As the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup enters the business end with the first semifinal between South Africa and Australia being contested this evening in the dashing razzmatazz of Dubai, the slogan coined for this event ‘Whatever It Takes’ has undoubtedly been justified with the intent, aptitude and passion on display.
Ask the four semi-finalists in the aforementioned two along with their compatriots in New Zealand and the West Indies, and they will whole heartedly agree.
Perhaps the Marvel superhero in Captain America will also incontestably be proud of his slogan being used in this spectacle as the battle between bat and ball over the last few weeks has been nothing short of a marvel.
Truth be told, the best four teams have clawed their way to the very top and now it’s a battle of perform or perish over the next few days as the world would witness a new champion.
If one were to purely go on records and the stature of a team, Australia looks delectably placed to conquer this trophy and become an astonishing seven-time champions, albeit the women in green and gold from the southern tip of Africa will have other plans.
Yes, South Africa who themselves have played an attractive brand of cricket would undeniably be more than eager to right the wrong of last year’s World Cup final.
This after they were left reeling by the Aussies amid the scenic view of Newlands, CapeTown with thousands of home fans pondering in their misery on what could have been.
Perhaps, the story of South African cricket when it comes to prized ICC tournaments since re-entering the international fold after the abolition of apartheid is one of ‘What Could Have Been?’
Ask the likes of the late Hansie Cronje, Shaun Pollock, Graeme Smith, AB de Villiers and most recently Aiden Markram and Sune Luus and they will concur with all their heart.
Well, things have to change and hopefully they will which brings me to the question that serves as the title of this article.
Can South Africa surmount the Aussie Challenge?
The answer is an affirmative YES and here is why:
The Proteas Unit Looks Complete
With three wins out of the four games contested in the group stage, South Africa undeniably has looked a team with intent galore.
They have Tazmin Brits topping the run scoring charts with 155 runs to her name at a healthy average of 51. While she has laid the foundation for the Proteas in each and every game, her strike rate at 105 needs to soar so that South Africa can ascend to a more rollicking start which would be of vital importance against the Aussies.
Brits will ably be supported by captain Laura Wolvaardt who herself has had a tournament worth every praise being fourth on the batters’ table with 148 runs to her name at an average of 49 and a decent strike rate of 111.
When one talks about their bowling, they have the left arm spinner in Mlaba who has rediscovered her appetite for spin bowling in this event, notching up nine cherries at a miserly economy of four to the over and taking a wicket every nine balls.
She will have possibly the best all-rounder in world cricket in Marizanne Kapp for company who herself would be gunning to beat Australia to avenge last year’s final.
Well things won’t be easy as Australia is the team to beat for a reason with the likes Alyssa Healy, Beth Mooney, Elyse Perry and Megan Schutt, all legends in their own right, time and again proving their mettle in this beautiful game.
Paul Adams, A Source of Inspiration At The Helm
When ex-coach Hilton Moreeng called it quits with the Proteas set-up, Dillion du Preez took the mantle of leading this side albeit in an interim capacity and Cricket South Africa made the wise move of bringing in reputed South African spinner Paul Adams into the fray to help the new head coach and this team.
Well, the results have shown with South Africa’s slow bowlers in Mlaba, Chloe Tryon and Sune Luus regaining their confidence to rattle batters and Laura Wolvaardt openly praising Paul for not only aiding the spinners to ascend to the top of their game but also inspiring the team in its entirety before every match.
His words, acts and videos have undoubtedly motivated this team to give their best each time they walk onto the park and who knows possibly overthrow the reign of the invincible Aussies in a few hours from now.
Well, the need is at its peak for South Africa to not only beat Australia and enter their second consecutive T20 World Cup final albeit also bring home the trophy this time.
Then and only then can the 64 million strong Mzansi faithful rejoice in unison for a sport other than rugby to bring them cheer, the way few other things do.