INDIA WOMEN'S TOUR OF SOUTH AFRICA 2017-18
Fourth T20I abandoned due to rain; India retain 2-1 lead
Cricbuzz Staff • Last updated on Wed, 21 Feb, 2018, 08:29 PM
Lizelle Lee made an unbeaten half-century. © Getty
The fourth T20I between India and South Africa at the SuperSport Park in Centurion has been called off due to rain, with only 15.3 overs bowled. India still lead the series 2-1, which is now unassailable.
India came in with two changes to the side - Rumeli Dhar and Deepti Sharma coming in for Shikha Pandey and Anuja Patil - both of whom didn't enjoy the best of times with the ball. The visitors, after winning the toss and electing to field, were on the backfoot right away, with South Africa's opening pair of Dane van Niekerk and Lizelle Lee going on the offensive.
Dhar, the 34-year allrounder who last played for India in 2012, didn't get the warmest welcome on her return, conceding 22 runs off her first three overs. However, South Africa's big assault began in the fifth over, against Rajeshwari Gayakwad's slow left-arm, with van Niekerk sweeping her for a boundary and Lee slogging her for a four and a six later in the over.
The skipper and wicketkeeper provided the hosts with another good start and stitched their second century stand in T20Is - and the third highest for South Africa's opening stand. While van Niekerk hogged most of the strike in the partnership, it was the aggressive play by Lee which ensured South Africa scored at over run-a-ball for most parts of their innings.
Even the introduction of spin from both ends - with Poonam Yadav and Deepti Sharma in operation - could do little to curtail the flow of runs. Van Niekerk countered the field set and the lack of pace by employing the sweeps and reverse sweeps from her reserves in abandon. She eventually brought up her fifty with a six off Deepti over long on.
With a couple of full pitched deliveries getting dispatched past the boundary ropes in the 13th over, it had become amply clear that the length had to be altered against her. The offspinner pulled one back and van Niekerk's attempt to clear the infield failed with Dhar taking a good catch above her head at mid off.
With only over seven overs remaining in the innings, big-hitting Chloe Tryon was promoted to No 3. The move didn't pay enough dividend as she pulled a half-tracker by Poonam to Dhar at square leg to perish for a four-ball two.
The collapse continued for South Africa as India struck for the third time in three overs with Deepti trapping Sune Luus in the next over. Lee, however, was going strong, bringing up her fifth T20I fifty off only 33 balls. She struck another six thereafter, remaining unbeaten on 58 before rain stopped play.
Brief Scores: South Africa Women 130/3 in 15.3 overs (Lizelle Lee 58*, Dane van Niekerk 55; Deepti Sharma 2-33) vs India Women (match abandoned)
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INDIA TOUR OF SOUTH AFRICA, 2018
Live Cricket Score of South Africa vs India, 2nd T20I
Cricbuzz Staff • Last updated on Thu, 22 Feb, 2018, 12:55 AM
Live Score Updates South Africa 189/4 (18.4 Ovs) Duminy 64 (40) India 188/4 Unadkat 3.4-0-42-2 South Africa won by 6 wkts Live Scores Full Scorecard
Pandey made an unbeaten 79 for India. © AFP
All over! South Africa have achieve series parity!
And that's thanks two sensational half-centuries from Heinrich Klaasen and captain JP Duminy. Excellent batsmanship on a day when Chahal - one of South Africa's tormentors finished the day with the worst T20I figures for Indian bowlers. Once again in the limited-overs leg, it has taken the threat of rain to fire up South Africa and knock the winds out of India's sails. Klaasen's arrival at the end of the fifth over turned the game on its head for the hosts. The wicketkeeper-batsman was brutal in his 30-ball stay for 69 -smashing three fours and seven sixes along the way. Once he fell, Duminy carried on and finished it off in style with eight deliveries to spare. He ended the game with an undefeated 64 off 40 balls. Super stuff from the hosts to drag the series to the finale in Cape Town on February 24. Until then, goodbye!
