South Africa face daunting task to head off Australia

Lynn McConnell

December 17, 2000

Australia, untroubled so far to be the only unbeaten side in the CricInfo Women's World Cup, know that the sudden death nature of the semi-final with South Africa tomorrow at BIL Oval has lifted the tournament to a new level of competitiveness.

The defending champion has carried all before it, while South Africa has everything to play for and, for the moment, nothing to lose.

Final confirmation has not yet been received, but South Africa is likely to host the next Women's World Cup and what better way to make their mark than by claiming the scalp of the defending champion.

It is an unlikely proposition, but South Africa has shown an ability to upset and if it was able to break through the Australian top order and then contain the highly-experienced middle-to-lower order which pulled the Australians out of potential trouble against England, it would give itself every chance.

That is a tough prospect because the Australians have been so clinical that they are unlikely to be upset by anything unusual the South Africans may throw at them.

Australian coach John Harmer said: "We expect the South Africans to come out with all guns blazing.

"They will have a positive outlook and play with some aggression.

"We'll be trying to do the same," he said.

Harmer has been a tough task master throughout the tournament, picking on any aspects of the side's game that he believes has fallen below an acceptable standard.

"Our batting is holding up. But we bowled a little off line today [in the last round-robin game against the Netherlands] A couple of the bowlers were off line so we will be addressing that at training," he said.

One area that has been of concern is the ground fielding.

"They're still struggling to get the pace of the ground. The ball is bouncing more than what they are used to at home. The grounds at home, while hard, have more grass on the outfield. The ball also skids a little here when it lands," he said.

Keeping the edge was important and Harmer made the point that if players lose five per cent of their edge they could find themselves back in the pavilion looking because they've lofted the ball, or nicked, and got themselves out.

South African coach, Rodney Willemberg, didn't read too much into his side's nine-wicket win over Ireland on Saturday.

"Australia and Ireland are leagues apart," he said.

In their preparation for the sudden-death match, South African would be looking at their bowling.

"We must bowl a better line and length. We must deny the boundary balls."

He was not concerned that only three batsmen had had time at the crease against Ireland.

"We've moved people up and down the order during the tournament so most of the batsmen have had time in the middle. Now they have to take the opportunity to put what they have learned to good effect."

South Africa, he said, had timed their run ideally. Amid all the talk early in the tournament about run rate, the team had focused on picking up the points they needed to qualify. "Now they have got it all together at the right time."

His side also rested its key bowlers against Ireland with Sunnette Viljoen and Hanri Strydom bowling their first overs of the tournament. They each picked up three wickets and offer another string to South Africa's bowling bow.

Where South Africa may struggle is in its ability to attack Australia through its batting. Daleen Terblanche with 190 runs at 47.5 and Linda Olivier with 188 at 37.6 pale in comparison to Australia's Karen Rolton with 390 at 195.00 and Lisa Keightley 284 at 71.0.

The other factor for South Africa to be wary of is the increasing role being played by Australian captain Belinda Clark, who has been building in recent games to more respectable scored and who now has a tournament average of 46.25.

Australia must be favoured going into the game, but if South Africa could find the resurgent spirit which allowed it to gain its place in the semis by beating England, then it would be an opponent to be wary of.

The teams will be selected from:

Belinda Clark, Joanne Broadbent, Louisa Broadfoot, Avril Fahey, Cathryn Fitzpatrick, Zoe Goss, Cherie Bambury, Julie Hayes, Lisa Keightley, Therese McGregor, Olivia Magno, Charmaine Mason, Julia Price, Karen Rolton.

South Africa - Anina Burger, Helen Davies, Cindy Eksteen, Alison Hodgkinson, Aluis Kuylaars, Hanri Strydom, Levona Lewis, Nolubabalo Ndzundzu, Linda Olivier, Kim Price, Denise Reid, Daleen Terblanche, Yulandi van der Merwe, Sunnette Viljoen, Sune van Zyl.

The second semi-final, between New Zealand and India, will be played on Wednesday, also at BIL Oval. Both games have a reserve day in the event of rain.

(Chris Rosie assisted in the preparation of this report)

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