WWT20 TEAM GUIDES: South Africa, underestimate them at your peril

South Africa's team contains many of the planet's most exciting cricketers who are not only making an impact for their country, but also in domestic competitions like the Kia Super League

South Africa have been the most improved team in women's international cricket in recent years.

Their team contains many of the planet's most exciting cricketers who are not only making an impact for their country, but also in domestic competitions like the Kia Super League.

Although they are ranked No.6 in the world, after a successful World Cup last summer where they reached the semi-finals, South Africa promise to be a real force in the Caribbean.

Form

South Africa’s recent form has been mixed. They have recently toured the West Indies and the series was drawn 2-2 after one match was abandoned.

After losing the first two matches of the tour, South Africa did well to fight back against a strong Windies team who were playing on home turf. Importantly for South Africa, they have now had practice playing on Caribbean wickets which is sure to give them an advantage for this year’s T20 World Cup.

However, it would have been disappointing for them to fail to make the final of the recent T20 Tri Series against England and New Zealand. Although they beat England by six wickets in the third match, they failed to beat New Zealand in the series which meant they did not qualify for the final. If they are to make it far in the upcoming T20 World Cup, then they must consistently challenge the world’s strongest teams.

^{Laura Woolvardt}

Star players

Lizelle Lee and Dane Van Niekerk

Lee is South Africa’s hard-hitting opening batter who has consistently performed for her country. In 53 T20Is she has scored over 1,000 runs at an average of 24.06 and a high score of 69 not out.

She has also been the star player for the Surrey Stars in the KSL and her 104 in the final of this year’s competition against Loughborough Lightning won the tournament for her side.

Lee’s attacking play has helped South Africa become one of the world’s strongest teams, especially helped by her strike rate of over 100 which has ensured South Africa put runs on the board at a quick rate.

Captain Dane Van Niekerk is an experienced allrounder who is placed sixth in the ICC allrounder rankings. The legspinner has hit over 1,500 runs in T20Is at an average of 28.94 with a high score of 90 not out.

In her 69 international T20 matches she has also taken 49 wickets at an average of 22.73 with an economy rate of less than six. 

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Strengths

One of South Africa’s key strengths, due to their players’ different batting styles, is the ability to develop partnerships throughout the innings.

There are attacking, hard-hitting batsmen such as Lee and Chloe Tryon, and players such as Laura Wolvaardt who often plays a supporting role while keeping the run rate consistent.

Another important strength is their seam bowling. Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail lead the bowling attack for South Africa and theirs is one of the most aggressive bowling partnerships in the women’s game.

In Kapp’s 66 T20I games for South Africa she has taken 49 wickets at an average of 20.73 and an economy rate of 5.55, since making her international debut at the 2009 World Cup in Australia. She has a strike rate of just under 100 which adds to South Africa’s hard-hitting prowess.

Ismail also has a very impressive bowling record. In 69 T20Is she has taken 72 wickets at an average of 19.91, an economy rate of 6.08 and best figures of 5-30. Ismail has taken 200 international wickets in total in all formats of the game and her experience will be vital if South Africa are to have a successful tournament.

^{Marizanne Kapp is a dangerwoman for South Africa}

Weaknesses

A notable weakness of the South Africa team is their lack of consistency as a team. They often find themselves getting off to strong starts but lack consistency in the middle and lower orders which leads to a batting collapse.

Each South Africa player must be sure of their role in order to perform to the best of their ability.

Chances of winning

South Africa’s main competition in their group will be England and hosts West Indies. However, if they perform as they have at times in the past, South Africa have the ability to beat any side in their group. They have also recently toured West Indies in Trinidad which has given them vitally important experience of the playing conditions out in the Caribbean.

They have a good opportunity to reach the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup.

Prediction: Semi-finalists 

Bet you didn’t know

The South Africa women’s cricket team did not play any international fixtures between 1972 and 1997, largely due to the sporting boycott of South Africa, amongst other factors

Fixture list (all UK time): Sri Lanka (Nov 13, midnight), West Indies (Nov 15, midnight), England (Nov 16, 8pm), Bangladesh (Nov 19, midnight)

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