JP Duminy keeps the chase alive...and how!
Klaasen's exit hasn't made a different to South Africa. Their captain has continued the scoring, breached par scores as rain keeps looking to come out at any moment, while also reducing the equation. A lot of that is down to Yuzvendra Chahal having his worst day in the format - conceding 64 - the most by an Indian in T20Is. SA now need just 26 off the last 18 balls.
MS Dhoni T20I fifties:
56 v Eng, 2017 - Chahal's 6/25 (best figures for India)
52*v SA, 2018 - Chahal 0/64 (worst figures for India)#SAvIND — Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) February 21, 2018
WICKET - Miller exits
Oh South Africa stutter again. Miller has another failure here. Can South Africa still pull it off here?
Jaydev Unadkat yells! A big roar of 'COME ON'. He's got Klaasen to nick the ball to Dhoni and goes for a 30-ball 69 - with three fours and seven sixes.
Welcome to Klaasen show. Fasten your seatbelts and watch the fun. The fantastic batter has whacked his way to an incredible half-century and is making snatching the game away from Virat Kohli's grip seem like a cakewalk. Absolutely riveting batting, this.
@Narbavi Who knew before the IPL auction there is one klaasen in South Africa who can demolish the Indian bowling attack. — Ifthikar (@imifthikar7) February 21, 2018
Klaasen on a roll
Heinrich Klaasen, you beauty! He's carting fours and sixes for fun - and interestingly doing very well against the spinners (where have you been all along, Heinrich?). It appears like India did South Africa a favour by picking the second wicket. SA have managed 62 runs in six over following Reeza Hendricks's exit.
The sudden big overs have done two things for SA - 1. Helped them push ahead of the par score on a couple of occasions and 2, put the team on its way in case the chase lasts the entire 20 overs. Expert T20 batting from Klaasen.
Huge blow
SA needed their score to be 41 after five overs and they needed 3 runs off the final ball in the fifth over. Hendricks senses the rain threat and goes for the pull of the short ball which was also bowled slow but he mistimes it to get caught by Hardik Pandya. Big blow this is. Play continues though.
Rain around the corner
The groundsmen are ready as it is already drizzling. Duminy is mindful of that and is looking to fetch quick runs. A minimum of five overs is needed to get a result and we are in the fifth over.
Smuts departs
He was finding it tough to get going. The pressure was building with Smuts batting on 2 off 8 and it ultimately leads to his dismissal. Unadkat bowls one slow and short and the batsman comes down the track and makes himself look very awkward while trying to fend it away. The ball loops up in the air and is caught by Raina. Easy catch. First wicket for India. Skipper Duminy is in.
Back foot over cover for 6! Off a fast bowler! Shot of the day from Dhoni. Guess last over is his territory!! — Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 21, 2018
What a finish!
India have managed 55 runs off the last four overs. Dhoni went on a rampage right at the death to register his second fifty in T20Is. What a knock from the former skipper. He fetched 17 runs from the final over to reach his fifty off just 27 balls. India make 188 for 4 as these two add 98 off just 56 deliveries. This didn't seem possible at one stage when wickets fell at regular intervals but credit to Pandey, who has grabbed his chance with both hands.
I decimated Manish Pandey's innings in the last game and today, I'm glad to say that he has shut me up today.
What an innings already. Those hits over mid-wicket have been delightful. #SAvIND — Rupin Kale (@Vegansportlover) February 21, 2018
Pandey sizzles
This has been a top knock. He was ridiculed by a few for his stuttering knock in the first game but here, he has delivered with India losing wickets at regular intervals. Pandey gets to a 33-ball half-century and begins the 16th over with a huge six off Morris.
Not easy to work out batting strategy with rain in the air. Need more runs since D/L goes in favour of side batting second. But losing wickets is almost worse! — Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 21, 2018
Phehlukwayo removes Raina
Much-needed breakthrough! The partnership was flourishing but Phehlukwayo bowls one full when Raina is attempting to shuffle across and the batsman is hit on the pad. That looked out! Dhoni comes in now.
