Thrashed by Pakistan women in the opening game, only to mount a comeback immediately in the game thereafter, the Proteas Women stand on the verge of an ODI series victory.
And truth be told, who doesn’t like a Proteas victory? With a rich mishmash of song and dance in the stands, to flowing, breezy weather, with cajoling crowd on its feet as the famous Rainbow nation’s flag flutters with rich aplomb, few things are as joyful as a South African win.
The spirit and a collective drive to win define a team for whom playing competitive cricket is about as natural as breathing itself.
But should the Proteas women manage that, it would be a fantastic start to the home season for a side, currently fourth on the ICC rankings, trailing the famous troika of England, Australia, and India in that order.
So as just a few hours remain for the start of the final (and third) ODI between the Proteas women and their Pakistani counterparts, the Willowmore Park at Benoni compels the South Africans to take cognizance of their game so far.
Clearly, if there’s a standout lesson for the hosts of this 3-match ODI series, one that also features 5 T20s, then it’s the apparent weakness of Proteas Women against Pakistan.
What’s telling and perhaps not so comforting is a simple statistic, albeit one pointing to an apparent anomaly in South African batting.
When Proteas Women crumbled against the Pakistani spin
Of the 12 wickets to have fallen thus far in the series, 9 have gone to the spinners. Do the math, revisit the scorecards, and find yourself engrossed in this spin-puzzle that Mir and company have trapped the South Africans into.
In the opening game, well-supported by the likes of Nida Dar and Nashra Sandhu, both of whom took 2 wickets apiece, former captain Sana Mir would rip into the top and middle order of South Africa.
As the side found itself blown away- not to pace, not to swing, yorkers or bouncers- but by a cleverly concocted web of puzzling turn and variation, the Pakistani’s clinched 8 of the Proteas’ 10 wickets.
The scorecard was far from being a run-riot.
63 all-out wasn’t their game’s greatest moment. It’s something that may remain with a highly motivated side for a while before it can flush that instance out altogether from the system.
What was further surprising was that only two batswomen were able to withstand the enormous pressure that the evergreen Sana Mir exerted from an end.
Not other batswomen with the possible exception of Mignon du Preez- a resilient 18 off 17, including 4 fours- and Chloe Tryon- 21 of 32, also four fours- was able to show the dead end of the bat to Pakistan’s spin attack.
Then, what happened next?
Next game, where the Proteas Women bounced back akin to a cherubic kid in the company of his closest playmates, Mir clinched another Protean wicket as the only other to fall, went to a medium pacer.
Where does that leave Sune Luus’ team, one that itself is being led by among the finest turners of the white-ball, Luus herself?
As the Proteas women prepare to face Pakistan, they’d be better off with a well-planned strategy.
Could it, therefore, be something along the lines of Lee and Woolvardt holding on for a few overs, seeing the new ball through whilst one of them takes the attack to a spinner as the other holds the fort?
And could it also therefore not be solely about digging a well of concentration in which to drag the Pakistan spinners?
What South Africa would be well-advised to do would be to create a plan for three of Pakistan’s strongest batswomen. After all, they’ve got to ask themselves a question.
How easy is it ever to dislodge a well-set Javeria Khan, Bismah Maroof, or Sidra Ameen?