A sensational bowling performance by the Proteas Women, an underwhelming turnout by the White Ferns with the bat, yet again, and a surprisingly low-scoring encounter following a run slide in the opening ODI of the series, there were several highlights in the Second ODI between Proteas women vs White Ferns 2020.
A seven-wicket victory in the first game of the 3-match ODI series was followed by an emphatic 8-wicket win as the touring Proteas Women completely punctured hosts White Ferns to claim the series win at Auckland.
While one game still remains in what has until now been clearly a one-sided series, the only thing that can be said from the White Ferns perspective is that they’ll now play for pride in a bid to avoid a series whitewash.
But that’s not all, is it? It is clear that the list of concerns for the hosts is growing by every game.
That South Africa is playing to their very might is visible by excellent performances in all departments of the game. The visitors have already been bolstered by the returns of key figures in leader Dane van Niekerk, Chloe Tyron among the big notable names.
On top of that, the White Ferns have been snubbed aside by what has been a clinical display of accurate and nagging medium-pace bowling most noticeably by high-profile all-rounder Marizanne Kapp.
The reliable medium-pacer clinched a fantastic 4-for in leading South Africa’s charge as the Kiwi challenge could only hold up as far as the 36th over, meaning “advantage Proteas”!
But what were the key highlights from the Second ODI between Proteas women vs White Ferns 2020?
Luus’ smooth inning in a run chase
One of the key highlights during the Second ODI between Proteas women vs White Ferns 2020 was Sune Luus’ vital unbeaten knock of 37 off 62, a key effort in guiding the side to clinch its second back-to-back ODI win over the White Ferns.
Surely, Luus’ knock didn’t feature fierce hits but was there any need for those when the team needed someone to guide the team in a lean run chase?
Luus, who captained the Proteas in the absence of Van Niekerk in India (during 2019) would’ve relished getting back among some runs.
A capable stitched of stands and useful scorer who can bat flexibly according to the team’s situation, one of Luus’ most handy outings came during the 6th T20 in Surat, the final T20I for Proteas women where her 56-ball-62, laced with 7 boundaries contributed to her team’s daunting first inning total.
But in the second ODI, a patient knock saw the right-hander strike 5 graceful boundaries. She enjoyed a handy stand with the evergreen Mignon du Preez- unbeaten on 35 off 27- to take the Protea Women home.
Lizelle Lee continues scoring
Surely among the key features during the Second ODI between Proteas women vs White Ferns 2020 may not have featured another big knock by Lizelle Lee, one of the most dangerous batswomen in the order.
But that Lee got the side to a fine start courtesy her 38 off just 43, in very characteristic fashion ensured that the Protea Women were well on course to a win despite losing Wolvaardt in the fourth over.
White Ferns openers fail to get going
Generally speaking, the key to any promising ODI score for a side is the effort of the team’s openers. In New Zealand’s perspective, the presence of Bernadine Bezuidenhout and the returning Maddy Green meant the top order was powered by two batters who have under 600 runs between them.
The first ODI of the series saw Laura Down open alongside Bezuidenhout. Surely that the duo didn’t contribute much in the maiden game of the series would’ve promoted the selection of Green, who’s got a fifty and an international hundred against her name.
But in the second contest, neither of the White Ferns opener were able to score. While Bezuidenhout had made a strokeful if brief 25 off 34 in the opening game, she couldn’t go beyond 6 in this contest while her partner made only 2.
By the time the fifth over was due for completion, the White Ferns had lost both their opening batters.
Suzie Bates’ lone fight
Bates is surely one of the most remarkable and inspiring of the game’s all round talents. Having tons of experience against her name and unmatched consistency, she’s the proud accumulator of 4483 ODI runs.
But not every time can a genuine talent carry the team alone on her shoulders, right?
Amid really struggling circumstances, facing a charted-up Protea line-up, Bates stuck it out to compile 38 runs.
While at the outset, they weren’t too many but when seen from the viewpoint of the team- that managed only 115- you understood the importance of Suzie Bates’ focused effort and grind.
Lasting for 60 deliveries, Bates mathematically played 10 overs, the most by any batswoman in a disappointing turn out for the hosts during the Second ODI between Proteas women vs White Ferns 2020.
Marizanne the star
In exhibiting one of the finest medium pace spells of her career, an effort that yielded a brilliant 4 wickets at the cost of just 29 runs from 8 overs, it could be said that the experienced Protea all-rounder was the key lynchpin of South Africa’s very convincing and determined 8-wicket win in at Auckland.
By removing the openers when the White Ferns inning hadn’t even reached the end of the fifth over and later, by cleaning up the tail, the “hard-as-nails” medium-pacer cut no corners and left nothing to the imagination in thumping the Kiwi batters.
Image from espncricinfo.com
Putting all her experience into play, Kapp, who’s already featured in 107 games( prior to this one) and has collected well over 1800 ODI runs proved once again just why she’s so highly rated.
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