South Africa is one of the teams known for unleashing its best performance in the mid-stages of a tournament, but it has lacked luck regarding the final events. The same applies to the women's arsenal, as they happened to be the runners-up in the previous edition against the six-time champions, Australia, amidst their home audience.

With the same intention and calibre, they are eager to turn the tables and scalp their first-ever Women's T20 World Cup. Here's the announced squad, probable XI and the top 3 players to check out from the Proteas squad.

Announced Women's South Africa 2024 T20 World Cup Full Squad: 

Laura Wolvaardt (Captain), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Mieke de Ridder, Ayanda Hlubi, Sinalo Jafta (Wicketkeeper), Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Suné Luus, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Seshnie Naidu, Tumi Sekhukhune, Chloé Tryon, *Miané Smit

* Travelling Reserve

South Africa's Probable XI:

1. Laura Wolvaardt (Captain)
2. Tazmin Brits
3. Anneke Bosch
4. Annerie Dercksen
5. Suné Luus
6. Nadine de Klerk
7. Chloé Tryon
8. Sinalo Jafta (Wicketkeeper)
9. Seshnie Naidu
10. Tumi Sekhukhune
11. Nonkululeko Mlaba

Also Read: 2024 Women's T20 World Cup: Australia Women's Team squad, Probable XI & Top 3 players to check out

Top 3 players to check out from South Africa in the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup:

Laura Wolvaardt

Laura Wolvaardt would be one of the pivotal players who would bring the experience element to the Proteas squad. Also, with her captaining the team in a major tournament, it will be interesting to see how she would perform in the tournament.

As a top-order batter, Laura will be seen bolstering the team's batting unit, and it will be interesting to see her as one of the top run-getters for the South African side in the tournament. And to give a limelight on her T20I stint, she has made 1765 runs in 35 matches, at a commendable average of over 35. 

Marizanne Kapp

Marizanne Kapp has been among the best South African players to be remembered in the history of women's Proteas side. Predominant for her hostile pace, aggressive calibre and reliable yet impactful batting, Kapp has been a vital contributor with her all-rounding skills and demeanour.

Her contributions to the Delhi Capitals in the WPL act as the cherry on top, where she unleashed her best bowling attack for her side. And no doubt, she would be one of the players to check out from the Proteas squad. In her T20I stint, she has made 1532 runs and scalped 83 wickets in 107 matches.

Seshnie Naidu

Seshnie Naidu, an emerging leg-spinner, has got her tournament call-up following outstanding performances for the U19 team. Seshnie's cricketing career began at nine when she joined her primary school's mini-cricket squad. Despite her youth, Seshnie responds maturely to the challenges of worldwide competition.

Her approach leading up to the World Cup is to keep improving her talents, trust her ability, and, most importantly, enjoy the event. As the title says, Naidu has the potential to become a rising star in female cricket, thanks to the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup. She only took one wicket in three matches but may make a difference in future games by gaining experience.  

Melbourne Stars have made a great move before the new WBBL season as they acquired the service of South Africa allrounder Marizanne Kapp on a three-year deal. Kapp, who went to Sydney Thunder as the No. 1 draft pick last season, has been added under the new option which also allows clubs to sign one multi-year pre-draft player as well

However, Kapp’s decision came as she could work with Stars coach Jonathan Batty and former Australia captain Meg Lanning as well. Notably, the trio has been part of Delhi Capitals in the last two seasons of the WPL as well.

“I’ve been working with JB [Jonathan Batty] for a couple of years and then obviously working with Meg was a big factor for me moving, I like the way they work,” Kapp said.

However, Marizanne Kapp has earlier played for Sydney Sixers, where she was part of back-to-back titles as well, and Perth Scorchers where she was named Player of the Final in the 2021-22 season as well.

SEE ALSO: Dinesh Karthik appointed as RCB batting coach and mentor

“Marizanne is one of the best allrounders in the world” – Melbourne Stars general manager Blair Crouch

“Marizanne is one of the best allrounders in the world with an outstanding record at both domestic and international level,” Melbourne Stars general manager Blair Crouch said. “As well as her talents with both bat and ball she will add invaluable experience to our young squad in our quest to be among the challengers for WBBL 10.”

However, Kapp played a key role in South Africa’s tour of Australia earlier this year where she played an important role in their first ODI win over the home side with 75 and 3 for 12 at North Sydney Oval as well.

Marizanne Kapp also becomes the third overseas player in the WBBL to be signed before the draft following Amelia Kerr (Sydney Sixers) and Nadine de Klerk (Brisbane Heat). The draft is likely to take place in early September with the WBBL season due to start soon after the T20 World Cup in late October as well.

The Test match between India Women and South Africa Women at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai was nothing short of a thriller. This match showcased the determination and resilience of both teams, with standout performances that will be remembered for years to come.

Day 1 Highlights

India dominated the opening day with early breakthroughs, putting South Africa on the back foot. The Indian bowlers were relentless, making the most of the pitch conditions and testing the South African batters with every delivery.