Pandey takes on Shamsi
India needed that over to get some injection into their innings. Pandey slog sweeps Shamsi for couple of sixes and gets a four as well. A costly 19-run over helps India push their run rate. India are 86/3 in 10 overs. There is a bit of rain now. Players still carry on though.
@Narbavi 60-70 runs from raina here and it will be difficult for keder jadav to retain his spot in Indian Oneday team. — Ifthikar (@imifthikar7) February 21, 2018
Dala gets Kohli
For the first time on this tour in the limited-overs leg, Kohli has been dismissed for a single-digit score. This is a brilliant delivery from Dala who bowls it just outside off and the ball climbs a bit to take the outside edge to the keeper. Big wicket this for South Africa. Pandey and Raina will have to rebuild.
Gamble works!
Duminy brings himself on after the poor start and with two left-handers in place, there was a case to bring on an offspinner but we are still in the powerplay. Dhawan first pulls him for a boundary and off the next ball, he fails to clear the mid on fielder and is caught. He is smiling, he knows he could have made this count.
Bizarre!
Why are you bowling short? Morris has been hit for two fours and two sixes in the same over by Dhawan and all four balls were short. Just when they found some help on the surface by bowling at a good length, Morris is undoing the work and India are now regaining confidence with Raina also fetching a few boundaries. Despite losing Rohit, they have raced to 40 for 1 in four overs.
@Narbavi Raina shouldn't b reckless. Such a team man, even in his combak game didn't bother to play safe. I thought every1 was given licence to go after the bowling. But yeah, shouldn't throw it away at any cost. Important for his career. — Amogh Nanda (@AmoghNanda) February 21, 2018
Dala strikes!
They are making an impression! Junior Dala gets rid of Rohit Sharma off the very first ball and that looked plumb so Rohit doesn't bother reviewing. They were guilty of bowling it short last game but now, they are pitching it on the ideal good length and are reaping the rewards. Raina is sent in at 3 once again. He edges one to the slip cordon off the third ball and he is extremely lucky here as the ball just evades the diving second slip. This is going to be a huge test for the left-hander.
Lively start
Morris celebrates without even appealing after the very first ball of the game comes in and hits Dhawan on the pad. The batsman was convinced though and he challenges the decision. There is a clear inside edge but if South Africa can continue to find some swing here in the initial overs then India can be put under some trouble.
A definite boost for SA
@Narbavi What costly Bumrah's injury is gonna be for india?? We'll wait n see — Rahul Verma (@RahulVe69448625) February 21, 2018
Toss - SA opt to bowl
No surprises there! Duminy opts to bowl with a bit of rain around. South Africa remain unchanged. There is not a lot you can tinker with a 13-man squad. India have rested Jasprit Bumrah with the seamer having a niggle. Shardul Thakur has replaced him.
India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli(c), Manish Pandey, MS Dhoni(w), Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Shardul Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal
South Africa (Playing XI): JJ Smuts, Reeza Hendricks, Jean-Paul Duminy(c), David Miller, Farhaan Behardien, Heinrich Klaasen(w), Andile Phehlukwayo, Chris Morris, Dane Paterson, Junior Dala, Tabraiz Shamsi
Build up
Bad news to begin with! It's been raining in Centurion and as a result, the women's T20I was abandoned. With the men also scheduled to play the second game of their series at the same venue, there could very well be a delay. Shaun Pollock is optimistic though. South Africa will be eager to get on the park more than anyone. They badly need a win in order to level the series and restore some pride. They have endured a torrid time ever since clinching the Test series.
Indiahavereigned supreme in the limited-overs and the injuries to some of their top stars haven't done them any favours. South Africa will look to their new faces to step up against a strong Indian bowling attack and more importantly, they cannot afford to repeat their mistakes. They were guilty of bowling too short in the powerplay against Dhawan and Rohit, which saw them concede 78 runs in six overs, so expect a change in tactics this time around.
