Van Niekerk: We got a proper hiding from both teams
Having conceded two world-record totals on the same day South Africa captain Dane van Niekerk singled out bowling as the area of concern.
Just hours after New Zealand made 216/1, the highest team total in women’s T20I cricket, on Wednesday, 20 June, England went one up to make 250/3 against the same Proteas outfit.
“Today we got a proper hiding from both teams, they batted really well and I can’t fault how any of them played,” said van Niekerk.
The Proteas skipper is concerned with the lack of consistency in the lines and lengths being offered by her bowling attack.
“Our bowling is an area of concern,” she said.
“We are bowling too many different lines and lengths, we are all over the place. We have to go back to the drawing board and hopefully we can turn it around in the next few games.”
England opener Tammy Beaumont scored a 52-ball 116 to continue her rich vein of form against the Proteas.
She would add 147 runs for the first wicket with Danni Wyatt in just 13.1 overs.
“It is pretty good feeling to contribute to England wins and it was a pretty complete innings. This morning Ali Maiden, our assistant coach, said I bet you can’t hit three [centuries] in three [matches], so had a little dig there,” she said.
“We had a good chat yesterday and I’m not neccesarily as confident opening up in T20s and [Maiden] said to give myself 10 balls to get in and Danni would go from ball one. That helped me settle in, and know I could catch up afterwards.”