Indore, Oct 7 – South Africa’s star batter Tazmin Brits admitted that their heavy loss in the first round of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup was a wake‑up call, and the motivation helped the Proteas pull off a dramatic six‑wicket win over New Zealand at the Holkar Stadium.
The South African team suffered a dramatic batting collapse in their opening match, but they regrouped for a strong response against the White Ferns. Brits shone again, taking the Player of the Match award after smashing 101 runs from 89 balls. South Africa chased New Zealand’s 232‑run target in just 40.5 overs, with Brits’ century proving the difference.
This marks Brits’ fifth ton of the calendar year. She has achieved these in just 41 innings, surpassing Australian veteran Meg Lanning in the record for fewest innings to score seven centuries in the format.
“We’re always looking to expand our shot selection,” Brits told reporters after the game. “There isn’t a huge change in my approach – I’ve just been working hard to add more variety.”
Brits blamed the previous loss to England for “not sitting well,” but the team used that disappointment as fuel. “I didn’t want to eat that night and kept overthinking things,” she said. “But we moved on quickly and focused on the next game.”
South Africa’s bowlers also made an impact. Brits praised their line and length. “The bowlers executed very well,” she said. “They applied pressure and kept the runs in check on this pitch.”
New Zealand’s Brooke Halliday, who scored 45 from 37 balls and bowled three overs, felt the side struggled in the crease. “We probably overpitched a little, which made it easier for the South Africans to settle,” she admitted. “If we can improve our line and length, we’ll be ready for the next game against Bangladesh.”
Halliday highlighted the tournament’s long haul. “We’re two games down, but there are still five. If we win those, we have a good chance to reach the semi‑finals.”
South Africa’s comeback at Holkar Stadium shows the team’s resilience and determination to make a deep run in the Women’s World Cup. Their performance, led by Tazmin Brits, signals a strong challenge for the rest of the tournament.
Source: ianslive
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