TOSS | Proteas Women asked to bowl first as Meso, Shangase earn maiden World Cup starts

The Proteas Women have been asked to bowl first by Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu in their ongoing ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup fixture at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Friday.

South Africa have built quite a reputation for successfully chasing down targets in this year’s showpiece event, having won all three of their matches so far while batting second. However, upon winning the toss, Athapaththu opted to put the visitors in to bowl first in the Sri Lankan capital.

South Africa have made three changes to their playing XI. Young wicket-keeper-batter Karabo Meso earns her maiden World Cup appearance, replacing the experienced Sinalo Jafta.

Jafta has been outstanding behind the stumps but has struggled with the bat, which likely contributed to her omission for this match.

Batter Anneke Bosch also misses out after a quiet start to the tournament and is replaced by Sune Luus, who was rested as a precaution earlier in the week against Bangladesh.

All-rounder Nondumiso Shangase also comes into the side for her first appearance of the tournament. The right-arm off-spinner is expected to play a key role in the bowling attack against a Sri Lankan line-up featuring several left-handers.

A victory for South Africa today would put them in an excellent position to secure early qualification for the semi-finals of the Women's Cricket World Cup.

South Africa Playing XI for Sri Lanka: 

1. Laura Wolvaardt (Captain)
2. Tazmin Brits
3. Sune Luus
4. Annerie Dercksen
5. Marizanne Kapp
6. Karabo Meso (wicket-keeper)
7. Chloe Tryon
8. Nadine de Klerk 
9. Nondumiso Shangase
10. Masabata Klaas
11. Nonkululeko Mlaba