Yesterday, the Proteas women’s hopes of making it to the final of the ODI tri-series were dashed after a spirited but ultimately unsuccessful chase against India at the R. Premadasa International Stadium in Colombo.
Despite valiant efforts from Annerie Dercksen and stand-in captain Chloe Tryon, South Africa fell 23 runs short. The Proteas women couldn’t quite chase down India’s imposing total of 337, marking their third consecutive loss in the series.
India sets the pace
Winning the toss and electing to field, South Africa initially had India on the back foot at 50/3 within the first seven overs. However, a formidable partnership between Indian players Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma turned the game around. Together, they put on 122 runs for the fifth wicket, pushing India to an imposing total of 337/9 in their 50 overs.
South African bowlers Masabata Klaas and Nadine de Klerk, alongside spin bowler Nonkululeko Mlaba, each picked up two wickets, but the Proteas’ bowling attack struggled to maintain pressure as India’s middle order piled on runs.
South Africa’s fight back, led by Dercksen and Tryon
Chasing a daunting 338, the Proteas women got off to decent starts but failed to follow through. The standout performances came from Annerie Dercksen and Chloe Tryon. Dercksen played a gutsy innings of 81 off 80 balls, holding the team, before falling to Indian bowler Amanjot Kaur.
Tryon, captaining in the absence of regular skipper Laura Wolvaardt (sidelined due to illness), played a blistering knock of 67 off 43 balls. Her aggressive play raised hopes of a miraculous comeback as she smashed 23 runs off eight balls just before play was halted due to bad light.
Unfortunately, the delay seemed to break the Proteas’ momentum. When play resumed, Tryon’s rhythm was visibly disrupted, and South Africa concluded their innings at 314/7—23 runs short of the target.
Coach’s comments show a missed opportunity
Before the match, Proteas Women head coach Mandla Mashimbyi expressed optimism, saying his team had identified ‘vulnerabilities’ in the Indian side. “The only way we can turn it around is if we win the two games, and we are focussing on doing that,” he said. But on the day, the Proteas fell just short, unable to convert starts into game-defining scores.
This loss eliminates South Africa from the race to the final, which will now be contested between Sri Lanka and India. The Proteas will face Sri Lanka in a match that no longer has any bearing on the outcome of a series, with only pride on the line.
Despite the disappointment, the Proteas can take heart from their batting display, particularly from Dercksen and Tryon. However, their bowling and fielding left room for improvement.
The Proteas’ journey in this tri-series may have come to a close, but their fight and resilience remain a beacon of promise.
Emma is a freshly graduated Journalist from Stellenbosch University, who also holds an Honours in history. She joined the explain team, eager to provide thorough and truthful information and connect with her generation.
