The Proteas women cricket team got their T20 World Cup campaign off to a winning start with a 6 wicket victory over England in Perth. It’s a famous win and also their first against England in a major ICC tournament.
South Africa, stand up! The Momentum Proteas Women are owning their success. They’ve taken the heat and won their first encounter against England in the @T20WorldCup. They are up against Thailand next. Retweet and keep their momentum going. #SheOwnsHerSuccess #AlwaysRising pic.twitter.com/w5VN2iYwWw
— Momentum (@Momentum_za) February 23, 2020
Hugs, high fives, and plenty of relieved faces ?
The aftermath of a thriller.#ENGvSA | #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/3WH7shfmEl
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) February 23, 2020
At the WACA in Perth, the Proteas women bowlers restricted England to 123 for 8 in their opening group B world cup match. South Africa’s batting line-up then went about chasing down the total. Dane van Niekerk and Marizanne Kapp put on 84 for the second wicket to lay a solid base.
Van Niekerk scored 46 off 51 while Kapp contributed 38 off 33 balls.
Disaster struck when the pair lost their wickets four balls apart. Kapp was caught and bowled by Sarah Glenn, and van Niekerk found Tammy Beaumont at point.
The big-hitting Chloe Tryon put in a cameo with 12 from 12, including a six and a four, before Du Preez, playing in her 100 T20 international, took the Proteas over the line with a massive six and a four to seal a six wicket win with 2 balls remainin – South Africa’s first T20 World Cup victory over England.
Du Preez says the team wants to do something special in this T20 World Cup campaign.
“It’s amazing. I’ve played in all seven World Cups and we’ve never come this close. So, for us to actually really stick up and we said we want to do something special this year and I think this is just the start of something really special. We are going to go all the way and bring the trophy home.”
Next up in group B for the Proteas is Thailand on Friday in Canberra.
Meanwhile, the Proteas men’s cricket team levelled the three match T20 series against Australia at 1-1, with a 12 run victory in Port Elizabeth. The series will be decided in Cape Town on Wednesday.
RESULT | AUS: 146-6
What a match!
Edge of the seat stuff!
SOUTH AFRICA win the match by 12 runs
They set a target of 159 runs and they defended it.
Series TIED at 1-1 #ProteaFire #SAvAUS pic.twitter.com/fypsdmNC5U
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) February 23, 2020
Looking to get back into the three match series after a disastrous 107 run loss at the Wanderers on Friday, Quentin de Kock spearheaded the fightback in Port Elizabeth, playing a captain’s innings, full of intent.
De Kock hit four sixes and five fours as he scored 70 runs off 47 balls. His partnership with Reeza Hendricks contributed 60 runs, and then for good measure he put on another 40 with Rassie van der Dussen as he proved he was one Protea that was not going to go down without a fight.
Van der Dussen was the other batsmen to put up a decent score with 37 off 26 and the Proteas posted 158 for four in their twenty overs, a score that would be hard to defend against the Australian batsmen.
Chasing the series win, Australia was methodical in their approach. When Steve Smith joined David Warner at the crease, the Proteas bowlers knew they were in trouble. The pair put on 50 runs for the second wicket, but almost immediately, Faf du Plessis took an incredible catch for a major breakthrough, with Smith departing, having scored 29 off 26 balls.
The drama kicked up a gear. Australia needed boundaries, South Africa needed wickets. Australia were getting the rub of the green until Lungi Ngidi found the leg stump of Alex Carey, gone for 14 off 10 balls.
The Proteas were putting on an exhibition in the field with Faf Du Plessis and David Miller combining to see the back of Mitchell Marsh. Matthew Wade met his fate at the hands of Kagiso Rabada, who found the leading edge. Australia was on 139 for 5.
Anrich Nortje was tasked with bowling the final over. He took the wicket of Ashton Agar to put the Aussies on the ropes. Australia finished on 146 for 6, with the Proteas winning by 12 runs to level the three match series at 1 match apiece.
The action moves to Cape Town on Wednesday.
