Top-order batter Tazmin Brits believes that continuing the momentum gained in the opening encounter and sealing the series win will be the focus for the Proteas Women in the second T20 International (T20I) against Sri Lanka, with the home side holding a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, speaking remotely to the media on Friday, 29 March, 2024.
The second T20I will be held on Saturday, 30 March, at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom, starting at 14h00. Tickets are available via TicketPro and the match will be broadcast live on SuperSport Grandstand (Channel 201).
During the pre-match press conference on Friday, Brits highlighted the importance of sealing the T20I series with a game to spare, following the series-opening triumph, and with the backdrop of preparing for the 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh between September and October.
“Momentum is always good, and with the World Cup coming up in September, it’ll be very good for us if we can maybe do a 3-0 win. If we can look at doing that, that’ll be great for the team.”
Proteas Women Top-order batter Tazmin Brits
“We seemed to be losing the first T20I or the first game of every series that we’ve played, so that was one of the things we wanted to correct. That was also with (different) combinations and getting to those points that we were setting, like the powerplay and everything. It was great,” she added.
In the first contest in Benoni, the Proteas Women posted 198/5, their second-highest total in the shortest format, with captain Laura Wolvaardt notching up her maiden and only South Africa’s third T20I century, worth 102 off 63 balls (12 fours, 3 sixes), alongside Marizanne Kapp’s 40-ball 60 (4 fours, 3 sixes).
After contributing an aggressive 15 off eight balls, Brits witnessed the impressive 116-run partnership between Wolvaardt and Kapp which anchored the Proteas innings.
“We’ve always looked at, you have to have your in batters (in the end), so that was a big thing for us. Wolvaardt scoring that 100, that will get you to the 200s at the end of the day so they’re very confident, and they’re looking forward to tomorrow’s game.
The second game is not only an opportunity for the Proteas to take an unassailable lead in the series, but it will also be a memorable occasion for the Klerksdorp-born batter as she is set to earn her 50th T20I cap for South Africa.
All-rounder Nadine de Klerk is also one cap away from a half-century of appearances in T20I cricket.
When asked about the special day, the Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers star said:
“Firstly, I’m hoping I play tomorrow but I’m very happy that if I do, my 50th game is here in Potch; my home crowd with my mom and I’ve got a lot of family members also coming. Hopefully not just that, but scoring a 50 will be great as well.”
All-rounder Nadine de Klerk, on the cusp of a career milestone
“I never looked that far, I didn’t think this day would come,” said De Klerk, “But with it being here I’m more excited. I’m hoping I can get a 50th cap in ODIs, I’m a bit behind on that, but hopefully, I can do that before I retire.”
“My (career) highlight will be the semi-finals in the (T20) World Cup, I don’t know if I can ever match that, maybe if I can be a Player of the Match in a World Cup final, then it will probably beat that, but that was by far – just talking about it I get goosebumps and I relive that entire moment – so hopefully in September, I can redo that, but maybe in a final,” she concluded.
Fixtures and Results – South Africa Inbound Tour vs Sri Lanka 2023/24 (All times Central African Time CAT)
T20 International Series
Wed 27 Mar, 18h00: 1st T20I – South Africa beat Sri Lanka by 79 runs (Willowmoore Park, Benoni)
Sat 30 Mar, 14h00: 2nd T20I – South Africa vs Sri Lanka (JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom)
Wed 3 Apr, 18h00: 3rd T20I – South Africa vs Sri Lanka (Buffalo Park, East London)
50-over Warm-Up Match
Sat 6 Apr, 10h00: South Africa XI vs Sri Lanka XI (Buffalo Park, East London)
One-Day International Series – ICC Women’s Championship
Tue 9 Apr, 14h00: 1st ODI – South Africa vs Sri Lanka (Buffalo Park, East London)
Sat 13 Apr, 14h00: 2nd ODI – South Africa vs Sri Lanka (Diamond Oval, Kimberley)
Wed 17 Apr, 14h00: 3rd ODI – South Africa vs Sri Lanka (JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom)
Proteas Women Squad for the Inbound T20 International Series against Sri Lanka
Laura Wolvaardt (Fidelity Titans, Captain)
Anneke Bosch (Fidelity Titans)
Tazmin Brits (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers)
Nadine de Klerk (World Sports Betting Western Province)
Annerie Dercksen (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers)
Sinalo Jafta (DP World Lions)
Marizanne Kapp (World Sports Betting Western Province)
Ayabonga Khaka (DP World Lions)
Masabata Klaas (Fidelity Titans)
Suné Luus (Fidelity Titans)
Eliz-Mari Marx (Fidelity Titans)
Karabo Meso* (DP World Lions)
Nonkululeko Mlaba (Hollywoodbets Dolphins)
Tumi Sekhukhune (DP World Lions)
Chloé Tryon (DP World Lions)
Uncapped*
The Sri Lanka Squad for the T20I and ODI Series
Chamari Athapaththu (Captain)
Vishmi Gunaratne
Nilakshi de Silva
Harshitha Samarawickrama
Hasini Perera
Anushka Sanjeewani
Oshadi Ranasinghe
Udeshika Prabodhani
Kavisha Dilhari
Inoka Ranaweera
Achini Kulasuriya
Hansima Karunaratne
Imesha Dulani
Kawya Kavindi
Inoshi Fernando
Sugandika Kumari
Prasadini Weerakkody
Original Copy: Cricket South Africa, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Top-order batter Tazmin Brits believes that sealing the series win will be the focus for the Proteas Women in the second T20 International against Sri Lanka in Potchefstroom on Saturday afternoon, with SA holding a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Photo: Cricket South Africa/Gallo Images
Photo 2 Caption: Saturday will also be a memorable occasion for the Klerksdorp-born all-rounder Nadine de Klerk, as she is set to earn her 50th T20I cap for South Africa. Photo: Cricket South Africa/Gallo Images
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