Proteas Women take aim at World Cup semi

The Proteas Women head into their final ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 group stage match against Bangladesh on Saturday evening at the Dubai International Stadium with the stakes high as the team aims to secure a third consecutive semi-final berth in the competition.

The encounter is set to commence at 6pm local time (4pm SAST) and will be showcased live on SuperSport Grandstand.

Currently sitting second in Group B, South Africa is on four points alongside table-toppers West Indies, only trailing by net run rate, while England remains in contention with one game in hand. The Proteas will need a strong showing against Bangladesh and will have to wait for other results to determine their final position in the pool.

The Proteas Women come into the match in a positive mood, having secured a dominant 80-run win over Scotland in their last outing, powered by Marizanne Kapp’s blistering 24-ball 43 and Nonkululeko Mlaba’s impressive return of 3/12.

Bangladesh, however, have proven to be formidable opponents, having drawn their most recent T20 International (T20I) series against South Africa in December 2023. In that series, the Tigresses claimed a notable victory in Benoni, where Murshida Khatun’s unbeaten 62* and Shorna Akter’s five-wicket haul gave them the upper hand.

This match will also mark a significant milestone for wicketkeeper batter Sinalo Jafta, who is set to play her 50th T20I for the Proteas. Speaking ahead of the game, Jafta reflected on the journey to this achievement, stating, “Tomorrow is a special day, both in cricket and in my personal life. I mean, tomorrow I'm also two years sober. So it's a really exciting day.

“If I look back at some point, I thought I lost my career and to walk out in a World Cup game and potentially have my 50th cap, I think no-one could have ever predicted that. That's not all on me. It's always he (God) who knows at the end of the day.”

Discussing the team's approach to the crucial fixture, Jafta acknowledged the importance of staying calm under pressure. “It has to be calm. Once you overthink it, a lot of mistakes can happen out there. For us, it's just being calm throughout and just making sure that we get over the line and the rest will take care of itself,” she noted.

On the conditions in Dubai, Jafta highlighted the need for adaptability, particularly following the Proteas’ experience in Sharjah: “At the moment, we're 2-1, so I think we prefer Dubai. But with Sharjah, it's really a test of the players' patience and also the basics. It is slightly slower, 100%. But us as a team, we just had to assess conditions way quicker than we did.”

Jafta also highlighted the team’s mindset heading into tomorrow’s game. “Obviously with Bangladesh, you always have to respect your opposition. As a team, we know what's at stake. We would love to have the two points at the end of it and take care of that and look forward from there.”

As the Proteas Women prepare for what could be a defining moment in their World Cup campaign, Jafta’s leadership behind the stumps remains a key factor. “The one thing that the new fielding coach, Bongani Ndaba, always emphasises is that I'm in charge of all the fielders out there. Their energies speak to how I also approach my game. Once my shoulders drop, everyone around me will drop. I need to keep everyone alert. There are a few characters but you always have to bring them in.

“That's the same approach we should have for tomorrow night,” she added