Raisibe's attitude a gale-force wind of fresh air for the Pride

DP World Lions Ladies T20 captain Raisibe Ntozakhe's attitude to the new season is a gale-force wind of fresh air, never mind a breath.

Having topped the round-robin log in both the HollywoodBets ProSeries competitions last season and making both Finals, the DP World Lions were hugely disappointed not to have added both the 50-over and T20 trophies to the Pride’s ever-swelling trophy cabinet.

Whilst the newly-introduced finals of both the competitions were to be played at the neutral ground of Hollywoodbets Kingsmead, as opposed to the formidable fortress of the DP World Wanderers Stadium, Ntozakhe says that they have grown so much as a result of that challenge.

"Having to play in Durban and then losing was just one of those things, it needed to happen for us to grow as a team. Maybe we had the jitters. It was certainly a nerve-racking experience to put it all on the line in a final for the first time. Some of our players had never played under lights before," Ntozakhe says.

It was a devastating end to a season in which they had worked so diligently to finish first in both standings under new coach Sandile Masengemi, but Ntozakhe, typical of the feisty character she is, says it will be fuel for the coming season.

"That weekend will always stay in our heads and it will play a pivotal role in our growth as individuals. We learnt the importance of how you look at a game, especially your mental approach. Finals are more about the mental side than about skill. We are a very talented bunch and showed as much when we defended just 96 against the Titans two weeks prior. We showed we had the belief and character and I guess that in the finals, we were not mentally of the Gold Standard that we have come to expect. But I am glad it happened, that we went through that fire because now it won't happen again. We will be more mentally ready and that weekend will be a constant reminder, ensuring that our hunger will be there," Ntozakhe says.

The 29-year-old continues to make huge impacts for #ThePrideOfJozi with the ball and in the field. She is also the captain of the DP World Lions T20 side and her partnership with Kgomotso Rapoo both in terms of co-captaining the franchise in the two different formats and as a spin-bowling pair is a major strength of the team.

It only intensifies their threat that both of them are capable of performing the defensive, pressure-building role or being the aggressive wicket-taker when needed.

"It was a real honour to lead the team to the final in my first season as captain, even though we did not do ourselves justice in that match. All our achievements are down to us as a team working together, especially my partnership with Kgomotso.

"I first met Kgomotso when Yolanda Fourie was still in our system as captain. Kgomotso struck me as being pretty young but bold enough to speak in the changeroom, she was able to hold herself and the team accountable. It spoke volumes that she could handle criticism but also not just say nothing herself. She is a great communicator and I am always certain she will know what to do.

"We work hand-in-hand as captains because we always speak the truth to each other and hold each other accountable. I'm really honoured to captain with her and she is still growing; her game has matured really well and I'm sure she's on her way to bigger things.

"We are also very destructive as a bowling pair. If she bowls dot balls then I'll take wickets, like in the T20 final but I can bowl the dots as well and then she takes wickets. In the nets we are really competitive with each other and when we get into a tough situation on the field then the team says we must go bowl together.

"The biggest thing I focus on is consistency, bowling for dots. As long as I'm not being hit, I'm winning. Our analyst, Siyanda Zulu, has helped me understand my game better and always gives me his honest opinion, he'll tell me I'm searching and that's when I get hit. Bowling dots is under-rated, most people get bored. But if you're not getting hit, then the bowler at the other end can take wickets," Ntozakhe concludes.

The Lions ladies will start their HollywoodBets ProSeries campaign on October 3 against the Warriors in Gqeberha.

DP World Lions Women’s Squad

Raisibe Ntozakhe; Kgomotso Rapoo; Madison Landsman; Jenna Evans; Lehlohonolo Meso; Refilwe Moncho; Sarah Nettleton; Relebohile Mkhize; Nonkululeko Thabethe; Sunette Viljoen-Louw; Fay Cowling; Diara Ramlakan; Razeena Manack; Liyema Jubati; Neo Molefe; Leani Swanepoel; Thuto Thibedi; Lethabo Bidli; Keamogetswe Chuene; Shabnim Ismail; Ayabonga Khaka; Tumi Sekhukhune; Sinalo Jafta; Tazmin Brits; Chloe Tryon and Karabo Meso.