See Also: Rohit Sharma’s unique celebrations after winning T20 World Cup 2024; FIFA and Wimbledon acknowledge

Day 2 Struggles

South Africa showed resilience on the second day, with key performances from their top-order batters. The partnership between Luus and Wolvaardt started to build, providing the stability that South Africa desperately needed. South Africa showed great fight to reach 236 for 4 on the second day of the one-off Test in Chennai after India declared their first innings at a record 603 for 6.

Day 3 Turning Point

Day 3 was a turning point in the match. India managed to rattle the remaining six wickets in the first hour, giving them a significant advantage. However, South Africa’s Luus and Wolvaardt had other plans, putting up a strong resistance and not offering many chances to the Indian team.

The pitch at Chepauk offered variable bounce and turn, making it challenging for the batters. Both teams had to adapt to the changing conditions, which played a significant role in the dynamics of the match.

Luus’s Century

Luus’s century was a significant milestone in the match. Her determination and grit were on full display as she fought against the Indian bowlers, bringing stability to the South African innings and giving her team a fighting chance.

Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur gets the breakthrough for India. She kept low as Luus tried to pull, went under the bat, and removed the offstump from its groove. Luus scored 109 runs off 203 balls. She becomes the second South African to hit a century against India in India after Mignon du Preez.

Wolvaardt’s Near Century

Wolvaardt’s perseverance was commendable. Batting on 93, she showcased her skill and patience, dealing with the challenging pitch conditions and Indian bowlers. Her performance was a testament to her resilience and focus.

Deepti Sharma’s missed chances, including dropped catches at slip and off her own bowling, were critical moments in the match. These missed opportunities allowed South Africa to build their innings and put pressure on India.

South Africa’s game plan will focus on building partnerships and negating the Indian bowlers. The onus will be on Kapp and Wolvaardt to bat for as long as possible and put runs on the board.

Sneh Rana’s 8-wicket haul

India’s off-spinner Sneh Rana delivered a remarkable performance with figures of 25.3-4-77-8. Her spell dismantled the South African batting lineup and set a new benchmark since Neetu David’s 1995 feat. Rana’s achievement placed her alongside Indian greats in Women’s Test cricket history.

This achievement places her alongside Indian greats like Gargi Banerjee, Diana Edulji, and Shubhangi Kulkarni, who have also left indelible marks in Women’s Test cricket history.

India’s strategy for wickets

India’s game plan for Day 4 will revolve around early breakthroughs. The wicket has some assistance, and the Indian bowlers will need to exploit it fully. Aggressive field placements and disciplined bowling will be crucial. The wicket has some assistance on it. But won’t be easy for the Indians.

With the second edition of the WPL coming ahead in a few days, there have been intriguing anticipation amongst the fanatics, especially after a successful inaugural edition, thanks to the women’s impeccable display of cricketing calibre. As the sport suggests, the bowlers are the ones that create a significant impact on the team’s game, but in a behind-the-scene mode.

Though there are many exceptional bowlers, their talent, experience, and drive may leave an indelible mark on the game. However, in the shortest format, bowlers play an essential part in determining the result of matches, and certain players stand out as potential game-changers due to their ability to reliably take up wickets. Let us check on the top three bowlers who can scalp the most wickets and earn the Purple Cap of the WPL 2024.

Shreyanka Patil

Shreyanka Patil, a right-arm off-break bowler, has emerged as a genuine potential for India. The 21-year-old ended the Women’s Senior One Day Trophy 2022-23 with the second most wickets. She began playing cricket after watching the Indian Premier League (IPL) and is an avid Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) supporter. She got picked by her hometown arsenal in the inaugural edition and did the trick with her spin-bowling skills.

She has scalped a decent six wickets from seven innings with an economy of 9.84. But, with her recent performances for the Indian cricket team and the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Women’s Caribbean Premier League, she becomes one of the major players to check out for in the upcoming WPL edition & of course, a strong contender for the Purple Cap.

Marizanne Kapp

Marizanne Kapp is an experienced bowler who has contributed vital to her WPL franchise, Delhi Capitals. The South African right-arm medium bowler has contributed significantly to the franchise cricket teams she has represented. In the event’s last edition, the 34-year-old bowler took nine wickets at an average of 22.89 and had a fantastic economy of 5.72.

She bowls with excellent line and length, making it challenging for batters to play a stroke. Notably, she has perfect control over the run pace, demonstrating her ability to flourish under duress in the competitive WPL environment. She also holds the title for bowling the most maiden overs and dot balls (121 balls) during the first WPL season.

Sophie Ecclestone

Sophie Ecclestone, the current No.1 T20 Bowler, emerged as a pillar for the UP Warriorz Women squad in the inaugural edition, stunning onlookers with her excellent left-arm orthodox spin. Ecclestone grabbed 16 wickets in nine matches, at an outstanding average of 14.69.

Her ability to maintain a tight economy rate of 6.65 emphasized her importance to the squad, helping the UP Warriorz to their winning stints and cementing her position as one of the league’s top spinners.