FILE - Proteas Women’s wicket-keeper Sinalo Jafta celebrates the wicket of New Zealand's Suzie Bates during the 2023 ICC T20 Women’s World Cup in South Africa. Jafta will reach two special milestones against Bangladesh on Saturday. FILE - Proteas Women’s wicket-keeper Sinalo Jafta celebrates the wicket of New Zealand's Suzie Bates during the 2023 ICC T20 Women’s World Cup in South Africa. Jafta will reach two special milestones against Bangladesh on Saturday. Picture: Rodger Bosch / AFP
Proteas Women’s wicket-keeper went through a dark period in her life when she battled an alcohol addiction. But, after getting her life and career back on track, she will celebrate two special milestones at the ICC T20 Women’s World Cup.
Jafta made the most remarkable comeback to cricket during the 2023 T20 World Cup on home soil after beating her addiction and playing her part in the team’s run to the final.
On Saturday, Jafta will play her 50th T20 International for the Proteas when they take on a Bangladesh in a do-or-die encounter at the current T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. But Saturday, October 12, 2024 is also the second anniversary of her sobriety. A wonderful achievement for one of the game’s most likeable characters.
“Tomorrow is a special day, both in cricket and in my personal life. I mean, tomorrow I'm also two years sober. So it's a really exciting day,” Jafta told reporters ahead of the match.
“If I look back at some point, I thought I lost my career and to walk out in a World Cup game and potentially have my 50th cap, I think no one could have ever predicted that. That's not all on me. It's always he (God) who knows at the end of the day.”
Post-match shenanigans by Ayanda Hlubi after the Proteas Women’s big win against Scotland! 🏏![CDATA[]]>💥
— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) October 10, 2024
Laughter, highlights, and plenty of smiles—our team is enjoying every moment of this journey! 🏏![CDATA[]]>🇿![CDATA[]]>🇦#AlwaysRising #WhateverItTakes #WozaNawe #BePartOfIt #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/YO5mgPDrIP
The Proteas can put one foot in the the semi-finals with a win over Bangladesh in their final group match on Saturday (4pm start).
The Proteas are currently second in the group on net run-rate after two wins against the West Indies and Scotland and a defeat to England. They are on the same points as the leaders West Indies and the third-placed England, but unbeaten English have a game in hand.
The Proteas will be hoping to get a big win over Bangladesh to boost their net run-rate further after it got a nice shot in the arm with an 80-run win over Scotland. However, any win will be enough if England can win both their remaining matches, which includes a clash against the Windies.
Jafta, however, says they must just play their normal game and not get too carried away with all the permutations.
“We have to be calm. Once you overthink it, a lot of mistakes can happen out there. For us, it's just being calm throughout and just making sure that we get over the line and the rest will take care of itself,” Jafta said.
“Obviously with Bangladesh, you always have to respect your opposition. As a team, we know what's at stake. We would love to have the two points at the end of it and take care of that and look forward from there.”
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