Marx leads Proteas Women’s fightback plans in second T20I in Benoni

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.

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The encounter will gets underway from 18h00 SAST, with the action broadcast live on SuperSport and SABC TV and Radio.

Eliz-Mari Marx’s career-best figures of three for 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 two for 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 - Inbound Tour against England (2024/25)

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 – Proteas Women’s Inbound Tour against England (24 November - 15 December)

T20I Series

Wednesday, 27 November at 18h00 - 2nd T20I: South Africa v England - Willowmoore Park, Benoni

Saturday, 30 November at 18h00 - 3rd T20I: South Africa v England - SuperSport Park, Centurion

IWC ODI Series

Wednesday, 04 December at 14h00 - 1st IWC ODI: South Africa v England - Kimberley Oval, Kimberley

Sunday, 08 December at 10h00 - 2nd Black Day ODI: South Africa v England – Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium, Durban

Wednesday, 11 December at 14h00 - 3rd IWC ODI: South Africa v England – JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom

Only test

Sunday, 15 – Wednesday, 18 December at 10h00 - Only test: South Africa v England - Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein