De Klerk: We All Know That We Are Much Better Than What We Showed

All-rounder Nadine de Klerk insists the Momentum Proteas are capable of way more than what they displayed in the opening encounter against England and will be focused on upping the ante in the second One-Day International (ODI) at the Bristol County Ground on Friday, 15 July 2022.

The second day-night clash gets underway from 14h00 local time (15h00 SAST) and will be shown live on SuperSport Cricket (Ch. 212) as South Africa look to claw back from 1-0 down in the series after a five-wicket defeat in the first ODI earlier this week.

De Klerk believes the team will no doubt produce a much improved performance after a disappointing series-opener in Northampton and states every player trained with an increased determination and creativity going into the next game.

“It definitely wasn’t our best performance. We had a look at the game and we knew we were far off.” de Klerk began.

“We just need to play positive cricket. We all know that we are much better than what we showed a few days ago, so it is just about being positive and backing ourselves, and just going out there and give it our best shot.

“The girls have been training really well, trying a few different options against certain bowlers, so I definitely think it is going to be a much better game tomorrow. The girls will go out there and play with much better intensity and show a lot more aggressive batting, and taking the bowlers on a little bit more,” she added.

Despite a disappointing outing on Monday, de Klerk along with fellow all-rounder, Chloé Tryon were a part of the few positives that could be taken from the game by South Africa. Tryon smashed an exhilarating 88 off 73 balls, including 10 fours and three sixes in a 97-run, sixth-wicket partnership with de Klerk, who contributed with a 53-ball 38 before the all-action youngster followed that up with figures of 2 / 44 with ball in hand.

Since being part of the 2022 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup as a traveling reserve earlier this year, de Klerk has received more playing opportunities, particularly in the Ireland series where she played all one of the matches in the two respective T20 International and ODI three-match series hosted in Dublin.

On her increased game time in recent months, de Klerk said: “It is just about waiting for your opportunity and whenever you do get your chance, it just to make the best of it,” the 22-year-old commented.

“As a team we have a lot of support from the coaching staff and the players, and our captain as well so I just think it’s about working really hard behind the scenes, putting in all the hard work and when your opportunity comes, just to make the best use of it.

“I have been lucky enough to get a few opportunities in these last couple of months so it is just about having a lot of fun, really backing yourself and just play the best cricket you possibly can and keeping it very simple,” she added.

The upcoming contest in Bristol brings forth not-so-good memories for the Proteas Women, as it was at the same venue where England denied South Africa a maiden World Cup final appearance after inflicting a two-wicket defeat with two balls remaining before the home side went onto lift the trophy in 2017. Prior to that match, the two sides were also involved in a high-scoring affair earlier in the competition, with both sides scoring more than 300 runs.

On the conditions this time around, de Klerk commented: “I think it is going to be a really good wicket. The field looks really good as well, quick outfield as well. I think it is going to be a high-scoring game as well. It is just about going out there and summing up the conditions as quickly as we can and be nice and aggressive, and play some positive cricket,” she said.

In some team news, fast bowler Shabnim Ismail has completed her recovery from a calf strain and is available for selection, while Masabata Klaas and all-rounder Delmi Tucker have also been added to the squad.

Momentum Proteas Squad for England Tour – ODIs:

Anneke Bosch (Senwes Dragons)

Trisha Chetty (Hollywoodbets KZN Coastal)

Nadine de Klerk (Six Gun Grill Western Province)

Lara Goodall (Six Gun Grill Western Province)

Shabnim Ismail (Hollywoodbets KZN Coastal)

Sinalo Jafta (Six Gun Grill Western Province)

Marizanne Kapp (Eastern Province)

Masabata Klaas (Senwes Dragons)

Ayabonga Khaka (Imperial Lions)

Suné Luus (Titans Ladies)

Nonkululeko Mlaba (Hollywoodbets KZN Coastal)

Tumi Sekhukhune (Imperial Lions)

Andrie Steyn (Six Gun Grill Western Province)

Chloé Tryon (Hollywoodbets KZN Coastal)

Delmi Tucker (Six Gun Grill Western Province)

Laura Wolvaardt (Six Gun Grill Western Province)

Momentum Proteas Tour to England Itinerary:

Warm-Up Match – Tuesday, 21 June – Thursday, 23 June @ 11h00 local time – Three-Day – South Africa vs England A (Arundel CC, Arundel)

Only Test – Monday, 27 June – Thursday June 30 @ 11h00 local time – Once-off Test – England vs South Africa (Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton)

Warm-Up Matches – Monday, 04 July @ 14h00 local time – T20 – South Africa vs England A (Cheltenham CC, Cheltenham)

Thursday, 07 July @ 11h00 local time – 50-over – South Africa vs England A (Cheltenham CC, Cheltenham)

One-Day International Series – Monday, 11 July @ 14h00 local time – 1st ODI – England vs South Africa (The County Ground, Northampton)

Friday, 15 July @ 14h00 local time – 2nd ODI – England vs South Africa (Bristol County Ground, Bristol)

Monday, 18 July @ 14h00 local time – 3rd ODI – England vs South Africa (The Uptonsteel County Ground, Leicester)

T20 Series – Thursday, 21 July @ 19h00 local time – 1st T20 – England vs South Africa (The Cloudfm County Ground, Chelmsford)

Saturday, 23 July @ 14h30 local time – 2nd T20 – England vs South Africa (Blackfinch New Road, Worcester)

Monday, 25 July @ 18h30 local time – 3rd T20 – England vs South Africa (The Incora County Ground, Derby)

Photo 1 Caption: All-rounder Nadine de Klerk insists the Momentum Proteas are capable of way more than what they displayed in the opening encounter against England and will be focused on upping the ante in the second One-Day International (ODI) at the Bristol County Ground on Friday, 15 July 2022. Photo: Nadine de Klerk (Instagram)

With editing by gsport