Women’s cricket is all set to mark its debut at the Commonwealth Games on the 29th of July in Birmingham, England. The tournament will see 12 league stage games followed by 4 knockout games with the medal games set to be played on the 7th of August. The tournament will be played in the Twenty20 format and will feature 8 nations divided into two groups with India, Australia, Pakistan and Barbados in group A and England, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka in other, group B.
FIXTURE DETAILS
South Africa placed in group B play their opening game against New Zealand on the 30th of July in the morning hours. Below are Team South Africa’s fixtures against the opponents in the league and knockout rounds.
| DATE | OPPOSITION | TIME (SAST) | TIME (UK) | VENUE |
| 30-Jul-22 | New Zealand | 12:00 PM | 11:00 AM | Edgbaston |
| 02-Aug-22 | England | 12:00 PM | 11:00 AM | Edgbaston |
| 04-Aug-22 | Sri Lanka | 12:00 PM | 11:00 AM | Edgbaston |
| DATE | MATCH | TIME (SAST) | TIME (UK) | VENUE |
| 06-Aug-22 | semi-final 1 | 12:00 PM | 11:00 AM | Edgbaston |
| 06-Aug-22 | semi-final 2 | 7:00 PM | 6:00 PM | Edgbaston |
| 07-Aug-22 | Bronze medal | 11:00 AM | 10:00 AM | Edgbaston |
| 07-Aug-22 | Gold medal match | 6:00 PM | 5:00 PM | Edgbaston |
SOUTH AFRICA’S SQUAD FOR THE GAMES :
Sune Luus (c), Chloe Tryon, Anneke Bosch, Tamzin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Mignon du Preez, Lara Goodall, Shabnim Ismail, Sinalo Jafta, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Delmi Tucker, Laura Wolvaardt, Tumi Sekhukhune.
*Tazmin Brits on standby.
SQUAD NEWS
The sudden absence of names which are one better than the other has had South Africa hit brutally. Lizelle Lee aged 30 announced her retirement early in July after reports of a rift with the Cricket South Africa board. Dane van Niekerk continues to miss cricket action as she’s still nursing her injured ankle. Marizanne Kapp had to rush back home to deal with a family emergency so, she misses out as well.
PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR
Laura Wolvaardt
Batter, Laura Wolvaardt doesn’t specifically enjoy the format batting at 4 and South Africa must reconsider with her opening the innings. She’s one of the leading cricketers in the world and is having a good and consistent run. Laura batting with a healthy strike rate of 113.12 and a decent average of 27.19 has scored 707 runs in 37 innings.
Shabnim Ismail
Pacer, Shabnim Ismail has looked off-colour in her buildup to the Games, but big names like her just need a good wicket to find themselves back in form. She’s been South Africa’s leader of the pace attack who’s got 112 wickets (3rd highest) in 101 innings and also has picked up a couple of fifers in the format which reflects her class.
Chloe Tryon
Spin all-rounder, Chloe Tryon is one of South Africa’s few in-form batters. She’s had a good run with the bat in hand and that is what South Africa wants more of at the moment. She’s most suited to this format and is a key for South Africa. Tryon bats with a strike rate of 136.45 and has scored 816 runs in 60 innings.
Tumi Sekhukhune
Spinner, Tumi Sekhukhune is a crucial part of the team in absence of many. She’s picked up 24 wickets in 24 innings with best figures of 3/20. She bowls with a decent economy of 6.36. There is a fitness clearance awaited in her case and a player more going down is not what South Africa will want.
STREAMING DETAILS (IN SOUTH AFRICA)
Cricket games at the Commonwealth Games can be watched live on SuperSport.
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