Proteas Women on good run to put past World Cup failures behind them

The Proteas Women have set themselves up to make a big push for a maiden ICC Cricket World Cup title. They were stopped at the semifinal stage by England at the past two editions, in 2017 and 2022.

At this year’s tournament it was England again who threatened to derail the Proteas’ World Cup before it even began properly.

The Lionesses lashed the Proteas for a 10-wicket victory in their opening game after bowling the side out for only 69 runs. It was a humiliating defeat, but South Africa bounced back, winning the following five matches on the trot and booking their spot in the semifinals.

“We were very disappointed with our performance against England,” star all-rounder Marizanne Kapp said. “We felt like leading up to this World Cup, our preparation has been very good. Luckily we turned it around very quickly. That’s the hard work that we’ve been putting in behind the scenes.

“That’s the beauty of this team, where we’ve not been relying on one person. More people are starting to click and putting in performances. Everything feels like it’s coming together.”

At 35, Kapp is the veteran of the side, playing in her fifth World Cup. She was at the 2009 World Cup in Australia, where the team failed to win a single match. Now she’s part of a team who would be disappointed to return home from India without the trophy.

Kapp has been solid for the Proteas so far at the tournament, averaging 40.5 and striking quickly at 101.25 in the middle order. With the ball, she’s taken six wickets with a tight economy rate of 4.13 with her often unplayable away swingers.

Painful past

International women’s cricket was professionalised in South Africa in late 2013 and the effects on the team’s performances at showpiece events were immediate.

South Africa came close to reaching the World Cup final in 2017, but fell by two wickets to eventual champions England in the semifinals.

“[We] had a special bunch of players,” Kapp said about the 2017 tournament in England. “Having come from not a lot as a team, reaching that semifinal. We had an unbelievable World Cup.”

That team included an 18-year-old Laura Wolvaardt, who is now captain of the side, a young Suné Luus and unpolished versions of Chloe Tryon and Ayabonga Khaka.

The big heartbreak came in 2022, when Kapp believed the national team was at its peak. “There’s a bit of mixed emotions,” she said about the tournament in New Zealand.

“A few of our players reached 30 years of age [at the time] and it’s where you start reaching the peak of your career. We felt that was going to be our World Cup. Things didn’t go our way.”

England beat South Africa by 137 runs on that occasion, having beaten them by three wickets earlier in the tournament.

Since then, the Proteas Women have edged closer to their first International Cricket Council silverware. They finished runners-up at the 2023 T20 World Cup at home and again at the same tournament in 2024 hosted in the United Arab Emirates.

Team effort

This year in India and Sri Lanka, South Africa have flown under the radar slightly. The “big three” – India, Australia and England – have been in the spotlight.

India’s women’s side, like South Africa, are also looking to break a World Cup duck and, with the familiarity of home conditions, have understandably been given the bulk of attention.

Australia are the most successful side in history, with seven World Cup trophies, but they have not retained the title since claiming three titles on the bounce between 1978 and 1988.

England have always been most likely to pounce on any weakness that Australia show. This is exemplified by their four titles, the most recent of which was won at home in 2017.

Meanwhile, except for that first match against England, the Proteas have played some of the most complete cricket in the tournament, with every member contributing on the day.

“That’s the beauty of this World Cup,” Kapp explained. “We don’t only rely on one person. It’s been different people putting up their hands.

“That’s always good. At least now everyone’s had a good hit out, everyone’s had a good bowl, so it feels like we’re just getting better as we move forward.”

Breakout tournament

Although everyone has been contributing well, all-rounder Nadine de Klerk has been a breakout star. She has smashed 165 runs in the four innings she has batted, having only faced 110 balls. Her average is 82.50 at a strike rate of 150. With the ball, she’s taken five wickets at an economy rate of 5.44.

The 25-year-old’s performances have been otherworldly. “We’ve always known Nades is very talented,” Kapp said. “I’ve always rated her. I’ve always said she’s a very good batting all-rounder.

“In the past few years, it’s been more her bowling [that’s been her focus]. It seems like this year, her batting is really clicking. It’s an exciting time for us as a team.”

South Africa need to click when it matters. The team is on an exceptional run, but peaking too early would be disastrous.

In 2022, they only lost one group-stage match and finished second on the table behind Australia. Yet, they crumbled at the semifinal stage.

“We [need to] keep improving on the basics,” Kapp said on what they need to fine-tune for the knockout stage. “We’ve been doing it pretty well. The batters have been very proactive. The intent is there, the scoring shots.

“Same with the bowlers. We can probably tighten up a little bit on the bowling side of things. Even though we’ve done well, we still bowl some bad and loose deliveries, but in general we’re happy with where we are at the moment.”

With players who have found form at the right time, South Africa have a golden opportunity to go all the way at the 2025 ICC Cricket World Cup. DM

This story first appeared in our weekly Daily Maverick 168 newspaper, which is available countrywide for R35.