Proteas allrounder Nadine de Klerk is feeling much more confident playing spin after her time spent at the WPL. Picture: BackpagePix
Image: BackpagePix
Nadine de Klerk may not have managed to get any gametime at the recent Women’s Premier League (WPL) in India, but believes her time spent with the championship-winning Mumbai Indians has benefitted her game a great deal.
The Proteas Women's team allrounder worked tirelessly in the nets behind the scenes, especially on her options against the spin bowlers.
De Klerk feels it will prove beneficial on the upcoming tour to Sri Lanka, where the Proteas will face the hosts and India in a tri-series next month, and also at the ICC World Cup in India later this year.
However, the positive signs were already evident during De Klerk’s match-winning 74 off just 48 balls for Western Province in their final Hollywoodbets Pro20 League match against the Dolphins at Newlands on Sunday.
Province were in all sorts of trouble at 3/2, having lost their premier opening batters Faye Tunnicliffe and Dane van Niekerk, but De Klerk showed her experience to push the back-to-back T20 champions up to 142/8 in their allotted 20 overs.
Despite the Dolphins boasting a potent spin bowling line-up, which included Proteas left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba (2/21), De Klerk showed positive intent as she brought up her half-century off just 34 balls.
She was particularly aggressive against the slower bowlers, utilising her feet to get to the pitch of the deliveries, and sweeping with authority.
“You know, it's great to come back here and try and implement the things that I've been working on,” De Klerk said after Province won comfortably by 48 runs.
“I haven't really played all that much. I was really excited to get some game time today (Sunday).
“It was just about the things that I've been working on in the nets over the last six or seven weeks where I've faced a lot of spin again.
“A thing that I've been trying is to use my feet a bit more because people expect me to sweep quite a bit. Even though they put out fielders there, you can still find the gap.
“And I think it was just about being really clear on my plans and try to execute it as best as I can.”
Province have certainly been the dominant team in the shortest format for the past few years, being able to blend the experience of De Klerk, Tunnicliffe, Van Niekerk, Lara Goodall and Delmi Tucker with exciting youngsters such as SA U19 captain Kayla Reyneke, Jemma Botha and Caitlin Wyngaard.
Western Province's Kayla Reyneke celebrates taking a wicket at the recent ICC U19 Women's World Cup in Malaysia. Picture: ICC
Image: ICC
Reyneke was particularly impressive at Newlands on Sunday with the all-rounder smashing an undefeated 36 off 16 balls and claiming 4/10 with her offspinners to dismiss the Dolphins for just 94 to set off the champions’ celebrations.
“I think we just have so many players. You know, I think we have the likes of someone like Jemma carrying drinks today, so that just shows the depth of our side,” De Klerk said.
“And, you know, someone like Caitlin Wyngaard for example, that just puts up her hand every time she gets an opportunity. And the same with Kayla as well, the way she performed and finished so well.
“We have a really young side, really explosive batters as well. So, I think it's a great space to be in.
“You know, we have plenty of options to choose from and I guess that brings out the best in every player as well because, you know, you need to keep up the performances because there's plenty of other people in line as well.
“So, yeah, we've been really consistent. We've been really good over the last couple of years, actually, and it's a great team to be a part of.”