Covering South African cricket, including the Proteas
‘I was a part of all the previous ICC Women’s World T20s right from the first one in 2009, when I was leading the India side. Those were tournaments held alongside the men; yes, people were watching, and there was good publicity for the women’s games, but what I found was that by having it simultaneously with the men, the women would be in the shadows.’
The Mzansi Super League trophy was officially unveiled on Tuesday. The gold-plated cup has a uniquely designed flower-pattern that signifies the spring of a new dawn with the first edition of the much-anticipated tournament set to start in 10 days’ time.
Proteas Women’s all-rounder Marizanne Kapp believes that her team has what it takes to win the ICC Women’s World T20 and that their slew of warm-up match losses is not an indication of the team’s potential in the competition.
‘We were either too defensive or too attacking. I can see the way Keemo [Paul] and [Fabian] Allen finished. If we had wickets in hand, we would’ve got 130-140, which would’ve probably been a winning score.’
Thabang Moroe talks about his excitement for the Mzansi Super League, as well as how he envies the team managers for the wealth of cricketing talent at their disposal.
Jozi Stars coach Enoch Nkwe is understandably eager to work alongside West Indian batsman Chris Gayle when the Mzansi Super League starts in South Africa later this month.
The Proteas Women’s batting woes continued when they were restricted to 72-9 and suffered a 90-run defeat in their first official ICC Women’s World T20 warm-up match against Pakistan at Coolidge Cricket Stadium in Antigua on Saturday.
They say there is no substitute for experience, and James Moses of Botswana proved that old adage very true on the final day of the ICC World Twenty20 Africa C Qualifier tournament in Gaborone.
Pakistan cantered to a comfortable six-wicket victory over New Zealand in Dubai to take an unassailable 2-0 lead and clinch their 11th consecutive T20I series victory.
On a day of comprehensive victories in other matches, Malawi pipped Lesotho by four runs as the match went down to the last ball day four of the ICC World Twenty20 Africa C Qualifier tournament in Botswana.
Jozi Stars international marquee player Chris Gayle has confirmed he will play in the Mzansi Super League’s first weekend when his side kick off their fixture list against Nelson Mandela Bay Giants at the Wanderers on Saturday, 17 November.
Looking ahead to the warm-up match against India, KwaZulu-Natal native Chloe Tryon is confident the team will continue to lay the building blocks towards their World T20 campaign and use their vast knowledge of the opposition as they look to walk away with a positive result.
As Mzansi Super League mania builds on the shores of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban Heat spin king Keshav Maharaj is hoping to use the upcoming tournament as a stepping stone to a more permanent spot in the South African limited-overs sides.
