FILE - Proteas Women’s spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba has had a great T20 World Cup tournament with nine wickets. FILE - Proteas Women’s spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba has had a great T20 World Cup tournament with nine wickets. Picture: Marco Longari / AFP
After one of the most nervy net sessions in the history of net sessions, the Proteas Women’s team can’t wait to face Australia in the semi-finals of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.
The Proteas were practising with one eye on the match between the West Indies and England, with all three teams still in with a chance of making the final four. However, they found out their fate during the change of innings, as the match turned into a shootout between the other two following England’s knock.
In the end, the West Indies progressed to the semis by topping the group, while the South Africans finished second and will now face world champions Australia in the knock-out round on Thursday (4pm start).
"I was really stressing out [during training], my fingers were crossed the whole time. I was praying that at least we make it to the semis, because I know we've been working hard and I feel like we deserve to play in the semis as well,“ ace Proteas spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba said.
On to the next battle! 🏏![CDATA[]]>🌍
— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) October 15, 2024
The Proteas Women have stormed into the semi-finals! 🏏![CDATA[]]>🔥 With passion, heart, and determination, we’re one step closer to the dream 🏆
Let’s bring it home! For South Africa! For The Proteas! 🇿![CDATA[]]>🇦![CDATA[]]>💚![CDATA[]]>💛#WozaNawe #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/mrOUN2TlLL
“I'm very excited to hear the news. I mean, we deserve it, honestly, and I can't wait for the semis.”
The semi-final is a re-run of last year’s final, when the Aussies won a close match in Cape Town.
Mlaba says she already mentally prepared to face the Australians, who will again go into the match as favourites. However, as was seen on Tuesday when the highly fancied English were blown away by the Windies, anything can happen in this strange game called cricket.
“I can't control what's going to happen. But obviously I knew if we make it to the semis, we play Australia. So in my head, I was already in that picture,” Mlaba said.
Mlaba has been superb for the Proteas, taking nine wickets so far in the tournament with a best bowling performance of 4/29 in their opening win against the West Indies.
However, she credited the work of her teammates for her performances, while they, in turn, will be hoping she makes an impact against a dangerous Australian batting line-up.
“Without this team, I don't think that would have been possible, because they were there throughout, catching the balls, getting behind me,” Mlaba said.
“So, I think we really need each other because we're playing as a team. So for me to take nine wickets, it's not coming only from me, but for the team as well. It's ours, actually, it's not mine.”
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