South Africa women’s batting coach Baakier Abrahams has lauded his side’s “growth mindset and hunger to get better” after they secured a 2-1 ODI series victory over Pakistan (16–22 September), a result he believes is a huge confidence boost just days out from the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025.
Led by skipper Laura Wolvaardt, the Proteas began emphatically with an eight-wicket chase in the first ODI and a 25-run DLS win in the second, before suffering a rare off day in the decider, where they were bowled out for just 115 in Lahore. Despite the crushing six-wicket defeat in the final match, Abrahams insisted the series showed the strength and depth of South Africa’s batting ahead of their World Cup opener against England on October 3.
“The one thing you’ve got to commend the ladies about is just their growth mindset and their hunger to want to get better, coupled with the skill development,” Abrahams told Cricket South Africa. “All the performances you’re seeing from the batters are due to the hard work and dedication they’ve put into their craft. So long may it continue in putting the team in strong positions to win games of cricket.”
The standout of the series was opener Tazmin Brits, who earned the Player of the Series award despite missing the third ODI. Her numbers were staggering: 272 runs at a strike rate of 103.81, including back-to-back hundreds, each time finishing unbeaten. From her 101* run-chase effort in the opener alongside Marizanne Kapp (121*), to her marathon 171 in the second ODI that propelled South Africa to a record 260-run stand with Wolvaardt, Brits was relentless. She finished as South Africa’s top scorer and the second-highest run-getter of the series overall.
While the spotlight was rightly on the top three, Abrahams emphasized that South Africa’s batting strength extended much further. He highlighted the competition for places and the middle-order power that has been steadily developing.
“When the game situation and opportunity present themselves, we do have the skill set of players that are able to do it. Even if you go down all the way to Nadine de Klerk or Chloe Tryon, they can get hundreds,” he said. “That all bodes well in terms of competition within the group. That’s where we want it to be.”
Abrahams also drew inspiration from the broader trend of high-scoring women’s ODIs worldwide, referencing India’s recent shootout against Australia in Delhi, where both sides produced record-breaking team and individual numbers.
“From our side as a batting unit, we’re trying to push the boat out as far as possible,” Abrahams said. “Seeing that India-Australia game unfold shows just how far batting can go in the women’s game. It’s a nice little target for us to work towards. And I think we’re tracking in the right direction with how we want to go about our business.”
Despite the disappointment of falling flat in a dead-rubber, South Africa left Lahore with belief intact. Their batting blueprint, anchored by Wolvaardt’s leadership, Brits’ flair, and Kapp’s authority, now shifts focus to the global stage. The Proteas will begin their World Cup campaign against England, led by skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt in Guwahati on October 3, as part of the 13th edition of the tournament hosted jointly by India and Sri Lanka from September 30 to November 2.
For Abrahams, the series in Pakistan was more than just a bilateral win. It was proof that South Africa’s batters have risen to both the challenge and the responsibility that a World Cup year demands.
(Quotes sourced from ICC Press Release)
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