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TOSS: Proteas Woman opt for young allrounder Miane Smit against Pakistan in Lahore

SA TOUR OF PAKISTAN

Ongama Gcwabe|Published

Miane Smit has been selected in the Proteas Women's team to face Pakistan in Lahore on Tuesday. Picture: Sri Lanka cricket (SLC)

Image: Sri Lanka cricket (SLC)

Pakistan Women captain Fatima Sana has won the toss and elected to bat against the Proteas in the first of three One-Day Internationals against Pakistan in Lahore on Tuesday. 

Ayabonga Khaka will take the new ball for the Proteas after the visitors named a relatively expected playing XI, with three surprising selections. 

Top-order batter Anneke Bosch, having been selected in the World Cup squad without playing a single international game this year, has been excluded from the first ODI. 

Many would have expected the right-handed batter to play all three matches to get herself in some form heading into the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup later this month. 

However, coach Mandla Mashimbyi has given Annerie Dercksen a golden opportunity to bat in the top five.

Another surprising selection is that of 20-year-old Miane Smit was picked as the all-rounder ahead of senior player and fellow all-rounder Chloe Tryon. 

Smit is not part of the official 15-player World Cup squad, having only been selected as a travelling reserve, in comparison to Tryon, who is part of the squad. 

Nondumiso Shangase also gets her 17th ODI cap ahead of Nadine de Klerk as the Proteas women's team stacks the side with all-rounders for the first ODI in Lahore. 

Proteas Women's Playing XI

Laura Wolvaardt (c), Tazmin Brits, Sune Luus, Marizanne Kapp,  Annerie Dercksen, Miane Smit, Sinalo Jafta, Nondumiso Shangase, Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukhune.