Australia defeat still hurts but Proteas Women now look forward to England semi-final

The Proteas Women’s team will resist any temptation to curtail their attacking instincts as they prepare for their all-important ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup semi-final against England in Guwahati on Wednesday.

Laura Wolvaardt’s side have suffered major two batting collapses, one at the start of the group phase against England, and another against defending champions Australia in Indore last Saturday. But between these matches, they won five games on the bounce with the batters playing a major role in the hot streak, which included the Proteas’ first-ever total in excess of 300 at the World Cup.

They are therefore adamant they will adhere to the refreshing attacking policy, despite many suggesting a rethink may be necessary in a semifinal where the stakes are high.

“To lose like that, it does hurt. If it doesn't hurt, it doesn't mean anything. But no one game like this makes us a bad squad,” Proteas wicket-keeper Sinalo Jafta said.

“There's nothing better than a playoff game. I think for us as a team is to just assess the conditions. We've been to Guwahati before and just going out there and expressing,

“We're facing England and I think for us, we obviously played them the first game and I mean it didn't go out the way we wanted but I think going into this match we know exactly what to do. 

“I think for us as a team is to just assess the conditions. We've played positive cricket. In this team, we've got game winners. Anyone on any given day can put up their hand. And I think going against England, it's a good one to have.

“For me, it’s literally just playing positive cricket. That's been my approach and, I mean, coach Mandla has given me a task to go 100% or nothing.”

The Proteas’ problems have arisen when they have confronted high-quality spinners taking the ball away from their right-hand dominated batting line-up. With no left-handed top-order batter in the Proteas line-up, it has allowed Australia’s leg-spinner Alana King and  England’s left-arm spinner Linsey Smith to inflict the major damage.

Jafta is not too concerned with it and believes the batters will put in the necessary amount of work with batting coach Baakier Abrahams ahead of facing Smith and fellow England left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone, who has also been a major thorn in the side of the Proteas in the past. 

“Alana is a really intelligent bowler. She knew exactly where to land the ball. Kudos to her. She bowled fantastically well.

"I think when it comes to us as a team, it gives us a great opportunity actually going into the playoffs to kind of search, reflect and just see where we went wrong,” she concluded.