South Africa's Sune Luus says a lot of the Proteas players will take responsibility and accountability for the batting collapse in the first ODI against India. File Picture: Marco Longari, AFP
LIKE in any tour to India or the subcontinent, spin becomes the biggest challenge for South African batters who traditionally are not the best players of spin.
Leading up to the ongoing tour to India, captain Laura Wolvaardt and her team knew of the threat that awaited them in India as spinners Deepti Sharma, Asha Sobhana and Radha Yadav are known for dominating visiting batting units at home.
This time was no different as the trio dominated South Africa in the first one-day international at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday, picking up seven wickets between them as India bowled South Africa out for 122.
Match Result
— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) June 16, 2024
Defeat in Bengaluru for the Proteas Women.
India win by 143 runs and take a 1-0 lead 🇮🇳vs 🇿🇦#AlwaysRising #WozaNawe #BePartOfIt #SAWvINDW pic.twitter.com/Ohs7nHp1Cw
Proteas top-order batter Sune Luus was one of the few batters who looked relatively comfortable against the Indian attack despite failing to convert her start into a big score for the team.
Luus says a lot of the players will take responsibility and accountability for the batting collapse as they prepare for Wednesday’s second ODI at the same Bengaluru venue, starting at 10am SA time.
“The biggest responsibility and the biggest bulk of runs come from the top five,” said Luus.
“I’m sure that a lot of players will take accountability and responsibility for that and come back stronger in the next match.”
Aya Brilliance ✨
— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) June 17, 2024
Ayabonga Khaka showed her class in a tough match yesterday against India Women.🇿🇦🇮🇳
She achieved figures of;
3/47 in 10 overs
Econ. 4.7#AlwaysRising #WozaNawe
BePartOfIt #SAWvINDW pic.twitter.com/rVbqqpRMsh
Most importantly, there are ICC Women’s Championship points up for grabs in the ongoing ODI series, meaning South Africa need to bounce back with a victory on Wednesday in order to earn points and avoid playing in the World Cup qualifiers.
South Africa are currently placed third on the standings, two spots above the last qualification spot, with 11 victories in 19 matches thus far.
Despite the pressure of earning points, Luus advised it would be good for the team to simply focus on their processes and levelling the series.
“We’re well aware of the points table and what needs to happen. We came here looking for those points,” said Luus.
“For us looking forward, yes, the points are very important, but we take every match very seriously.
“It is a series on the line, so we’re also playing for that. Coming into the next game, to level the series will be first priority and I think if we just play good cricket and stick to our strengths, the points will follow as well.”
South Africa’s own spinners Nonkululeko Mlaba and Nondumiso Shangase will need to come to the party in the second ODI having struggled in the first match.
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