The Proteas Women had a home summer of success to celebrate.
Image: BackpagePix
In a summer where the Proteas Women’s team were the headline act over the course of the international home season, coach Mandla Mashimbyi gave his team a rating of “8 out of 10”.
It may have ended in disappointing fashion with a crushing 119-run defeat to Pakistan in the annual Black Day ODI at Kingsmead on, but the World Cup runners-up had already secured the three-match series by then.
They also beat their Asian rivals by the same 2-1 scoreline in the preceding T20I series.
Furthermore, the Proteas were utterly dominant over the festive season when they cleanswept Ireland 3-0 in the ODI series, and won the T20I series 2-0 with the third match abandoned without a ball being bowled due to the prevailing weather conditions.
The success of the Proteas Women’s team was showcased by the solid support the team received all around the country, ranging from major stadiums such Newlands and Centurion to smaller venues like Buffalo Park in East London and Paarl’s Boland Park.
“I'll give it an 8 (out of 10),” Mashimbyi said after the Black ODI in Durban.
Proteas Women's coach Mandla Mashimbyi.
Image: Backpagepix
“I think we've been good. We've played some really good cricket. I think how the people attend our games is a testament to how well we're playing. And people have been really, really supportive.
“And the gains and the improvement, therefore, I think that's what makes me give it an 8 because I've seen players grow. There are different players putting their hand up with performances, with a bat, and also with a ball, bringing in youngsters and making an impact.
“So, all those things, when I add it up, it just gets me to the No 8, to be honest with you.
“But I think the potential of this team, we're still not scratching it. I think there's a lot more to come from this team. And it's my job. I'm going to make sure that I find out the rest of what this team can do.”
There were a number of individuals that stole the headlines with captain Laura Wolvaardt excelling against Ireland, former skipper Dane van Niekerk’s comeback to international cricket and allrounder Sune Luus named Player of the ODI series against Pakistan.
But of greater satisfaction for the Proteas was the unearthing of new talent such as former SA U19 captain Kayla van Reyeneke and Miane Smit, the return to form of Annerie Dercksen and veteran wicket-keeper Sinalo Jafta improving in leaps and bounds with the bat.
However, the Proteas were by no means flawless with the bowling unit being placed under pressure on numerous occasions. Equally, the ill-discipline by the bowlers was a major bug bear with the Proteas conceding 65 extra across the three-match ODI series against Pakistan.
“For me, you want to win a series knowing that you've won it convincingly. And I think we played some really, really good cricket. But I just feel like the positive side of things and the negative side of things are not too far apart in terms of how we filled it and how we kind of bowled,” Mashimbyi said.
“It was a lot of extras to bowl in a series for me. I think that's not the standards that we're about.”
The Proteas will not have much time to rectify this area of their game as they head to New Zealand on Thursday for another three-match ODI series preceded by a five-match T20I series that forms part of the preparation for the Women’s T20 World Cup in England later this year.