Proteas women need to win their third T20 encounter against India at the Wanderers on Sunday in order to stay alive in the five-match series.
The remaining three fixtures will form part of the T20 double-header series alongside their male counterparts.
The first two matches have been a struggle for the home side, seeing them return losses by seven and nine wickets in Potchefstroom and East London respectively.
With just one day between the previous match and the next, coach Hilton Moreeng did not want his players to sit on past disappointments. Instead, he wants them to simply improve.
“It’s been a tough few days of cricket, but we’re not down and not out yet,” he said. “We need to shake off the last two games and start over when we get to the ground tomorrow and start taking the chances that we create and are given by the opposition.
“T20 cricket is a game of small margins and there has been a great deal of learning that has taken place over the last few days. It’s now time for the players to take those lessons and execute them. There is a series to win and we are still in the running for it.”
India are 2-0 up in the series and have the confidence to go with it, but Moreeng believes his side has what it takes to beat the pressure and bounce back with a series-saving win come Sunday.
“From now on, every game will be like a final for us,” he continued. “The pressure is squarely on us, but we welcome it and look forward to showing that famous South African resilience in the face of adversity.
“It won’t be an easy task by any means. India are a good outfit with back-to-back wins under their belt, but that doesn’t stop us from going out there and playing the match of our lives and keep this series alive. There is a lot of pride and character in our team and the players are keen to put on a performance worthy of their badge.”
