Proteas Women live by the sword and die by the sword, says Lara Goodall despite Sri Lanka loss

The Proteas Women might have lost two matches in a row in the ongoing Tri-Series against India and Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, but the experienced top-order batter Lara Goodall is seemingly back in form.

Goodall was not in the original squad for the tour up until she was added as a replacement for the unavailable Anneke Bosch, and the 29-year-old found herself in a flight to Sri Lanka for the series.

The left-handed batter looked in good touch in the third One-Day International against Sri Lanka on Friday, despite SA going down by five wickets to the hosts.

South Africa scored 235/9, with Sri Lanka chasing down the score with five wickets down in the 47th over.

Everything was in sync for the 29-year-old as she danced down the pitch to the spinners and muscled them for boundaries on her way to a 63-ball 46, a knock which saw the batter smash five boundaries in her hour-and-a-half stay at the crease.

However, the manner in which she was dismissed was disappointing as she skied one straight to long-off, and was caught easily by Sri Lanka’s specialist boundary fielder Nilakshika Silva.

Goodall told the media after the match that she too was disappointed, but it is a mode of dismissal that she accepts as it is part of the positive style of play that the Proteas Women are looking to adopt going into the ODI World Cup in India later this year.

“I think we went a bit slow between overs 10 and 20. So, I think we just wanted to get that run-rate up,” Goodall explained the thinking behind the lofted shot that led to her dismissal.

“It was a bit frustrating, but I think that’s the way we want to play.

“So, we live by the sword, die by the sword, and I can’t be too upset because obviously that’s what the coach (Mandla Mashimbyi) wants from us.

“He wants us to be brave. He wants us to take the positive option.

“So, I think that’s how we want to play going forward.

“Obviously it’s frustrating to get out in the 40s, but I think in the long run, once everything clicks and we get what we need out of the series, it’ll go well.”

The Western Province star added that her goal was to be in the World Cup squad, and that she aims to make full use of her opportunities to make that a reality.

“Look, I think everything happens for a reason. So, I think that, coming here, I didn’t have much time to think about it,” she said.

“I just had a few days, you know, which probably helped with opening my mindset going into the series. I have nothing to lose. I have everything to gain.

“At the end of the day, my goal has always been to be in the squad for the World Cup.

“So, I’m just going to take every single opportunity that I get to showcase what I’m about, and throw my name in the hat and just help my team win games.”

South Africa will be back in action on Wednesday when they go head-to-head with India in Colombo.