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Khaka fifer in vain as Proteas Women lose final T20 warm-up against India

football01 October 2024 19:41
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Nadine de Klerk, Ayabonga Khaka and Laura Wolvaardt © Getty Images

Ayabonga Khaka enjoyed a good day in the office with an impressive return of five for 25 before the Proteas Women experienced a 28-run defeat in their final ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 warm-up against India in Dubai on Tuesday evening.

Khaka’s outstanding figures helped limit India to 144/7 in their 20 overs. However, Asha Sobhana's leading contribution of two wickets for 21 runs ultimately secured India’s victory, with the Proteas restricted to 116/6.

South Africa won the toss and opted to bowl first. Fast bowler Khaka made an immediate impact, taking two wickets in her first two overs, dismissing Shafali Verma (0) and Harmanpreet Kaur (10). At the end of the powerplay, India found themselves at 29/2.

India then produced a notable response after the opening stanza, adding 40 runs in the third wicket stand between Smriti Mandhana (21) and Jemimah Rodrigues (30) before Nonkululeko Mlaba (1/37) broke the partnership with the crucial wicket of Mandhana to leave India 63/3 after 10 overs.

Shortly after the drinks break, allrounder Annerie Dercksen (1/13) struck, as Tazmin Brits took a difficult catch in the deep to dismiss the in-form Rodrigues.

With India’s top order back in the pavilion, wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh (36) and spinning allrounder Deepti Sharma (35*) put together a vital 70-run partnership for the fifth wicket. This took India to 137/4 before Khaka struck three times in the final over, completing her five-wicket haul.

The experienced seamer removed Ghosh, Pooja Vastrakar (2) and Shreyanka Patil (0) in the space of four deliveries to restrict India to 144/7 in their 20 overs.

In their chase, the Proteas Women openers were put to the test as Brits (22) and Laura Wolvaardt (29) struggled to get the runs ticking over due to disciplined lines from the Indian bowlers. Eventually, the pair got going, putting on 31 runs on the board in the first six overs with Brits playing the role of the protagonist before she was caught in the deep off the bowling of Sobhana in the seventh over.

Needing 108 runs for victory, Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch (3) added 18 more runs before India, through Sharma, Patil, and Sobhana, claimed three quick wickets. This included the dismissals of Wolvaardt, Bosch, and Suné Luus (3), reducing the Proteas to 66/4 after 12 overs.

South Africa's chase faltered further when Nadine de Klerk (4) was removed by Harmanpreet Kaur (1/2), leaving the scoreboard at 76/5 in the 15th over.

Despite a valiant effort from Chloé Tryon (24) and an unbeaten knock from Annerie Dercksen (21*), the Proteas Women could only muster 116/6 in their 20 overs, as India sealed a 28-run win in the final warm-up game.

South Africa will begin their T20 World Cup campaign with a match against the West Indies on Friday, 04 October, at 14h00 local time (12h00 SAST).

South Africa’s Fixtures - ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 (03 - 20 October)

Friday, 04 October @ 12h00 SAST: 1st Match: South Africa v West Indies (Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai)

Monday, 07 October @ 16h00 SAST: 2nd Match: England v South Africa (Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah)

Wednesday, 09 October @ 12h00 SAST: 3rd Match: South Africa v Scotland (Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai)

Saturday, 12 October @ 16h00 SAST: 4th Match: Bangladesh v South Africa (Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai)

Thursday, 17 October @ 16h00 SAST: Semifinal 1 (Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai)

Friday, 18 October @ 16h00 SAST: Semifinal 2 (Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah)

Sunday, 20 October @ 16h00 SAST: Final (Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai)

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