For India, it will be interesting to see if they continue to send Raina at 3. Personally, I would love to see him in the role of a finisher especially with Kedar Jadhav still being circumspect at 6 in the 50-over format. Kohli had a minor injury as well in the first game, so we will get to see if he is completely fit enough to take the field today. Welcome to the live blog for the second T20I. Send in your opinions to @Narbavi and have them featured on the blog.
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ENGLAND, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND T20I TRI-SERIES, 2018
Live cricket score, New Zealand vs Australia, Tri-series final, Auckland
Cricbuzz Staff • Last updated on Wed, 21 Feb, 2018, 03:22 PM
Live Score Updates Australia 121/3 (14.4 Ovs) Finch 18 (13) New Zealand 150/9 Santner 3.4-0-29-1 Australia won by 19 runs (DLS method due to rain) Live Scores Full Scorecard
David Warner's inventive captaincy has been inspirational. © Getty
AUSTRALIA RISE TO THE TOP AFTER 19-RUN WIN! That's that then. Handshakes mean that the game has been called off due to rain. Australia were comfortably placed anyway and well ahead. Pick up a win by 19 runs via the DLS method. They, therefore, remain unbeaten through the tournament and also rise to the No.1 ranking in T20Is, joint with Pakistan, following a six-match unbeaten streak - their best.
Australia were always ahead in the final after those clump of wickets that New Zealand lost after a strong start. A target of 150 wasn't going to challenge them massively, given the nature of their chases all series. But to give credit where due, New Zealand bounced back rather well in the middle to Short, Warner and Agar in quick succession after the first rain interruption. Maxwell and Finch then accelerated after a period of caution before the next bout of rain which ended proceedings eventually.
This is New Zealand's third loss in a row, but can't take anything away from Australia who have been clinical with David Warner's inspirational captaincy leading the way. Agar has been named the Man of the Match for his 3 for 27. And all-round Glenn Maxwell, the Man of the Series, for his consistent runs, fielding and with the ball when required.
Thank you for your company today. Although it was a shortened game, there was enough entertainment.
Covers are coming off now..
Rain is back in Auckland! Players running off...
Maybe not the best move from Williamson, bringing back Boult - Finch has never been dismissed by a left-arm seamer in T20Is. #NZvAUS — The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) February 21, 2018
100 up for Australia
Fielding has been top notch from New Zealand the last couple of overs. Williamson misses a near run-out chance with Finch way short of his crease. But it misses. Creating opportunities from nowhere! Brilliant!
New Zealand are in with a massive chance here. Three quick wickets. Pressure on Australia, No Lynn.
AGAR GONE! That didn't cost New Zealand too much though. Agar has been stumped the next over off Santner. Was way down the track and Santner saw him coming down and threw it wide. Missed. And stumped.
MISSED OPPORTUNITY: Seifert misses a stumping chance off Sodhi. Agar had lifted his leg and would've been gone, but the 'keeper misses the ball, not moving to the leg side, which reaches the boundary. Didn't read the legspin on that.
SODHI STRIKES: Sodhi has Warner for the second time in as many games. Got him with the slower one in the previous game; has him with the quicker one that gets the top of off. Bowled! The Australian skipper departs for 25. Australia lose two in quick succession.
FIFTY AND OUT: Another fifty for D'Arcy Short after a brilliant 76 in their previous game. Munro then holes out to Chapman off the next ball. Agar the next man in.
Another 50 for Short. Already one of the best T20 players in the world this bloke #NZvAUS — Matt (@Mattys123) February 21, 2018
Santner to start proceedings. Left-arm spinners to two left-armers. Good idea?
No reduction in overs. Play resumes. 96 off 14 overs required.
Rain has stopped. Covers are off. Ground staff are at work. Play should resume soon.
RAIN! Those couple of big overs have worked in Australia's favour. Rain stops play! They are well ahead of the par score at this stage at 55/0 after 6 overs.
BIG OVER: Australian batsmen have been tied down by the New Zealand bowlers so far. But Trent Boult's last over - the fifth over - fetched them 16! They're finally making a move on.
