Momentum Proteas seal victory in the Winelands

The Momentum Proteas have come out on top in their final warm-up match before the ICC Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup. The South African Women’s team beat Pakistan by 6-wickets at Boland Park in Paarl, successfully chasing down 142.

The views at Boland Park. Photo: Ziaan Siems

Last bit of tweaking before the World Cup

Pakistan won the toss on a blazing hot Winelands afternoon and asked the Momentum Proteas to have a bowl first. The South Africans started really well, but they couldn’t pin Pakistan down.

With the match’s sole purpose being preparation, captain Sune Luus gave nearly everyone a couple of overs to bowl. Luus used seven bowlers in total, and while she, Masabata Klaas and Ayabonga Khaka was a little on the expensive side, Nonkululeko Mlaba kept the Pakistani batters under the pump.

Mlaba, who recently moved up to second place on the ICC T20 bowlers rankings, conceded just eight runs in the first three overs. The fourth turned out to be more expensive, ultimately ending with figures of 1/16 in four overs.

Nadine de Klerk running in hard. Photo: Ziaan Siems

destructive with bat in hand – but it almost fell apart

Pakistan managed to set a decent total, handing the Momentum Proteas 143 to chase. The South African openers, Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits, built a proper partnership up front. They weren’t overly aggressive, but took their chances when the ball was there to hit.

Halfway through, the Momentum Proteas were cruising. 73 runs on the board without the loss of a wicket.

Wolvaardt started to stamp down on her authority in the middle. She freed her arms and found the boundary with ease, and lifted her bat to celebrate a half-century in the 12th over.

Laura Wolvaardt playing a beautiful shot and keeping her eyes on the ball as it crosses the boundary for a six. Photo: Ziaan Siems

The next over, unlucky number 13, she had to take the long walk back to the cloth rooms, following a well-played 65 off 42 deliveries. a slower ball full toss her undoing, as she hit it straight into the lap of the fielder at long-off.

Brits would follow in Wolvaardts’ trail the very next over in a nearly similar dismissal. A length delivery hit straight to long-off.

A couple more quick wickets followed, and it came down to South Africa needing a run-a-ball with five overs remaining. Anneke de Klerk and Chloe Tryon managed to make light work of that, to hand the Momentum Proteas a 6-wicket win.

A tough ICC T20 Women’s World Cup waits

The Momentum Proteas start their campaign with a meeting against Sri Lanka on Friday, 10 February at Newlands.

On Monday, 13 February, they play New Zealand at Boland Park. They will conclude the group stage with a meeting against Bangladesh on Tuesday, 21 February.

Tickets for the ICC T20 Women’s World Cup start from just R30, and you can get them either on the Ticketpro website or at the stadium.

The semi-finals will take place on the 23 and 24 February, and the final on Sunday, 26 February. They will play all three knockout games at Newlands.