Several Key Questions Confront The Proteas As The Enterprising Hosts Meet The Daunting English
South Africa are the host of the T20 World Cup 2023
The big stage is set and all the roads in South Africa today lead to Cape Town. We’ve seen the Aussies setting the precedent thanks to an excellent all round display hours back when it all mattered. India came mighty close, but that was that; it was yet another classic case of coming close and yet, remaining afar.
If any of the sides were watching that game and there’s a good chance they did, they would have seen that in the end, it would not only be about the big shots and the tumbling wickets; it could all boil down to sheer athleticism.
It could be and will likely turn out to be about drying out the runs and creating a mountain of dot balls.
Pressure will thrive as will the ability to soak it all in and those who execute it with surgical precision will make the final cut.
The Perry’s, Healy’s, Gardner’s, Harmanpreet’s and Renuka’s have done their part.
Now, the stage is all set for a thunderstorm of fiery talents to take over and give us intrepid fans a semis clash to savor for many years.
As the big virtual final clash takes place between the dominant English and the enterprising South Africa, which key talking points are likely to dominate the contest?
Can Marizanne Kapp get a big score?
A fire starter with the white ball but not exactly a sorcerer whilst batting as seen in this particular edition of the T20 World Cup, Marizanne Kapp has left a lot to desire as that attacking batter.
Kapp is performing extremely well with the ball
But the premier all rounder, considered among the best in the business, has one chance to redeem herself in the game where everything counts, everything has the possibility of an impact.
Having been sent early up top the order as seen in the last few games, Kapp hasn’t been able to pounce on the bowlers and her stay at the wicket has been cut short usually by her own undoing.
The way she got dismissed in the crunch game against the Australians was quite baffling; her feet nowhere in the picture of executing the stroke that went into the keeper’s hand, ending up in becoming a sitter.
But today, the South Africans will need their ace cricketer to ace England. Truth be told, she has the skills to do it on her own. But being a tad bit watchful instead of immediately launching into an avalanche of boundary hitting may count, may eventually matter.
Fact is, the longer Marizanne Kapp stays out in the middle, if it comes to that, the more secure will the Proteas feel.
Go on, Kappie!
Nat Sciver and one more push
Sciver is shouldering England's batting
There are all rounders. There are great all rounders. And there are those great all rounders who are always excellent and put out their A game in nearly every single contest.
There’s little doubt that Nat Sciver belongs to this elite latter category.
A tireless cricketer blessed with that nearly insanely infectious level of energy and desire of contributing to the English cause, Sciver quite simply makes the bowlers suffer.
And that’s what the premium all rounder has done this time around; remember, of the four outings with the bat, she’s only been dismissed on two.
But none of that matters as much as this: the bad news for South Africa is that Nat Sciver enters this game at the back of what was a clear assault on the Pakistani bowlers, where she took 40 deliveries to score an unbeaten, whirlwind 81.
The good news, however, is that you just never know in a T20 international. Isn’t that right, Sune?
Will Chloe Tryon return to some form?
Tryon is playing as South Africa's deputy in this tournament
The Proteas vice captain is among the most exciting all round talents out there but is also among the most inconsistent ones.
It’s always a fifty-fifty situation where it comes to Chloe Tryon. You can either be dislodged without much ado or it could well be that Tryon quite simply gives her wicket.
You just never know. Even while bowling, Tryon has gone for one run too many in this ICC World Cup.
But now’s not the time for half hearted tries and missed opportunities; it all has to and must come good today.
Someone who can quickly change gears whilst batting and up the tempo of run scoring, Chloe Tryon is due for some fireworks with the bat and having not made any significant score in the last couple of games, maybe the semi final is that precious stage.
The onus is on English spinners
Together, Sarah Glenn, Charlie Dean and Sophie Ecclestone have accounted for more than half of the wickets that England have taken in this World Cup.
You talk of dominance and you talk of the tall order of dismissals that each of these highly skilled exponents at turning the ball has bagged at Cricket’s magnum opus.
South Africa will go for the lofted shots only at their own peril, only after giving it some thought.
For the English spinners, especially Ecclestone is a proven master of tossing it up and surprising batters with full flight.
Runs will, of course, matter but they’ll have to be collected with a sense of foxiness you bring into play in key pressure situations. Wild heaves and misguided hoists won’t do.
But can South Africa ace the web of spin that England’s leading strikers are likely to stitch today? For the record, no batter thus far in international cricket has been able to boss Sophie Ecclestone. Can that change today?
Can the Proteas end their run of misery versus the English in this format?
From the onset of July 2022 until mid August that same year, the Proteas women lost four big T20 internationals to England. They would, unfailingly, like to put an end to what has indeed been a run of misery against a challenging opponent.
There could be nothing more rewarding should that happen in the contest where it all matters.
Sune Luus has a mighty challenge up her alley and she’s going to go for it. But the problem is, her opposite number relishes a good fight and is usually seen bossing big asks.
It all happens now. Let the game begin.
 "Dev Tyagi")