Australia's openers are in the middle now. Unbeaten in the competition. Can they go the whole way? If they do, they'll go to No.1 in the rankings.
Superb from Australia, but a great fightback from Taylor and Sodhi, sharing a vital stand of 38, takes New Zealand to 150 at the end of their 20 overs. Guptill and Munro started beautifully, in typical fashion, as the hosts raced away to 48 before the hosts lost wickets in a clump thanks to effective bowling plans from Australia, slipping to 110 for 8. However, the ninth wicket stand gave them something to fight for. Can New Zealand adopt similar plans and trump Australia? Find out when we return.
TAYLOR HANGING IN THERE: Taylor is playing sheet anchor here. After NZ slipped in that middle session, he has added valuable 38 runs. Keeping his side in there, adding as many runs as he can with just over an over to go.
ICYMI: Lynn hurting his shoulder while putting in a dive. Off the field since.
Lynn leaves the field. © Cricbuzz
FOUR AND OUT! Southee strikes a boundary, but then falls soon after. Not much left for New Zealand now.
YORKED! Seifert has his stumps shattered by Stoinis as the ball crashed into the base of the offstump. New Zealand are slipping fast. How many can they get from here? 101/7 now in the 13th over.
100 up for New Zealand
ANOTHER STRIKE: Santner gets a tad bit of glove on one that was short and was sent down the leg-side. A half-hearted attempt for a pull has him fall. Six down now.
David Warner continues to captain this T20 team brilliantly. Brilliant feel for the game when Australia is in the field. #NZvAUS — Adam White (@White_Adam) February 21, 2018
CARROT DANGLED, AND TAKEN: The ploy was perfect! Had to pay dividends! De Grandhomme fell for the ploy, played to the angle and slogs into the on-side. Maxwell at deep midwicket obliges. From 53/1, NZ have slipped to 92/5, losing 39/4 in the last five overs. Agar has 3 wickets!
Aussies have bowled well. Get the sense NZ thought the runs would just happen today. Agar needs to be the ODI spinner. #NZvAUS — Tim Newhouse (@tjnewhouse2) February 21, 2018
Oh, dear! Lynn is in pain. Got himself in a real tangle to dive to his left but landed on his right shoulder. He looks in terrible shape. Leaves the field with the physio. With his shoulder injury troubles, doesn't look very good.
TWO IN THE OVER FOR AGAR! Mark Chapman adjudged out leg before. Reviews it though. THREE REDS! And the decision remains. Australia have picked up four wickets in very quick succession. Superb from them.
I love T20s on this pitch. The boundaries are a bit too small, sure, but give me this any day over a slow pitch where 140 is good.#NZvAUS — Paul Dennett (@the_summer_game) February 21, 2018
THE SLIDE CONTINUES: Beautifully bowled from Agar! Williamson's stumps are shattered as the slower ball does the trick again. Williamson was way down the track and he would've anyway been stumped if he wasn't bowled. Big wicket for Australia! The visitors on top now!
On commentary, Nasser Hussain can't stop raving about Richardson's "clever bowling" to get rid of Munro.
Might actually keep this under 200 now. #NZvAUS — Hat (@JustDavies90) February 21, 2018
TOE-END AGAIN! After a brisk start, both the New Zealand openers have fallen in quick succession. Clever bowling from Australia who have roared back into the contest. Danger-man Munro holes out straight to Agar after going after a slower one. Mind you, the pitch is a used one so it isn't bouncing too much. Munro cross-bats it, only to perish.
GUPTILL DEPARTS: Warner holds on to an easy catch to get rid of the man in form. Guptill, who was chasing his fourth fifty of the series, toe-ends one straight to mid-off, going after a wide one that was a tad full, getting the batsman to drive. Warner is pumped as Stanlake strikes!
