Proteas Women Suffer Heavy Defeat to England

-
Category
-
Submitted By
-
18Dec, 2024
The Proteas Women’s Test match against England at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein will be remembered as a bittersweet chapter in South African cricket history. While the match marked South Africa’s first home Test in over two decades, the Proteas fell to a crushing 286-run defeat against a resurgent England side, who claimed their first Test victory in a decade.
Set an imposing target of 351, South Africa were dismissed for just 64 in their second innings – the lowest score in their Test history – with England’s Lauren Bell taking 4/27 to seal the win on Day 3. England’s comprehensive performance, led by skipper Heather Knight and Bell, showcased the value of a structured approach to Test cricket, a lesson the Proteas can take forward as they seek to improve in the longest format.
Bright Moments Amid a Tough Loss
Despite the heavy defeat, there were positives for the Proteas. Spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba delivered a standout performance, becoming the first South African woman to take 10 wickets in a Test match. Her remarkable 10/157 across both innings highlighted her growing stature in international cricket.
New head coach Mandla Mashimbyi praised Mlaba’s efforts:
“Mlaba’s 10-for was phenomenal. She got better and better as the game progressed. It’s unfortunate to bowl like that and not get the win, but performances like hers show we’re heading in the right direction.”
Proteas skipper Laura Wolvaardt echoed similar sentiments, calling for more Test opportunities to hone their skills:
“There’s only so much you can do in the nets. We need more matches to improve in this format.”
England’s Clinical Display
England’s commanding performance was anchored by Heather Knight, who fell just 10 runs short of a century in the second innings, and Lauren Bell, who claimed match figures of 8/76. Knight reflected on the significance of the win:
“First Test win in a decade is pretty special. I’ve loved the graft over the last three days and the style in which we finished the game.”
The match also highlighted the challenges women’s cricket faces, with Knight expressing frustration over the absence of DRS:
“In Test cricket, where wickets are at such a premium, it’s really important to have it. The lack of DRS was a disappointment.”
The Need for More Test Cricket
The Proteas Women have played just four Tests since 2016, highlighting the rarity of opportunities in the format. While 2024 saw them play three Tests, there are no fixtures scheduled for 2025, a reality Mashimbyi described as a major obstacle:
“We need more red-ball cricket. It’s part of my responsibility to prepare the team by incorporating two-day matches into camps, but structural changes are needed to give us regular exposure.”
Wolvaardt emphasized the importance of these opportunities:
“We played good cricket in parts of this match, but lapses in crucial moments cost us. Learning to navigate those comes with experience, which we can only gain by playing more Tests.”
Looking Ahead
The Bloemfontein Test, which carried historical significance as the 150th women’s Test, highlighted both the promise and the challenges of women’s cricket in South Africa. While England’s dominance underscored their familiarity with the format, the Proteas showed glimpses of their potential.
For South Africa, the focus now shifts to advocating for more Test matches to bridge the gap in experience and performance. As Mashimbyi noted, the lessons learned in Bloemfontein will serve as a foundation for future success:
“There’s a lot to build on. With consistent opportunities, we can compete and excel in this format.”
For now, the Proteas Women must take pride in their strides forward, even as they navigate the growing pains of a team finding its feet in the red-ball arena.
[Submitted by Kevin Rademeyer]