Cricket South Africa (CSA) has congratulated the Momentum Proteas on their impressive turnaround 2-1 series victory over the West Indies after the hosts sealed an emphatic six-wicket triumph in the fourth One-Day International (ODI) at the Imperial Wanderers on February 6.
The series win is the team’s fifth in a row in 50-over cricket since January 2020 and a second consecutive result over the West Indies following a historic 4-1 success in the Caribbean in September last year, helping to cement the side’s second place in ODI rankings.
Following a rained-out first ODI, South Africa went down in an eventful second clash by a Super Over after both sides were bowled out for 160, with fast bowler Ayabonga Khaka recording career-best figures of five for 26 before the visitors outscored the Proteas in the six-ball shootout.
Captain Suné Luus’ charges then levelled the series with a dominant victory in the third ODI, as top-order batter Laura Wolvaardt scored her third career century, scoring 117 off 123 balls (11 fours, 1 six) as the home side scored 299/8 before removing their opponents for 203 all out.
The four-match series then came down to an exciting conclusion during the annual Black Day ODI, a day dedicated to highlighting the plight of gender-based violence (GBV), with the Proteas team donning their all-black kit with a message of #EndGBV.
Led by stalwart Shabnim Ismail’s four for 44 with the ball, South Africa restricted the West Indies side to 174 all out before Andrie Steyn marked her first international game since 2019 with a measured 52 off 73 alongside Luus (47) to help get the hosts over the line.
CSA acting CEO Pholetsi Moseki said, “It has been an absolute pleasure to watch our Momentum Proteas represent their country with such excellence against a fine West Indian team.
“The efforts they made to win the series after being one-nil down, with a rained-out match to add to the pressure, shows us all they are a team to look out for at this year’s ICC Women’s World Cup in New Zealand.
“The outstanding individual milestones tell their own story, and without taking away from the all-round team effort, I would like to congratulate Laura Wolvaardt on her third ODI century and our rock star bowling pair, Shabnim Ismail and Player of the Series Ayabonga Khaka, on their respective series haul of 10 wickets each.”
The series success comes at a welcome time for the Momentum Proteas ahead of their departure for New Zealand, where they will be taking on the rest of the world in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup from March 4 to April 4.
Momentum Proteas 2022 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup squad:
Suné Luus (captain, Titans Ladies), Chloé Tryon (vice-captain, Hollywoodbets KZN Coastal), Ayabonga Khaka (Imperial Lions), Lara Goodall (Six-Gun Grill Western Province), Laura Wolvaardt (Six-Gun Grill Western Province), Lizelle Lee (Senwes Dragons), Marizanne Kapp (Eastern Province), Masabata Maria Klaas (Senwes Dragons), Mignon du Preez (Titans Ladies), Nonkululeko Mlaba (Hollywoodbets KZN Coastal), Shabnim Ismail (Hollywoodbets KZN Coastal), Sinalo Jafta (Six-Gun Grill Western Province), Tazmin Brits (Senwes Dragons), Trisha Chetty (Hollywoodbets KZN Coastal) and Tumi Sekhukhune (Imperial Lions).
