Devnarain proud of Proteas

Devnarain proud of Proteas

Interim captain, Dinesha Devnarain, stood proud after the Proteas concluded their tour to Ireland on Thursday.

The South African ladies ended the trip with a disappointing seven-wicket loss to the hosts in a match that was a dead rubber after the visitors led the series 3-0 heading into the final One-Day International in Dublin.

The two sides also shared the two-match Twenty20 International series 1-1 earlier this month and Devnarain, who led the team in the absence of Dane van Niekerk, was thrilled with the outcomes of the tour.

Speaking after the series finale, Devnarain said: “We won the series, which is brilliant and what we came to do,

“Unfortunately with the brand of cricket we’ve been playing, I would have loved to have finished off on a high, but so it is, but I'm very proud of the girls.”

It was South Africa’s first-ever loss to the Irish in an ODI, but the tour was positive in the main. Opener Laura Wolvaardt, 17, became the youngest ever centurion for South Africa with her 105 in the third match, while former captain Mignon du Preez (116) also hit a century in the second game.

There were also 90s for Chloe Tryon and Trisha Chetty, who surpassed the 2000-run mark in ODIs, becoming the first SA women’s cricketer to do so, as the tourists dominated. Sune Luus starred with the ball, picking up 14 wickets in the four games.

Devnarain explained: “To watch the girls grow was definitely a high,

“Losing the way we did by not playing our type of cricket was probably the low. A couple of girls getting into the 90s and not getting to that three figures was a little disappointing, but all in all, there were more highs than lows.”

The South Africans also undertook the trip without several of their senior players, but Devnarain felt they were hardly missed.

Devnarain added: “I think that was the beauty thing about the tour,

“We knew we were short of senior players, but the girls stepped up and played cricket as if they weren’t the juniors of the team.

“They took their skills very seriously and executed brilliantly, which is what we want from a management point of view and is great to see.”

The 27-year-old, who has played in 20 ODIs and 22 T20s for her country, says that leading her country will be something that stays in her heart forever.

Devnarain concluded: “Not many people can say that they captained their country and I'm very fortunate to have done that on this tour,

“I’ve tried my best to lead my country with pride and it’s a memory that I will never forget.”