New Delhi: It’s tough to be a South African supporter, perhaps tougher to be a South African cricketer. There were uncanny similarities between March 24, 2015 and July 18, 2017. Only the venue and predator were different. Eden Park, Auckland was replaced by Bristol, London and it was Anya Shrubsole not Grant Elliot who shattered the World Cup dreams of a South African team.
Shrubsole, better known for her bowling, walked out with England needing 2 runs off 3 balls and only No. 11 Alex Hartley left to bat. Giving an account of her icy cool nerves, Shrubsole hit the first ball to the fence to get her side to the World Cup final.
But like Elliot’s match winning six a couple of years ago in the penultimate ball of the match, it was not about Shrubsole or the celebration in the English camp of finding themselves one step away from the ultimate title in front of their home ground. What immediately grabbed everyone’s attention was South African captain, Dane van Niekerk’s teary eyes, the distraught figure of Moseline Daniels and Shabnim Ismail. The disbelief of seeing their dreams go up smoke, made the South Africa women break down. Perhaps AB de Villiers, Morne Morkel or Faf du Plessis would be the only ones to sense the feeling of their women counterparts at that moment. The cricketing fraternity had witnessed something similar in another World Cup semi final, 2 years ago.
But does that mean, Niekerk’s women should also be termed as ‘chokers’ like the Proteas men? Certainly not, for they had laid down a valiant attempt to live up to their No. 1 ranking in the entire tournament.
“I can‘t quite explain how I feel. We set our goal to win the World Cup and we fell short today. But can’t find any faults in the character and fight that we put up throughout the tournament. A lot of people thought we were not gonna make it this far. So I’m proud to prove them wrong,” said captain van Niekerk in the post-match press conference.
Indeed, she must be proud of their effort. She should be proud to give a formidable England side a run for their money in their own backyard. And as for the tears, they bear the testimony of their hardwork and the success that is to follow.