Martin Guptil's career scoring rate against Australia is 8.83rpo - his fastest against any team. #NZvAUS — The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) February 21, 2018
STRONG START: Munro and Guptill have New Zealand off to a brisk start. Munro, particularly, has been going after the bowlers - smashes a halt-trick of boundaries off Andrew Tye.
Kane Richardson to share the new ball.
SIX TO MUNRO!
Munro would have been out on a normal sized ground then. On this thing though it's 6 #NZvAUS — Matt (@Mattys123) February 21, 2018
HERE WE GO: Billy Stanlake starts off with a wide! Extras to get the scoreboard ticking.
Teams:
New Zealand (Playing XI): Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson(c), Mark Chapman, Ross Taylor, Colin de Grandhomme, Tim Seifert(w), Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Ish Sodhi
Australia (Playing XI): David Warner(c), D Arcy Short, Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, Aaron Finch, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey(w), Ashton Agar, Andrew Tye, Kane Richardson, Billy Stanlake
New Zealand's Kane Williamson has won the toss and has opted to bat in the final. The wicket being used in this final is the same that was used the other day in the run-fest between the sides.
Good morning and welcome to final of the Trans-Tasman T20 tri-series between hosts New Zealand and Australia at the tiny Eden Park! The two sides clashed at the same venue last Friday and produced a run-fest with the Australia, who are unbeaten in the competition so far, successfully chasing down a record target of 244, owing to their new-found spunk in T20 thanks to players straight out of the Big Bash League.
Australia go in as favourites, and are also with the chance of leapfrogging into the No.1 T20 ranking having started the tournament at No.7. A victory here would be their sixth straight equalling their best-ever streak. New Zealand, on the other hand, have lost successive games after having come agonisingly close. Despite that, they would know that they are one strong performance away from claiming glory in front of their home crowd.
Join us for the toss and teams in a bit.
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WOMEN'S CRICKET
Who'll be there for you?
Kaushik Rangarajan • Last updated on Wed, 21 Feb, 2018, 06:26 PM
According to the Nielsen report, 67% of the fans said they will follow women's cricket more closely after the World Cup 2017. © Getty
The public announcement system at the Wanderers blared Rembrandts's iconic 'Friends' theme track to loud cheers from a small gathering on the iconic rickety wooden-stepped stands of the famous stadium. Just a little ahead and to the left from where this group controlled the in-stadia acoustics, Smriti Mandhana had pulled off a feat of sheer athletic brilliance, to save what looked a definite six. Mandhana leapt, reverse cupped a full-blooded hit from Mignon du Preez and when momentum appeared to be taking her over, flung the ball back inside the rope. Teammate Veda Krishnamurthy ran all the way from long-on for hi-five, one finger for each run saved at a critical juncture.
The local broadcaster captured the fielding effort rather well, offering a couple of different angles. Four levels up in the commentary box, former England World Cup-winning captain Karen Smithies spoke passionately about game awareness and the rapid strides that women's cricket had made. It was at then, right at the end of the over, when the DJ decided to play "I'll be there for you". The timing was sardonic. Who's really been there for those girls? Not many. In fact, this T20I - the third of the series, and there was an ODI series that preceded this, was the first of the games in the series available on television.
***
When legendary Australian fast bowler Cathryn Fitzpatrick retired in 2007 after a 16-year international career, she was asked where she saw the women's game in 10 years. "On TV," was her four-lettered reply. She later admitted that her response was only driven by a need for a witty quote. But more revelatory words may have seldom been uttered with so few characters. In 2017, when the Women's World Cup was played in England, although there was no live free-to-air broadcast, 10 matches of the 31 were televised with the others made available on the host broadcaster's live stream. The tournament finale played out in front of a full house at the Home of Cricket, Lord's with the hosts edging India in a thrilling finish. It was truly a watershed moment for the sport.
