South Africa’s national women’s cricket team delivered a mixed performance during the recent World Cup tournament in India. The Proteas demonstrated remarkable resilience to reach the championship match despite inconsistent displays throughout the competition....Click to Read More >>➤
The squad ultimately fell short in the final against host nation India, suffering a fifty-two run defeat in Mumbai. The tournament outcome has sparked evaluations of individual contributions and future selection prospects for the national team.
Captain Laura Wolvaardt emerged as the tournament’s standout performer, earning exceptional ratings for her leadership and batting dominance. The opening batter accumulated five hundred seventy-one runs across nine matches with an impressive average exceeding seventy runs per innings.
Wolvaardt’s tournament featured three half-centuries during the preliminary stage followed by spectacular knockout performances. Her match-winning century against England in the semifinal demonstrated her capacity for pressure situations, though she couldn’t secure victory in the final despite another century.
Opening partner Tazmin Brits received moderate ratings after showing flashes of brilliance amid inconsistency. Her century against New Zealand in the opening round highlighted her potential, but subsequent performances failed to maintain that standard.
Brits registered disappointing scores against several opponents, including three ducks during the group stage. Her contributions in critical matches proved insufficient when the team needed stability at the top of the batting order.
Anneke Bosch faced severe criticism after delivering the squad’s most disappointing individual performance. The top-order batter managed only thirty-five total runs across six appearances with just one innings reaching double figures.
Bosch’s complete failure in the knockout stages, scoring zero in both the semifinal and final, has raised questions about her international future. Selection committees will likely reconsider her position following such minimal impact during the global tournament.
Experienced campaigner Suné Luus produced inconsistent results despite her extensive international background. The top-order batter recorded two half-centuries but failed to reach significant scores in four other innings.
Luus contributed little during the decisive playoff matches, combining for just twenty-six runs when her team needed experienced players to perform. Her secondary bowling role proved equally ineffective with just one wicket at considerable expense.
All-rounder Marizanne Kapp delivered outstanding performances that cemented her value to the national setup. The veteran player excelled with both bat and ball throughout the tournament, participating in all nine Proteas matches.
Kapp’s twelve wickets and two half-centuries demonstrated her balanced contribution across departments. Her spectacular semifinal display featuring forty-two runs and a five-wicket haul represented the tournament’s most complete individual performance.
The World Cup campaign revealed both strengths and weaknesses within the South African women’s cricket program. While individual brilliance propelled the team to the final, inconsistent support performances ultimately prevented championship success.
Selection decisions loom for cricket administrators as they evaluate player development needs and future tournament planning. The World Cup experience provides valuable lessons for building a more consistent squad capable of challenging for future global titles.
Sinalo Jafta (4/10)
With the bat, Jafta did not come to the party. In the seven games she played, her biggest contribution was just 29 runs in a losing cause against Australia.
One of a few batters in the team who repeatedly failed to deliver, she must take some of the blame for not hitting her straps when she was needed.
Behind the stumps, her team might have been satisfied with the wicketkeeper’s overall performance, but she took only six catches in the tournament.
Annerie Dercksen (3/10)
Locked in a battle with Bosch for recognition as the team’s worst performer, middle-order batter Dercksen made only 20 runs in the first four innings she played.
She did eventually make a contribution in the final, hitting 35 in a fighting 61-run partnership with Wolvaardt for the sixth wicket, though it was not enough to carry the Proteas across the line.
The part-time seamer was given the ball just once, delivering five balls, so we can’t judge her bowling performance.
Chloe Tryon (6/10)
The all-rounder wasn’t terrible, nor was she great, but she would have hoped for a better World Cup.
In seven innings with the bat, Tryon made 176 runs at an average of 29.33, producing a top score of 62 against Bangladesh in the league stage of the tournament.
She was given the ball in eight of the nine games she played, taking a total of six wickets at an average of 37.16 and a decent economy rate of 4.95.
Nadine de Klerk (8/10)
Better known as a bowler, De Klerk’s campaign at the World Cup will be best remembered for her incredible efforts with the bat.
In seven innings, she made 208 runs down the order, and her big-hitting exploits were remarkable, most notably in an unbeaten 84-run knock off just 54 balls to help secure a hard-fought victory over India in the opening round.
She also delivered in her traditional role with the ball, taking nine wickets at an average of 26.11.
Masabata Klaas (4/10)
In the five matches she played, Klaas was unable to find her best form.
The 34-year-old seam bowler took only three wickets and gave away 108 runs, and while she did help keep the run rate down with an economy rate of 4.32, she would have hoped to make more of an impact with the opportunities she was given.
Unsurprisingly, she was not selected for the final team in either of the Proteas’ playoff games against England and India.
Nonkululeko Mlaba (7/10)
The 25-year-old slow bowler was the SA team’s leading wicket-taker, turning out in all nine games and grabbing 13 scalps at an average of 22.69 and an economy rate of 4.83.
Her best performances came in the league stage matches against New Zealand (4/40) and Sri Lanka (3/30), playing a key role in the Proteas’ victories in both those games.
She got among the wickets in six of the national team’s fixtures, taking advantage of the generally spin-friendly conditions.
Ayabonga Khaka (5/10)
The seamer was consistent, but not nearly as destructive as she would have liked, taking only six wickets in the seven games she played.
In three matches she didn’t pick up a scalp, but she did do well in the final in an attempt to put up a fight against a powerful India line-up.
She was a little too expensive in the trophy contest, but Khaka took 3/58 to spearhead the Proteas attack in the most important game of the tournament.
Other players
All-rounder Nondumiso Shangase, seam bowler Tumi Sekhukhune and 18-year-old wicketkeeper/batter Karabo Meso each played only two of the national team’s nine games at the ODI showpiece.
Shangase took two wickets, Sekhukhune grabed one scalp and Meso secured four catches, while none of them scored any runs with the bat.
But they didn’t receive enough opportunities as back-up players in the 15-member Proteas squad, and we feel rating them would be a little unfair, so they get a free pass.
