South Africa Blast Islanders Away

Olivia Anderson pulls a Papua New Guinea delivery to the onside boundary, in her innings of 91 in 119 balls. Picture: Mouton van Zyl

After South Africa’s hungry batswomen struck the biggest innings total of the ICC Women’s World Cup of Cricket Qualifiers tournament on Tuesday, they let the bowlers loose to pick apart the bones of Papua New Guinea’s efforts, winning their second match by a huge 270 runs.

The local team lost openers Daleen Terblanche and captain Cri-Zelda Brits for a total of 85, but Papua New Guinea didn’t take another wicket until N Ovasuru took Olivia Anderson’s wicket nine runs shy of a well-deserved century in the 42nd over, when the South Africans had already posted 229 runs to the scoreboard.

And the fun wasn’t over, as the home girls added another 69 runs in the remaining eight overs, to post an innings total of 298 for the loss of seven wickets in their 50 overs, Susan Benade opening her shoulders for the highest strike rate exceeding 140, as she added a six to three boundaries for 31 runs in 22 deliveries. 

Susan Benade smacks a huge six in South Africa’s mammoth innings of 298 for the loss of seven wickets. Picture: Mouton van Zyl

Then Brits unleashed Boland spinner Ashlyn Kilowan (4 wickets for 14 runs in 5 overs), who picked up four wickets in the initial ten overs to set the islanders back, before Marsha Letsoalo (2 for 3 in 4 overs) and Charlize van der Westhuizen (2 for 4 in 4 overs) brought the reply to a premature end, the visitors bowled out for 28 in the 18th over with Benade taking the final wicket in her two balls bowled.

Awarded the Player of the Match Award, Anderson said: "It is an awesome feeling scoring runs for South Africa, and great batting with such accomplished players. It means you feel confident enough to express yourself when you bat. I don’t have any doubts that we will win this tournament and go on to do really well in the World Cup."

Anderson, who hit four boundaries in her two and a half hour innings, was well supported by vice-captain Claire Terblanche, who hit a quick fire 76 off just 68 balls including eight boundaries.

SA play their final round-robin match against their sternest pool-stage opponents, the Netherlands, who have also convincingly won their initial two encounters, at 10am on Thursday morning. Both sides have effectively qualified for the semi-finals starting on Friday, and their Thursday match will be useful for match practice, apart from determining the draws for the semi-finals.