The Proteas Women will be looking to bounce back and level the three-match series in the second T20 International (T20I) against England at the Willowmoore Park Stadium on Wednesday, following a narrow four-wicket defeat in East London.
With both teams showcasing moments of brilliance in the series opener, an intriguing contest awaits fans in Benoni.
The encounter will get under way from 6pm SAST, with the action broadcast live on SuperSport and SABC TV and Radio.
Benoni, are you ready? 🇿🇦🔥
— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) November 26, 2024
The Proteas Women are set to light up Willowmoore Park as they take on England in the second T20I of the series! 🏏
🎟️ Get your tickets now on: https://t.co/jYPifalyRB#AlwaysRising #WozaNawe #BePartOfIt #SAvENG pic.twitter.com/zvM2PB0RzG
Eliz-Mari Marx’s career-best figures of 3-19 was the standout performance for South Africa in the opening game.
Her disciplined stump-to-stump bowling dismissed key players, including England captain Heather Knight.
Despite her efforts and an all-round display of 29* and 2-20 from Nadine de Klerk, the Proteas fell short of defending their total of 142-5, as England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt guided her team to victory with a commanding 59 off 54 balls (7 fours).
Reflecting on her performance, Marx credited her success to meticulous preparation and a focus on improving her bowling skills during her time away from international cricket.
“I take a lot of confidence from that performance. It’s always exciting to pick up big scalps and contribute to the team. it's a tough exclusion not to go to the World Cup but it gave me time to work on the things that I wanted to work on for a long time” she noted.
Speaking to the media, Marx highlighted the need for better consistency in both batting and bowling to help the Proteas Women level the series.
“If we look at the batting side, obviously losing wickets in clusters didn't help us. Also, from a bowling point of view, tightening up a little bit in the boundary balls. Those are some of the small areas of improvement needed to level the series tomorrow,” the allrounder added.
While the Proteas are unlikely to make significant changes to their line-up, the playing conditions at Willowmoore Park could influence team strategy.
The pitch is expected to offer more bounce compared to Buffalo Park, potentially favouring pace bowlers.
Marx noted, “We’ll assess the conditions during training and adapt accordingly.”
The absence of experienced campaigners like Ayabonga Khaka and Marizanne Kapp, who have been rested for this T20I series, adds to the challenge for the Proteas Women.
Meanwhile, Chloe Tryon, who arrived from the Women’s Big Bash in Australia just a day before the opening match, missed the first game but is back in contention for the remainder of the series.
The seasoned players’ unavailability offers a valuable opportunity for the youngsters in the squad to step up and showcase their talent on the international stage.
“Obviously, we lose experience. But it's also time for some younger players to put up their hands and try and perform. It's big shoes to fill but we try our best every game we take the field,” she commented.
PROTEAS WOMEN T20I SQUAD
Laura Wolvaardt (Captain) (Fidelity Titans), Anneke Bosch (Fidelity Titans), Tazmin Brits (DP World Lions), Nadine de Klerk (World Sports Betting Western Province), Annerie Dercksen (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), Ayanda Hlubi (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Sinalo Jafta (DP World Lions), Suné Luus (Fidelity Titans), Eliz-Mari Marx (Fidelity Titans), Nonkululeko Mlaba (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Tumi Sekhukhune (DP World Lions), Nondumiso Shangase (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Chloé Tryon (DP World Lions), Faye Tunnicliffe (World Sports Betting Western Province)
FIXTURES
T20s
Wednesday, 27 November at 6pm - 2nd T20I: South Africa v England - Willowmoore Park, Benoni
Saturday, 30 November at 6pm - 3rd T20I: South Africa v England - SuperSport Park, Centurion
IWC ODI Series
Wednesday, 4 December at 2pm - 1st IWC ODI: South Africa v England - Kimberley Oval, Kimberley
Sunday, 8 December at 10am - 2nd Black Day ODI: South Africa v England – Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium, Durban
Wednesday, 11 December at 2om - 3rd IWC ODI: South Africa v England – JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom
ONLY TEST
Sunday, 15 – Wednesday, 18 December at 10am - Only test: South Africa v England - Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein