The South African women’s cricket team, under the fresh guidance of coach Mandla Mashimbyi, has sent out a powerful statement with their recent 2-1 ODI series win against the West Indies on their home turf.

This win, achieved despite challenging weather interruptions, not only highlights the team’s growing prowess but also marks an important milestone on their journey ahead of the World Cup in India this September.
Returning from a tough opening loss, the Proteas Women showed remarkable resilience, bouncing back to dominate the series. Mashimbyi expressed his pride in the squad’s progress, noting that the team had put in significant work over recent months.
He said, “I’m excited for the girls. In the last few months, they’ve put in the work, so to come to the West Indies and win a series is a really good thing for them.” This victory was emphatic, sealed by a commanding 166-run win via the DLS method amidst multiple rain interruptions in the series decider.
At the heart of this success was a disciplined Proteas bowling unit, a dimension that had previously been a concern. Mashimbyi highlighted the transformation, explaining, “Bowling is about discipline, and from the first game of the series to where we were in the last two games, there has been a massive improvement; they understand what their roles are and what is expected of them.”
The return of experienced campaigner Marizanne Kapp is a significant boost, bringing leadership and stability. “Kappi coming back was a big plus for us,” Mashimbyi added, emphasising her role in building team confidence.
The Proteas’ batting has become their hallmark, with impressive tallies during recent tours. The West Indies series saw stunning performances under pressure in a crucial series decider, particularly from opening batters Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits. Brits’ elegant century (101) and Wolvaardt’s robust 75 paved the way for a formidable total of 278 in just under 46 overs, a score that proved impregnable.
Mashimbyi emphasised the strategic flexibility of the Proteas batting unit, saying, “In terms of our batting order, it’s about where you can get maximum impact from each player. It’s not necessarily numbers, but where the player can actually put the team in a good position to win matches.” Emerging talents like Nondumiso Shangase also shone brightly, with her “emotional” maiden half-century batting at number three earning praise.
The coach further highlighted versatile players such as Annerie Dercksen, Chloe Tryon, and Nadine de Klerk, affectionately dubbed “the dogs” for their ability to either rescue the team from difficult situations or capitalise on strong positions. “With her, we call them the dogs, obviously, Chloe, Dercky, and Nadine are the ones who will be given the responsibility to either take us out of a bad situation or push us into an even better situation,” Mashimbyi explained.
While the series win is a milestone in itself, Mashimbyi remains pragmatic and forward-looking, recognising that the team is still on the path of growth. “To come here and put in the performances we’ve seen, and we still feel we are not where we need to be, and they understand that,” he reflected.
The upcoming World Cup in India demands that the Proteas reach a new level of consistency in all the departments and tactical maturity that will be the key to not only competing but to stake a claim for their spot in the knockout stages and potentially the grand finale.
The recent tours have offered critical insights into team dynamics and individual roles, and Mashimbyi is optimistic that by the tournament’s start, the team will have gelled into a well-oiled unit. “It’s really nice to see certain things work. We are still not quite there, but I am sure by the time we get to the World Cup, we should be where we need to be,” he added.
Mandla Mashimbyi’s first tour as Proteas women’s head coach has started on a good note, achieving success in the ODI format not just in terms of results but in the positive trajectory it charts for the future. The blend of experienced campaigners and rising stars, coupled with improved discipline and strategic clarity, sets a promising tone for the team’s ambitions.
As they carry this momentum into the upcoming three-match T20I series against the West Indies from 20th June 2025 (Friday), they would be keen to build on the positives and test their bench strength and adaptability in the series.
(Quotes sourced from IOL)

I am Yash Tailor, and I believe work should be driven by passion. Therefore, after completing my Engineering, I chose to work in the Cricket industry, my passion. My goal is to reach a stage where I truly enjoy what I do and give my best to every task with energy and purpose.