Proteas Women batter Anneke Bosch played a vital role in South Africa winning their three match T20 series against Pakistan ahead of the start of the ICC T20 World Cup next week.
Peaking at the right time
After having been humbled to a 3-0 series defeat in the 2023 tour of Pakistan, the Proteas Women fought hard to win the recent three match series 2-1 to kick-off final preparations on a positive note.
Bosch’s impressive innings of 46 off 37 balls in the final match helped South Africa secure their first series win in seven attempts since making their maiden T20 World Cup final last year.
With 41 appearances, and four half centuries behind her name, Bosch told SportsBoom that she tries to keep her game as simple as possible while also trusting her process.
For the Proteas, the timely series win will give them much needed momentum and confidence as the global showpiece gets closer.
“My performance came down to the mental side of the game and just being ready for the conditions, preparing well, and just going out with the intensity of looking to score runs and not worrying too much about the result but more about the process,” Bosch told SportsBoom.com.
“The fact that it was the series decider, we had a lot to play for and we really wanted to win the series and take the momentum into the World Cup, and it turned out really good for us.”
The danger posed by the four World Cup opponents
The right-handed batter reviewed each of the four sides due to face-off against the Proteas and briefly highlighted what to expect from them.
The power of the West Indies
“We haven’t played them in a long time, we know they are a very strong team especially in World Cups they tend to perform very well – they are a tough team to beat.”
“They have a lot of big hitters and good bowlers, and they love T20 cricket obviously, they are a tough team to compete against so it will be a good match definitely.”
The class and experience of England
“They have been one of the best sides in the world for a while, but we also haven’t played with them for a while. I think the last time was in the semi-finals of the World Cup last year, and obviously that went our way.”
“We also have good memories and confidence from that win, but they are one of the best teams in the world, and they have a lot of good players.”
“Beating them will be a big challenge and a good achievement for us because they are a good side. We know they will come hard and give everything.”
Every team we play against also wants to win, it’s not just us, every team gives everything they can, and they will do their best.”
The uncertainty surrounding Scotland
“It makes it kind of dangerous playing against Scotland because we have never played against them for as far as I know, and I kind of don’t know what to expect.”
“So, you can only watch previous matches of them and look at videos to get an idea of what to expect.”
“It’s always a bit of a challenge when you play a team for the first time, but they will be another team we will be on the lookout for, and we will have to be at our best to beat them.”
The danger posed by Bangladesh
“We played them at the end of last year in South Africa and we drew the three match T20 series 1-1 because there was a rained-out game.”
“They are also looking really good, and they have been playing well, so it will be tough to beat them as well.”
With thanks to SportsBoom
