Proteas women embracing the Australia challenge ahead of clash in Indore

Proteas women batter Anneke Bosch emphasised that they view Australia the same way as all the other teams in the ongoing ICC Women’s World Cup ahead of their clash in Indore on Saturday.

Many teams make the mistake of putting the Australia women's team on a pedestal when facing them because of their seven World Cup titles.

That is a mistake that almost comes naturally, given how dominant Australia have been in women’s cricket and also in the ongoing showpiece, having gone unbeaten thus far.

However, Bosch reiterated that they will not make the same mistake.

The 32-year-old acknowledged Australia as a powerhouse but highlighted that they view them the same way they view the other six teams in the tournament.

“We approach every game in the same way and not play the country or the players or disregard any team or look too high at any team,” Bosch told the media on Friday.

“They're a world-class team and really difficult to beat, (they) are the defending champions, and they've been playing really good cricket over the whole tournament. 

“So, it's going to be a big challenge and a good contest, but I think if we just play our best cricket, then the results will take care of themselves.”

As a nation, South Africa has enjoyed plenty of success in World Cups across various sporting codes.

The Proteas women are part of that success, having reached the semi-final of the ongoing showpiece event, doing so in two consecutive ODI World Cups.

Bosch pointed out resilience, pride and unity as the key ingredients to the success of the Proteas women’s team and the other national teams across various sporting codes.

“We are a massive sporting nation and we love to play for the country and make the country proud and people back at home,” she said.  

“I think it's our resilience and the way we come together as a country and as a nation in big tournaments like this. It’s our fighting spirit and the fact that we really always want to do well and make the country proud.”

Bosch added that the team takes confidence in their past experiences of playing big pressure games and that they are motivated to progress to the final for the first time in ODI World Cups.

“I think now reaching a couple of semifinals in the past just gives us more confidence, but now we want to take it one step further because in the ODI World Cup we haven't done that before,” said Bosch.

“I think the fact that we have participated in a couple of semifinals now just helps us to deal with that pressure and know what to expect from a game like that.

“It really means a lot to us, and that's what you compete for and what you're here for to make it to that final match and hopefully lift the trophy.”

Having lost 16 out of 18 ODIs against Australia in almost three decades, the Proteas women will be looking to record a massive upset and take the top spot in the standings heading into the semi-final stage of the tournament.

The encounter is set to get underway at 11.30 am SAST at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore.

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