JOIN USDane van Niekerk’s all-round performance helped South Africa trounce Sri Lanka by 110 runs and register their first win in the Super Six stage of the ICC Women’s World Cup here on Wednesday.
A combination of poor shot selection and temperament saw Sri Lanka make a mess of their chase of 228, with only Chamari Athapaththu offering some resistance with an elegant 63.
With just one other batter in Sandamali Dolawatte (21) getting to double figures, the chase was as good as over even before Sri Lanka had reached the half way mark at the Barabati Stadium.
After a listless batting display against England, South Africa raised their game to post a competitive 227 for eight in 50 overs after being asked to bat.
The revival was led by Shandre Fritz (64) and Cri-Zelda Brits (52), who struck aggressive half-centuries, after South Africa crawled to 67 for three in the 24th over.
Brits and Fritz put on 70 for the fourth wicket to bring some stability to the innings and allow the luxury of launching a final onslaught.
Van Niekerk too played her part, contributing a fine 38-ball 40 to help South Africa cross 200. She took four wickets also.
Mignon du Preez led the recovery with a patient 37, but it was Brits who provided the momentum with some towering sixes. She was also helped by some sensible batting at the other end from Fritz, who was more than happy to just rotate the strike.
Brits’ decision to attack the spinners caught Sri Lanka off guard. She smashed four fours and three sixes including a huge one over deep mid-wicket to get to her fifty.
Score board
SOUTH AFRICA: Yolandi Potgieter c Dolawatte b Weerakody 4; Trisha Chetty b Kaushalya 1; Mignon du Preez c Dolawatte b Seneviratna 37; Cri-Zelda Brits lbw Seneviratna 52; Shandre Fritz c Ranasinghe b Seneviratna 64; Dane van Niekerk c Weerakody b Ranasinghe 40; Chloe Tryon b c Kaushalya b Ravikumar 8; Shabnim Ismail (not out) 1; Elrissa Theunissen (run out) 1; Extras (LB-12, W-12) 14; Total (8 wkts, 50 overs) 227.
Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-24, 3-67, 4-137, 5-208, 6-213, 7-224, 8-227.
Bowling: Eshani Kaushalya 10-2-33-1, Udeshika Prabodhini 9-0-32-0, Sreepali Weerakodi 7-1-33-1, Chamani Seneviratna 10-1-44-3, Sharina Ravikumar 5-0-37-1, Oshadi Ranasinghe 6-0-30-1, Sandamali Dolawatte 3-0-16-0.
SRI LANKA: Chamari Jayangini (run out) 63; Lasanthi Madhushani b Ismail 1; Deepika Rasangika c du Preez b Niekerk 9; Dilani Surangika c Chetty b Letsoalo 1; Sandamalo Dolawatte c Chetty b Niekerk 21; Eshani Kaushalya c Chetty b Ismail 5; Chamani Seneviratna c&b Potgieter 0; Sripali Weerakody c Chetty b Niekerk 0; Oshadi Ranasinghe (run out) 1; Udeshika Prabodhini c Chetty b Nikerk 0; Sharina Ravikumar (not out) 0; Extras (B-5, LB-1, W-9, NB-1) 16]; Total (all out, 36.4 overs) 117.
Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-41, 3-43, 4-104, 5-110, 6-115, 7-116, 8-116, 9-117.
Bowling: Shabnim Ismail 7-4-22-2, Chloe Tryon 6-1-30-0, Marcia Letsoalo 6-2-12-1, Dane van Niekerk 7-0-18-4, Sune Luus 3-0-15-0, Yolandi Potgieter 7.4-2-14-1.