Nadine de Klerk's vital contribution to Proteas' first World Cup final

The all-rounder played an invaluable role in the team's historic achievement.

- By Keanan Hemmonsbey

When she's not smacking the white leather ball over the boundary, she's taking important wickets.

And when she's not doing either of those, she's grabbing outstanding catches.

Nadine de Klerk (25) has done it all for the Proteas as they prepare to do battle in the final of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup in India on Sunday. It's her ability to finish matches with the willow that has been the biggest factor in South Africa's incredible run to their inaugural final.

The Proteas were thumped by 10 wickets in their opening match of the tournament against England (and returned the thumping by 125 runs in the semifinal). The team then comfortably beat New Zealand by six wickets in their second pool match to set their tournament back on the right track.

After New Zealand, a meeting against tournament hosts India threatened to derail their journey again. South Africa were stuttering on 141 for the loss of six wickets, chasing 251, with just more than 13 overs left in their innings and staring down the barrel of defeat.

But in stepped De Klerk, smashing an undefeated 84 runs off 54 balls, which included five sixes and eight fours, to win the match for her side. "She's come into her own in this tournament and been very explosive, which is awesome," former captain and top-order batter Suné Luus said.

De Klerk followed those heroics with a similar showing in the next match, hitting a six with three balls remaining in the match to help the side chase Bangladesh's 232. She finished the match undefeated on 37 off 29 deliveries, another six added to her tournament tally and four fours.

Without these interventions from De Klerk, South Africa would have had two defeats in their opening four matches and needed a small miracle to reach the knockout phase.

Three weeks later, there are no ifs or maybes the Proteas are in the final for the first time.

Learning on the job