De Klerk sparks Proteas revival

THE Proteas are two matches away from glory.

- ZAAHIER ADAMS

It could be their good fortune to be playing England, their familiar rivals, in the World Cup semifinal on Wednesday, because it will be the third consecutive time they meet at this juncture. And everyone knows what they say about being third time lucky and all of that....

Or it could be their misfortune to be meeting a team who bowled them out for just 69 before trouncing them by 10 wickets in the opener almost a month ago now.

In that game Nadine de Klerk formed part of the Proteas' batting malaise with the all-rounder managing just three off 11 balls before edging Sophie Ecclestone to slip. Since then, De Klerk has faced a further 122 balls, smashed 176 runs, which includes 17 boundaries and a whopping 10 sixes, at a tournament best strike-rate of 144.26.

It has been a dramatic turnaround for the previously nondescript all-rounder, which has not only transformed her team's fortunes by almost single-handedly winning two matches en route to the semifinal, but also elevated her to the lofty status as one of the competition's most feared ball strikers.