The Proteas Women’s team were left to rue a couple of dropped catches and fielding mishaps with opener Tazmin Brits’ 109 not enough to get them over the line in the Tri-Series opener against India in Colombo.
Although Brits was also dropped on 51 by Deepti Sharma off her own bowling and 67 by captain Harmanpreet Kaur at mid-off, India’s overall ground fielding in diving to save boundaries particularly during the death overs proved to be the difference in claiming a 15-run win.
India had totalled 276/6 – which would have been a record chase for the Proteas – courtesy of opener Pratika Rawal’s 78 – her fifth successive fifty-plus ODI score – and Laura Wolvaardt’s team leaking 82 runs in the last 10 overs.
This was partially due to fielders overrunning the ball on the boundary and the ill-discipline of the bowlers who sent down 13 wides in total.
“At the end of the day you’ve got to take those catches. I definitely think if we took that we would have maybe chased maybe 240. I personally feel we should have not chased more than 240,” Brits said.
“We didn’t take or manage to take those key moments when needed. And that’s at the end of the day I think that was the win or lose.
“I don’t think I want to say India was maybe the better team. They played very well but that’s where they show up when it matters. And I think we didn’t do that today.”
But for all the mishaps in the field, Brits and Wolvaardt switched the momentum towards the Proteas with a brilliant 140-run opening stand to get the run-chase underway.
Brits was intent to take the attack to both India’s spinners and pacers, lofting the ball with great authority down the ground as she brought up her first 50 off just 45 balls.
Wolvaardt, meanwhile, was content to rotate the strike, which she could possibly have done better though with her 43 ultimately coming off 75 balls at a below par strike-rate of 57.33.
But shortly after reaching her third ODI century and smashing successive boundaries to put India under pressure, Brits left the field with severe cramps with the Proteas well-placed on 170/2 after 33 overs.
“I think in general the heat over here on the subcontinent and the humidity is something that no South African is actually used to. So it was a bit tough for me, especially with us fielding first and 50 overs and then batting of course so long,” Brits said.
“I got a few cramps and I struggled a bit but yes, the heat definitely won today. I mean I was hoping I didn’t have to come back on due to the cramps, but I mean I’m always eager to try and contribute and help the team where I can.
“It’s not always a nice feeling. Sometimes I wonder if I maybe batted a bit longer or pushed myself a bit more, maybe we wouldn’t have been in that situation. But I guess at the end of the day that is cricket and yes, of course I would have loved to get the team over the line.”
Sneh Rana held her nerve for India with the off-spinner claiming figures of 5/43, which included the three crucial wickets of Annerie Dercksen (30 off 19 balls), Brits and Masabata Klaas in the penultimate over.
The Proteas have a couple of days to rectify their mistakes before facing hosts Sri Lanka at the same venue on Friday.
