FILE - Proteas Women’s spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba pictured during the previous ICC T20 Women’s World Cup in South Africa in 2023. Mlaba was outstanding with the ball against the West Indies on Friday. FILE - Proteas Women’s spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba pictured during the previous ICC T20 Women’s World Cup in South Africa in 2023. Mlaba was outstanding with the ball against the West Indies on Friday. Picture: Marco Longari / AFP
For years the Proteas Women have been reliant on the speed and guile of their seamers at big tournaments, but spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba is emerging as their biggest weapon at the current ICC T20 Women’s World Cup.
The Proteas have gone into the tournament in the United Arab Emirates without their fast-bowling gun Shabnim Ismail, who retired from international cricket a few years ago. They still have all-rounder Marizanne Kapp and the wily Ayabonga Khaka at their disposal, but Ismail’s retirement is a blow in the wicket-taking department.
However, Mlaba showed in the first game against West Indies that she can fill that wicket-taking void when she produced career-best figures in the Proteas’ opening win on Friday.
Mlaba took 4/29 against the Windies, helping the Proteas restrict them to 118/6 in their allotted 20 overs. The Proteas then reached the target with 10 wickets in hand and with 13 balls to spare.
Proteas opener Tazmin Brits, who made a timely return to form with an unbeaten half-century in the chase against the West Indies, says she hopes the performance gives Mlaba confidence ahead of tougher assignments in the tournament.
ALWAYS RISING for HER 📝
— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) October 6, 2024
Before diving into World Cup preparations, the Proteas Women took a moment to reflect, penning letters to their younger selves.
A powerful reminder that no matter the obstacles, they are #AlwaysRising. 🇿![CDATA[]]>🇦#WozaNawe #BePartOfIt #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/VdgTHkyM33
“I was very happy for her. I think it’s about time that it showcased her talent because she’s got a lot of talent but I don’t think people actually realise what she actually has,” she said.
“She’s a bit of a diamond in the rough here in our team and to get those four wickets, I think I was speechless.
“I think hopefully, continue to the next game, hopefully she has the confidence because sometimes I think she lacks the confidence in herself. And I think that maybe just showed that she actually has the capability.”
The Proteas will face a barrage spin-bowling themselves when they take on England in their next assignment in Sharjah on Monday afternoon (4pm start)
Sharjah is the venue where the Proteas Men’s team found it difficult to handle the Afghanistan spinners in their recent One-Day International series defeat. England also performed a number on Bangladesh with their spinners at the venue in their first match, sealing a 21-run win to get their tournament started.
Game day Is Here! 🌍![CDATA[]]>🏏
— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) October 7, 2024
The Proteas Women are ready to take on England in their second #T20WorldCup clash!
With determination and heart, they step onto the field to make the nation proud.#WhateverItTakes 🇿![CDATA[]]>🇦#AlwaysRising #WozaNawe #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/lwkR2x8BTd
The big-hitting Brits says the Proteas will have to adapt to the conditions and the ball not coming onto the bat against the England.
“I thought that (spin) was going to come from all the teams to be honest because if there’s no pace on the ball, it makes it very difficult to reach the boundaries and some of the fields are actually a bit slower as well, so technically that’s the best way to go, but because of that we are prepping for that so I don’t think there’s lack of that,” Brits said.
“I think this wicket seems even slower than the Dubai wicket that we actually played on.
“But we’ll definitely (have an) attacking (approach). Like I said, the Powerplay is our main thing.
“I think in any team, if you can be very aggressive in the Powerplay, being only two fielders out, I think you stand a good chance to get to those 140s, 150s. So yeah, we'll probably still play our normal game.”
@JohnGoliath82