Khaka welcomes the challenge of leading the bowling attack for Proteas women

Ayabonga Khaka © Gallo Images

Experienced fast bowler Ayabonga Khaka relishes the opportunity to lead the Proteas Women’s bowling attack in the 50-over format ahead of the third ICC Women’s Championship (2022-25) One-Day International (ODI) against India at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday.

The final ODI between the two countries will kick off at 1.30pm local time (10am SAST) and the match will be broadcast live on SuperSport Grandstand (Chapter 201).

During the pre-match press conference, Khaka expressed her excitement at being the key player with the ball for her country and the challenges this brings, in the absence of retired Shabnim Ismail and Marizanne Kapp, who is currently tackling her bowling workload it is building up. a minor back injury.

“It’s a new role for me. I’ve been (bowling first) for the team for so long. Opening the bowling is a new role and I am trying to figure it out. We always had a great bowling unit, everyone picked up their hand. It’s always fun to play with people like that.

“We know each other as a group. I’m just enjoying the moment. It is a challenge for me, but I embrace it,” the 31-year-old noted.

In the ongoing ODI series against India, Khaka has taken the lead for her country, posting impressive figures of three for 47 in her 10 overs in the first encounter, before following that up with a disciplined return of 0/51 in the second match, alongside a South African seam attack featuring Masabata Klaas, Nadine de Klerk and Annerie Dercksen.

With the Proteas bowling first in both encounters, the fast bowling group has managed to get the visitors off to a positive start against the Indian top order, restricting the hosts to 99/5 in the first ODI before conceding just 28 runs in the power play in the second outing.

Commenting on her growing partnership with fellow opening partner Klaas and the rest of the attack, the DP World Lions fast bowler said: “We’re just sticking to our plans. It’s all about executing and sticking to our plans. I think we’ve done a great job for the team, and we’re just going to stick with what we know.”

Despite South Africa losing both matches against India by 143 runs and four runs respectively, Khaka stressed the importance of the third ODI in the context of the ICC Women’s Championship qualifying campaign for the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup.

“Tomorrow is also important for us. It’s all about the points. We take the game as it comes. “I think we’re going to play two games on the same pitch, so it’s just about going there and executing everything we do as a team.”

Reflecting on the lessons from the narrow four-run defeat in the second ODI, Khaka pointed out the key areas for improvement. “It was a great match, but we didn’t win. I think in the bowling too, the bowling unit gave away a lot in the last ten overs and we took the lessons from that. And maybe we could have done better with the batting as well.”

When asked about the fielding side of the game, Khaka also acknowledged the continued efforts to improve their on-field performance, saying: “I think everyone is working hard on that. Some days it will work out, some days it won’t, but we’ll continue to work hard and make sure we execute.”

Audio and video of the pre-match press conference with Proteas Women seamer Ayabonga Khaka can be downloaded here.

Proteas Women ODI and Test Squad – Outbound Tour to India (June 16 – July 09)

Laura Wolvaardt (Captain) (Fidelity Titans), Anneke Bosch (Fidelity Titans), Tazmin Brits (DP World LIons), Nadine de Klerk (World Sports Betting Western Province), *Annerie Dercksen (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), *Mieke de Ridder (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), Sinalo Jafta (DP World Lions), Marizanne Kapp (World Sports Betting Western Province), Ayabonga Khaka (DP World Lions) (ODI Squad Only), Masabata Klaas (Fidelity Titans), Suné Luus (Fidelity Titans), *Eliz-Mari Marx (Fidelity Titans), Nonkululeko Mlaba (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Tumi Sekhukhune (DP World Lions), *Nondumiso Shangase (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), ⁠Delmi Tucker (World Sports Betting Western Province)

* Uncapped Test player

Match Schedule – Proteas Women’s Outbound Tour to India (June 16 – July 09)

ICC Women’s Championship One-Day International Series:

Sunday, June 23 at 10am – 3rd IWC ODI: India v South Africa (M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru)

One-time trial:

Friday, June 28 – Monday, July 1 at 6am: India vs South Africa (MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai)

T20 International Series:

Friday, July 5 @ 3:30 PM – 1st T20I: India v South Africa (MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai)

Sunday, July 7 at 3:30 PM – 2nd T20I: India vs South Africa (MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai)

Tuesday, July 9 @ 3:30 PM – 3rd T20I: India v South Africa (MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai)