Jafta was glued to her TV screen during SA's 98-run win in Cairns

SOUTH Africa's performance Down Under in the first One Day International earlier this week left the country satisfied, but perhaps Proteas women's wicket-keeper Sinalo Jafta was the most satisfied.

- ONGAMA GCWABE

Following what was a difficult weekend for the country, where the Proteas lost the series-deciding T20I in Cairns, the Springboks lost to the Wallabies and Dricus du Plessis's loss of his UFC middleweight title at UFC 319, the country needed something to celebrate.

On Monday, the Temba Bavuma-led ODI team came to the rescue, demolishing Australia by 98 runs to take a one-nil lead in the three-match series.

Like many South Africans, Jafta was up early for the match, at 6.30 in the morning, anticipating the return of captain Bavuma and longing for a victory that would set her up for a fruitful week ahead.

While she has her own training schedule as Proteas women are preparing for the upcoming 2025 ICC Women's World Cup in a couple of months, an ODI series opener against the Aussies was just too enticing to miss.