CRICKET NEWS - Despite the Proteas losing against Australia in the ICC T20 Women's World Cup final, Knysna resident Tazmin Brits will undoubtedly return home with her head held high.
With the fifth-most runs in the tournament and a spot in the tournament's best side, Brits was in fine form.
The Proteas Women on Sunday 26 February played in South Africa's first world cup final ever (either men's or women's cricket). It was also South Africa's first final in an ICC tournament in 25 years, the last one being the 1998 ICC Champions Trophy which the Proteas Men won.
It was a truly historic moment for Brits and her teammates, and if it weren't for a heroic performance from Brits and some brilliance from Ayabonga Khaka in the semi-final, they might never have made that piece of history.
Brits bashes the Brits
Simply playing in the semi-final was history for the Proteas, as they were the first South African side to ever take part in a semi-final of an ICC tournament on South African soil.
They did however have the unenviable task of facing England, who had beaten the SA Women three times in semi-finals before.
A packed Newlands crowd on Friday 24 February was hoping for a different outcome though, and my oh my, did Tazmin Brits put on a show for the Capetonian faithful!
As they'd done the entire tournament, Brits opened the batting with Laura Wolvaardt. The two combined brilliantly once again and gave SA the perfect platform for a good innings with an opening stand of 96 before Wolvaardt fell for 53.
Brits battled on, reaching 68 before she too was dismissed with South Africa on 142-2. Courtesy of late runs from Marizanne Kapp, the Proteas reached 164-4 in their 20 overs.
Brilliant fielding
While she is by no means a bowler, Brits still had a significant contribution to make when SA took to the field to defend their total. She put on a fine fielding display taking no less than four catches, including a spectacular low one-handed catch at mid-wicket off Shabnim Ismail's bowling.
SA managed to hold on, defeating England by six runs to progress to the final. Brits was also named the player of the match in the semi-final.
Sadly Brits couldn't repeat her heroics in the final, where she only scored 10 runs but did take the important catch of Ellyse Perry.
The Aussies won the final by 19 runs, but the Proteas' heroic performance in the tournament won the hearts of many a cricket fan across the globe. She was also rewarded for her efforts with a spot in the best team of the tournament, selected alongside fellow countrywomen Laura Wolvaardt and Shabnim Ismail.
Read more on sister publication: www.knysna-plettherald.com
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