In a must-win and must-improve net-run-rate match against the Netherlands, Tazmin Brits scored the first century of her T20I career as South Africa recorded their second-highest total in the format. Despite not bowling out the Dutch, they managed to defend the total, becoming the third team to reach the top 200 in this event.
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| Tazmin Brits commemorates reaching her first T20I century |
Back in her starting position, Brits and Laura Wolvaardt shared the highest stand of 121 runs, which gave South Africa a strong foundation. Annerie Dercksen joined the British after Wolvaardt was expelled for 45, and the two accelerated. They raised South Africa to 208 by scoring 87 runs at a run rate of 13.38 off 39 balls.
The Dutch openers put on their sixth-highest opening stand of 58, so their bowlers had a lot more work to do. The Netherlands had to bat to a revised target after being split up, as the required run rate had already risen to 12.5 per over. After Sterre Kalis and Molkenboer combined for 42 for the second wicket, the Netherlands collapsed. They were 120 for 8 at the close of the innings after losing eight wickets for 20 runs between the 15th and 20th overs, including three in the last over.
As a result, South Africa's net run rate is again in positive territory at 0.734, but they are still well behind India at 2.268.
Wolvaardt finds their connection with the Brits
Wolvaardt has had difficulty finding her touch at this competition, and Brits have had similar difficulties. After being benched for the first two games, she was compelled to play a little differently from her usual style while assisting Marizanne Kapp in rebuilding. When allowed to bat first, the two appeared to be attempting to work things out as a team. First up, Wolvaardt missed two short, wide deliveries, but the British punished a similar ball for the first four of the innings. Wolvaardt quickly reached her first four through mid-wicket, but it wasn't until the fifth over that she produced her trademark cover drive.
In the fifth over, Babette de Leede, desperate for a breakthrough, called in legspinner Silver Siegers, but she was too short and was hit for 17 runs. After the Powerplay, South Africa had won 66 straight games. Caroline de Lange created two opportunities, a stumping and a catch off Brits, who was on 46, but both were missed, causing them to slow down a little. Before they were split up when Wolvaardt attempted to hit another short, wide ball but feathered it behind, their partnership reached 121.
Dercksen performs at number three
Before this tournament, South Africa had no idea who their No. 3 was, but now they do. With two strong knocks at this competition, Annerie Dercksen has solidified her position. She had a good sense of the game's circumstances and a first-hand strike at the British while giving herself time to get her eye in. Before she applied pressure, Dercksen watched the British score 31 runs off 20 balls and was seven off the first six balls she faced. On the seventh ball she faced, she blasted Hannah Landheer over extra cover for six, which was her maiden boundary. After being dropped on 14, Dercksen took full use of the lifeline and finished with a strike rate of 231, scoring 23 runs off eight balls, including back-to-back fours against Iris Zwilling in the last over.
Wolvaardt has had difficulty finding her touch at this competition, and Brits have had similar difficulties. After being benched for the first two games, she was compelled to play a little differently from her usual style while assisting Marizanne Kapp in rebuilding. When allowed to bat first, the two appeared to be attempting to work things out as a team. First up, Wolvaardt missed two short, wide deliveries, but the British punished a similar ball for the first four of the innings. Wolvaardt quickly reached her first four through mid-wicket, but it wasn't until the fifth over that she produced her trademark cover drive.
In the fifth over, Babette de Leede, desperate for a breakthrough, called in legspinner Silver Siegers, but she was too short and was hit for 17 runs. After the Powerplay, South Africa had won 66 straight games. Caroline de Lange created two opportunities, a stumping and a catch off Brits, who was on 46, but both were missed, causing them to slow down a little. Before they were split up when Wolvaardt attempted to hit another short, wide ball but feathered it behind, their partnership reached 121.
Dercksen performs at number three
Before this tournament, South Africa had no idea who their No. 3 was, but now they do. With two strong knocks at this competition, Annerie Dercksen has solidified her position. She had a good sense of the game's circumstances and a first-hand strike at the British while giving herself time to get her eye in. Before she applied pressure, Dercksen watched the British score 31 runs off 20 balls and was seven off the first six balls she faced. On the seventh ball she faced, she blasted Hannah Landheer over extra cover for six, which was her maiden boundary. After being dropped on 14, Dercksen took full use of the lifeline and finished with a strike rate of 231, scoring 23 runs off eight balls, including back-to-back fours against Iris Zwilling in the last over.
The Powerplay is enjoyed by the Dutch
In the second over, Phoebe Molkenboer sent Shabnim Ismail for back-to-back-to-back boundaries and showed no fear against the quickest bowler in the tournament, crushing any hopes South Africa had of defeating the Dutch. Molkenboer discovered and penetrated the openings on Ismail's leg side when she made the mistake of being too short and was struck three times on the leg side, as she has done throughout this tournament.
When Sanya Khurana, the other opener, edged Marizanne Kapp to slip, South Africa should have had her for three. Chloe Tryon ruined a straightforward opportunity. When South Africa had their first opportunity, Khurana hit Ayabonga Khaka on both sides of the wicket as she was having trouble finding her lines, forcing them to play. Not content to stop there, Khurana also faced Ismail, reaching 30 off 21 balls by lapping a yorker for four. After Powerplay, the Netherlands were 50-0 and at ease at the crease.
Once more, Ismail's short ball works and causes a breakdown
When Ismail was brought back to bowl her third over in the fifteenth over, it was clear that she had a strategy behind her persistence in using the short ball. On the 26th, she hit Kalis, who was cramped for space. Kalis went for the draw and gloved it to Sinalo Jafta, who ended Kalis' innings with a good catch. The Dutch collapsed after that wicket, losing their next eight wickets in 21 balls despite their batters' best efforts to finish forcefully. In her last over, Ayabonga Khaka claimed three wickets, including two in two balls, to close the innings.