South Africa’s De Klerk unlocks the power game in this campaign

The SA allrounder laid India and Bangladesh low with robust hitting in chases

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Two exciting World Cup matches in Visakhapatnam, two chases that set the pulse racing, and in the middle of it each time was South Africa's Nadine de Klerk.

Twice in the span of four days, the 25-year-old from Pretoria walked out with South Africa teetering and walked back having sealed the win with a six. “It's not good for my heart,” she laughed after the second game, against Bangladesh, “but I do love being ina pressure situation.”

If South Africa's campaign in this tournament has been defined by the ability to hang in when the odds are stacked against them, then de Klerk has played a crucial role in it. The first chase was bigger, as the win came against India.

Against the co-hosts, SA were 142/6 chasing 252, and against Bangladesh 78/5 chasing 233.

Both times, de Klerk was at the crease when the job was finished. Both times, it was her six that sealed the victory.

To think that she had only 17 sixes in 123 international matches before arriving in Vizag. Against India, she added five, and one more against Bangladesh.

“I think it’s my natural game,” she said after the India match. “I’ve always been kind of an aggressive batter, trying to take the game on. Today it was about not trying to overhit, just timing the ball, using the pace. I think simplicity is everything.”