded anything like the attention given their male counterparts - who will play India in the WT20 semi-finals in Dhaka tomorrow.

It is the first time in the four women’s WT20s played to date that SA have reached the knockout rounds, and that has caught the attention of Faf du Plessis.

“It’s a fantastic achievement against quality opposition and in tough conditions,” Du Plessis, the men’s captain, said. “It’s not often that SA has such a strong presence in a World Cup, so it’s a really proud moment for our country.

“They showed a lot of character and determination, something that is synonymous with this special Proteas brand. I hope we can both do the country proud in our respective semi-finals on Friday.”

Dane van Niekerk and Lizelle Lee feature among the top 10 runscorers at the tournament, while Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail are on the list of top 10 wicket-takers.

SA’s win over Ireland is second only to Australia’s 94-run conquest of Pakistan as the competition’s biggest victory.

England have also lost only once, to West Indies by nine runs. Since then, they have reeled off wins over India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka by five wickets, 79 runs and seven wickets respectively.

Major threats to SA’s success tomorrow could be Charlotte Edwards, who has scored 151 runs in four innings, as well as medium pacers Anya Shrubsole and Natalie Sciver, who are the leading bowlers in the tournament.

Shrubsole has taken 10 wickets at an average of 5.7, while Sciver has seven at 9.28.

But Kapp and Ismail aren’t far behind with seven scalps each at 9.57 and 9.71 respectively.

In women’s cricket, more subtle skills like shot placement and accurate bowling tend to be more to the fore than in the power-driven game played by the men. The intensity of competition, however, is as high among both men and women.

Not that South Africans who think the only semi-final in Dhaka tomorrow is between SA and India will know that. If they tune in at 10.30am tomorrow, when the women’s semi-final will be played at the same ground as the SA-India clash, they will have reason to change their opinion.