Steve Whiting cricket Aworld-record unbeaten ninth wicket partnership of 66 between Yolande van der Merwe and captain Kim Price could not prevent an eight-wicket loss as South Africa began their bid to be women’s world cricket champions with a difficult match against India in Christchurch, New Zealand, on Thursday.
The South African total of 128 in their 50 overs was never going to be competitive, and teenager Mathali Raj scored 69 as the Indians galloped to 129/2.
This was always going to be a tough start for the South Africans as India dumped them out of the World Cup at the quarterfinal stage last time around.
That last tournament in India in 1997 was the first World Cup South Africa played since their return from the apartheid wilderness. Trouble is, scarcely anyone at home knows they are playing in this one.
Part of the problem is that while England pull in oodles of cash from Vodafone, and Australia and New Zealand are the nearest thing to full-time professionals, the South African women are still having to fork out of their own pockets to get so much as a few hours together for net practice.
It was all so obvious when they were in England for five one-day matches last summer. They didn’t do too badly losing 3-2. Yet those matches were slated to be played at home in South Africa, but the money simply was not available.
At least one province had it clearly spelled out to them by their sponsors that none of their money was to go anywhere near women’s cricket.
The next four weeks could change all that. This time they are one of the five teams rated with a chance of upsetting champions Australia who even so are hot favourites to win the tournament.
But South Africa’s first match in the new round robin format will not bring back happy memories India beat South Africa by five wickets in the quarterfinals in 1997 after bowling them out for just 80. But hopes are high. They have been having intensive practice with former national coach Bob Woolmer and the squad has a blend of youth and experience that might surprise a few.
They range from the experience of skipper Price and Helen Davies, down to the youthful exuberance of 17-year-old all-rounder Sunette Viljoen and medium-pacer Van der Merwe who, according to Woolmer, is “coming along very nicely”.
Whatever the outcome, South Africa may not be there yet, but they have come a long way since agreeing to put 2 into the kitty at the first international women’s cricket meeting in Melbourne in February 1958. England’s contribution was 3 now they stand to receive millions from the national lottery.
It is a measure of the ground South Africa need to make up if they are to match Australia, New Zealand and England.
But it is not in the nature of a South African to be daunted. Says team manager Shan Cade: “All our girls work at regular jobs and receive no payment at all for playing cricket, so all the training and practice sessions have to be worked in around their work commitments. But they have worked hard at their fitness and have made great strides since the last World Cup.
“We had an encouraging series against England in the summer after a tour of Australia earlier in the year, so we are feeling confident.
“We once had a feeling of being intimidated by teams who have more experience than us, but we now realise that success in one-day cricket is all about being the better team on the day.”
Round robin fixtures: December 2 vs England; December 4 vs The Netherlands; December 7 vs Sri Lanka; December 11 vs New Zealand; December 13 vs Australia; December 16 vs Ireland Semifinals: December 18 and 20. Final: December 23