Captain Laura Wolvaardt: Proteas Women edging closer to their best cricket

Proteas Women’s captain Laura Wolvaardt believes the team is getting closer to playing their best cricket following their ten-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the rain-affected encounter in Colombo.

Wolvaardt breezed to an unbeaten 60 at the R. Premadasa Stadium, her second half-century of the tournament. Her opening partner, Tazmin Brits, hurried to an unbeaten 55, her first half-century of the tournament as she turned her form around following her back-to-back ducks against India and Bangladesh.

The pair guided South Africa to their fourth victory, a feat they have not been able to accomplish in the opening four games of the tournament. Reflecting on the Sri Lanka fixture and the previous four games where different players have stood up and carried the team over the line, Wolvaardt expressed that she believes they are close to playing their best cricket.

“It’s been great. It sort of felt like the whole team has contributed in different parts in this tournament, which has been awesome,” said Wolvaardt. “We definitely haven’t relied on one or two people, whether it’s Nadine and Chloe getting us out of a hole or me and Taz batting well.

“The whole bowling unit has been amazing, and I think our fielding has been pretty decent as well throughout the tournament. So, it’s just nice to see all those pieces of the puzzle coming together.

“I think we’re still searching for that perfect game as a team where the top order fires and the middle order fires, which is exciting because we’re still winning games even though certain things aren’t perfect.

“But, it’s been a great tournament and it’s great that everyone’s been involved and has put in big performances, and hopefully if we do make those semi-finals, that will come in handy.”

In Colombo, South Africa fielded 18-year-old Karabo Meso, who has been talked about a lot recently in the country. The young wicketkeeper-batter earned her maiden ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup game as she replaced experienced wicketkeeper Sinalo Jafta.

The youngster had a neat World Cup debut against Sri Lanka, where she took a difficult catch off the bowling of left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba. Wolvaardt emphasised that the management wanted to expose the young wicketkeeper and give her a taste of World Cup cricket.

“It was just a change. I think KB, Karabo, who came in, has been amazing for us for a very long time. Very young as well,” said Wolvaardt. “So, we just thought it was a good game to give her some World Cup exposure. I thought she was excellent, had a really good take behind the stumps as well. So, great game for her.”

South Africa will face Pakistan at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Tuesday for their penultimate round-robin fixture.