The Proteas Women are on the brink of the World Cup semi-finals, after they thrashed Sri Lanka by eight wickets in Taunton on Wednesday.
It was another clinical bowling performance from the Proteas, who won their fourth match of the competition. Their last group match is against tournament favourites Australia, but it’s looking likely that they’ll qualify for the semi-finals before they’ve even played them.
With Australia and England on track to beat India and New Zealand respectively, the Proteas will make it through due to India and New Zealand needing to play each other in the last round of group-stage matches. It’s testimony to the way the Proteas have gone about their business in this tournament, having beaten two sides ranked above them, with just one defeat against England to their name.
Dane van Niekerk and Marizanne Kapp have played huge roles in getting them there. They occupy the top-two bowling spots in the tournament’s wicket-taking charts, and it was another fine display from the pair against Sri Lanka. After losing the toss and having to bowl first, Van Niekerk ended with figures of 4-24 and Kapp took 1-13 from five, meaning they now have 13 and 10 wickets respectively.
Sri Lanka were up against it from the onset on 5-2, and despite the 43-run stand which followed, they were never really in it due to the run rate being just over two an over. Chamari Polgampari and Dilani Manodara top-scored with 25 each, but five would be the top score from the bottom five as the last seven wickets fell for 53 runs.
Shabnim Ismail was excellent with the new ball, as well as towards the back-end of the innings, with 3-14 from 7.3 overs, while Sune Luus weighed in with 1-12 from seven overs. Sri Lanka were bowled out for 101.
The response was a shaky one from the Proteas. The in-form Lizelle Lee departed in the first over as she edged one behind off the bowling of Sripali Weerakkody, and Trisha Chetty was bowled by captain and spinner Inoka Ranaweera.
The halfway break, however, seemed to do a world of good for Mignon du Preez and Laura Wolvaardt, who eased their way over the line with an unbeaten 79-run stand. With Net Run Rate on their mind, the boundaries flowed towards the end as Wolvaardt finished on 48, Du Preez on 38, seeing off the total with 26.5 overs to spare.
Photo: Julian Herbert/Getty Images
