The first One Day International between South Africa and Sri Lanka was unfortunately rained out without a winner. The teams gear up for the second ODI in Kimberly with both teams level in the series.
Proteas women might count themselves unlucky as they looked good to win the match at Buffalo Park in East London on Wednesday. According to Masabata Klaas, the team was looking to score 300, but they fell short at the end of the target, 270 was a strong total, especially for Buffalo Park.
“What I can say is from that game, we took a lot of positives whereby we were aiming to score 300 plus, but unfortunately we couldn’t because we came short by 30 or 40 runs. We have a good batting lineup whereby they can take us where we want to be in our next game,” said Proteas bowler Masabata Klaas.
If the Proteas bat first again as that has been the theme of this tour by these two nations. Masabata is confident that the Proteas bowlers can defend the total as long the batters do their part.
“As a bowling unit, we have a strong unit as well whereby we can defend any target that our batters set. I have confidence in what we’ve been doing going forward. So the targets they’ve been setting so far, it has been great, where we can defend any score.”
The confidence from Masabata is justifiable as her form has been great for the Proteas. She has been leading the Proteas bowling unit along with Marizanne Kapp. Masabata was Proteas’ most successful bowler at their recent tour of Australia.
“I’m in a good space whereby I think I’m taking a lot of responsibilities with the bowling attack. I’m also learning and growing as a cricketer and as a bowler. So I think my bowling so far, it has been great. I’m heading in the right direction.
“I’m keeping things simple, knowing what I want to do at the end of the day and stick to that. Your plan, it won’t always work, but you must also have plan B, which you can use when the tough gets going,” the Proteas women bowler concluded.
With the series level and only two matches remaining, the Proteas women will want to win this series. Winning the second match at the Diamond Oval in Kimberly is crucial. So they can go to Potchefstroom and make things right and get a win there as well.
As for Sri Lanka, the plan is simple, a positive result in any of the last 2 matches for the Asian Island nation means they make history. They would have toured South Africa without dropping both series.
There is still a lot to play for in this tour. The crowd in Kimberly will surely be entertained as the cricket season draws to a close in the southern hemisphere.
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