World Sports Betting Western Province Women Head Coach Claire Terblanche has reflected on the good season the ladies' team enjoyed.
Terblanche's charges made a positive impact in the 2023/24 season having won the CSA T20 Challenge and finishing third in the 50-Over format.
Terblanche has also commended the move by Cricket South Africa (CSA) after making the women's cricket professional in South Africa for the first time in its history.
She says the move by CSA saw many teams improving tremendously.
"I think the professionalism in the Women’s game is a major boost to South African cricket," said Terblanche.
"I think that it's quite historical that this happened in our era. And it's just elevated our space and environment so much.
"You could see the improvements in many teams, including ours, as people's or teams' pipelines were tested.
The 39-year-old added that the move saw a lot of players from the pipeline getting chances to make the starting XI’s through the season.
"I must say that our pipeline in the Western Province really proved quite strong as we brought in at least four debutants this season to replace either injured players or players that have been on tour, with majority of the girls still at school,” she says.
"I think it's really positive from our side at Western Province that our pipeline is actually quite strong for players to come in and do well."
Having won the 50 Over trophy in the 2022/23 season, Province Women were eager to start the season on a high - continuing where they left off.
However, the World Sports Betting Newlands based side did not have the perfect start of the campaign having the first game against Hollywoodbets Dolphins Women rained out.
"Our season started quite rocky, we had a rained-out first game. We played Dolphins at Newlands and the game rained out and then the next day we played the T20 and then we won that," said Terblanche.
"So, after that bit of a rocky start in the first half of the season, we came back quite nicely in the second half of the season within the 50 over space. But again, we had mixed results."
Terblanche has applauded several Province players who have made a name for themselves in the Proteas system this season.
Some of whom were included to represent South Africa at this year’s 13th edition of the African Games to be held in Accra, Ghana in March.
"With the number of players being called up to Emerging level and being part of Team SA - and myself obviously as part of the management - was great," she continues.
"As I said, we've got a good few going to the Emerging Academy as well as a couple that will join over the school holidays possibly.
"Again, I think overall really, really well done and a well-deserved season for the ladies.
Terblanche added: "I do feel that this coming season, a bigger focus will be put on our 50 Over game to try and tweak things in that space."
"We want to just give it a full blow for that number one spot, just as we've done for the T20 space.
"I think the intent can filter over into the 50 over space from what we're doing in our T20 game. A lot of little changes that could make a big difference, so that would probably be something that we focus on in the 50 over space going into this new season."
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