PROJECT 2029 BEGINS NOW FOR PROTEAS WOMEN'S TEAM

ALAS, another World Cup final, another Proteas Women’s heartbreaking defeat.

- ZAAHIER ADAMS

The format may be different, but that’s now three and counting. Forever the bridesmaids, never the bride. Perhaps the silver lining to all of this is that for years semifinals were the immovable object.

And as that obstacle was eventually overcome, so too will finals be conquered.

The Proteas’ entire World Cup campaign was a rollercoaster ride from start to finish, with captain Laura Wolvaardt admitting: “We were either really good or really bad, but thankfully there was a lot more really good throughout this tournament.”

It is worth remembering the Proteas’ buildup to this World Cup to gain a greater perspective though. They had won just seven out of their last 21 ODI’s, which included series’ losses to Australia and England, whilst also failing to make the final of a triangular series which included India and Sri Lanka.

Four of the seven victories were achieved against West Indies, who failed to qualify for the World Cup, and Pakistan that finished rock bottom at the recent jamboree.

Compare this to their form at the World Cup, where they beat each nation at some stage bar former champions Australia.

“We'll look back at this tournament as a lot of positives. I think at one stage we won five games in a row or something like that, which is pretty big for our group.