We're all on the same page - Brits ahead of second ODI against Pakistan

Proteas Women’s opening batter Tazmin Brits believes the team is singing off the same hymn sheet in their approach with the bat ahead of the second One-Day International (ODI) against Pakistan taking place in Lahore on Friday.

The encounter will get underway at 3.30pm local time (12.30pm SAST) from the Gaddafi Stadium and will be broadcast live on SuperSport Cricket (Ch. 212).

South Africa head into the clash with confidence after an emphatic eight-wicket win in the opening fixture. The victory was underpinned by unbeaten centuries from Brits (101*) and Marizanne Kapp (121*) in pursuit of Pakistan’s 255/4, who reached that score thanks to knocks from Sidra Amin (121*) and Muneeba Ali (76).

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Brits praised the team’s unified batting mindset, while emphasising the importance of role clarity at different phases of the innings.

“We’re all buying into the same thing. When you have your different ideas, that’s when plans normally fail. So we’re working on certain things, and it also works according to you as a batter.

“I am a bit of an aggressive player where Wolfie (Laura Wolvaardt) is maybe more the anchor role because she bats longer periods of time. Cricket’s a funny game, sometimes you come off and sometimes you don’t but we have a target that we set with every powerplay that we try and achieve with maybe losing one or two wickets.

“So whenever you find yourself in that powerplay or outside the powerplay or middle order, you kind of know what you need to do. We’re definitely looking at running hard between the wickets. I think we underestimate that in ODI cricket, if you can turn ones into twos, that’s an extra 30, 40 runs adding to the total, which can definitely change the game.

“So it is about buying into it and we’re all on the same page, and that’s what we’re working for,” the 34-year-old added.

Brits has been in sparkling form for the Proteas, registering scores of 98* and 101 during the recent tour to the West Indies before carrying that momentum into Pakistan.

When asked about her purple patch, the right-hander admitted there was no secret formula but expressed gratitude for her current run.

“I don’t know, hey. I actually don’t have an answer for that, to be honest with you. It just seems like things are going my way. So I’m very thankful for that. Hopefully it can continue throughout the World Cup. I mean, I would have rather taken these hundreds in the World Cup than taking them before that but hopefully with scoring those hundreds, it definitely gives me confidence and I’m hoping that it does continue”.

Another significant area of development for Brits has been her ability to counter spin. In the first ODI, Pakistan’s attack bowled nearly 30 overs of spin, which Brits and Kapp negotiated expertly during their record-breaking 216-run stand for the third wicket.

Reflecting on the hard work behind the scenes, Brits highlighted the adjustments she has made to her game

“Every batter is very different. For me personally, I had to work very, very hard on spin and strike rotation. I like seam, so I like to climb into a seamer but we’ve put a lot of work in.

“There were times that I had to travel to PE, for argument’s sake, to Bakes (Baakier Abrahams), our batting coach. I had to get out of my comfort zone. I’ve been working on extra shots, I’ve been working on head positioning, I even changed my batting grip literally just before West Indies. So there are a few things that you’ve got to get uncomfortable with to become comfortable,” she added.

Proteas Women Squad - ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 & Pakistan Tour

Laura Wolvaardt (Captain), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Suné Luus, Karabo Meso, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nondumiso Shangase, and Chloé Tryon.

Travelling Reserve

Miané Smit

Management

Mandla Mashimbyi (Head Coach), Sedibu Mohlaba (Team Manager), Claire Terblanche (Assistant Coach), Baakier Abrahams (Batting Coach), Dillon du Preez (Bowling Coach), Bongani Ndaba (Fielding Coach), Zane Webster (Strength and Conditioning Coach), Abram Ramoadi (Performance Analyst), Neline Hoffman-Kellerman (Physiotherapist), Dr Tshegofatso Gaetsewe (Team Doctor), Happiness Mesi (Logistics and Massage Therapist), Lita Gqirana (Media Manager) and Zahid Shaik (Close Protection Officer).

Fixtures - Pakistan Tour (All times are SAST)

Tuesday @ 12.30pm - 1st ODI: Pakistan v South Africa (Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore) - SA won by eight wickets

Friday @ 12.30pm - 2nd ODI: Pakistan v South Africa (Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore)

Monday @ 12.30pm - 3rd ODI: Pakistan v South Africa (Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore)

Fixtures - ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025

Friday, 3 October @ 11.30am - South Africa v England (Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati)

Monday, 6 October @ 11.30am - South Africa v New Zealand (Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore)

Thursday, 9 October @ 11.30am - South Africa v India (ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam)

Monday, 13 October @ 11.30am - South Africa v Bangladesh (ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam)

Friday, 17 October @ 11.30am - South Africa v Sri Lanka (R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo)

Tuesday, 21 October @ 11.30am - South Africa v Pakistan (R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo)

Saturday, 25 October @ 11.30am - South Africa v Australia (Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore)

Wednesday, 29 October @ 11.30am - Semi-final 1 (TBC)

Thursday, 30 October @ 11.30am - Semi-final 2 (Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai)

Sunday, 2 November @ 11.30am - Final (TBC)