Smithies, who was in attendance on that glorious London evening, remembers the historic moment. "I'm getting goosebumps now as I think of it. I played at Lord's in the '93 World Cup final. We had 5000 people there. It was huge. We were so grateful to have that amount of people there. And it was shown live on BBC throughout the afternoon which was a first. Obviously winning you could see how we made it to the papers, you were on radio, TV, you were invited to events, team of the year, player of the year, which began then to elevate women's cricket into a new light. And five years after that England then amalgamated Women's Cricket Association with the ECB. That's where the progression kicked in.
"Playing in front of 26000 at Lord's? Wow! I never thought I'd see the day. Clare Connor, who I played with throughout my career is now director of Women's cricket at ECB. She and I had quite a tearful moment. We never thought we'd see a 26000 packed crowd for a Women's World Cup final. Everything that went with the games, the entertainment, the atmosphere, the festivities - the ECB should be fully commended. They put everything behind that. People I know, some of them who've never seen women's cricket, enjoyed it. Some of the Titans cricketers got into it. Credit to the teams that played but mainly to the administrators for providing that platform."
Seven months on, in their first series after the World Cup, Harmanpreet Kaur, Mithali Raj and Dane van Niekerk were not on TV with the broadcasters giving an ICC Championship game at Kimberley a miss. There was no consideration of putting an option for a live stream host which suggested that either the board and the broadcaster didn't, like the rest of the world, see the World Cup of 2017 as an important placekeeper in the timeline of cricket. Social media stepped up with an instant outrage. BCCI sources squarely put down the issue to CSA, with the broadcast duties being the host nation's prerogative.
While former South Africa Test cricketer and now CSA's head of commercials Clive Eksteen remained unreachable for comment, the no-profit financials of putting the women's game on the telly was said to be the major factor of the no-show. According to insiders from the broadcast industry in South Africa, it takes 600,000 Rand to televise a roughly six-hours long 50-over game. The cost to set up a live stream globally is in the range of 40,000 USD. Playing double headers with men can save these separate productions costs.
There was no consideration of putting an option for a live stream host which suggested that either the board and the broadcaster didn't see the 2017 WC as an important placekeeper in the timeline of cricket. © Cricbuzz
CSA was caught cold and the decision to setup a stream was an afterthought and one triggered by the unanticipated backlash, which forced the administrators to rush a team to Kimberley and Potchefstroom. The situation was somehow hastily hushed, before South Africa captain van Niekerk spelled out the importance of television after the first of the double header T20s made it on the not-so-idiotic box.
"It just changes everything. And we're hoping that the country can see that we have a brand of cricket," she said. "I mean the shot that Chloe [Tryon] played - that six - went over the men's boundary. So, we clear men's boundaries as well, maybe not as often, but we do. So, it's a product that we can maybe get people more interested in and hopefully, after these few games people get into women's cricket. When people speak about women's cricket, [ask] is there a women's side? The country needs to get to know us, first of all, and see what we can do."
***
It is important to understand where CSA are placed in framework of this rise in women's cricket. After the Champions Trophy and the start of the Women's World Cup, the country's cricket board held a gala launch party at the very prestigious Bvlgari Hotel in London to launch the Global T20 league - South Africa's belated response to the T20fication of the cricket verse. Unfortunately, it marked the opening of one of the biggest can of worms, a phenomenal mess that the board is still grappling to emerge out of.
Between the removal of Haroon Lorgat to the appointment of the temporary CEO Thabang Moroe, it is possible that a sit-down meeting with SuperSport regarding the road-map for women's cricket in the country never materialised. And then the women's series jumped at them at the turn of the year like one of the proverbial green mambas of South Africa. If that is an excuse, then it's a gross disservice to what van Niekerk and her team achieved in their heroic World Cup campaign last English summer.
On the other hand, the broadcaster, by himself remains unwilling to dip into his reserves to televise a product that isn't marketable. This is a consequence of brands being reticent to embrace the opportunities of women's sport. According to a market study between 2011-13, women's sports accounted for a mere 0.4% of total sports sponsorship. If numbers add more weight than percentages, the global sports sponsorship in 2013 was worth USD 106.8 billion. Only USD 427.7 million of it was spent on women's sport. So clearly there is a massive growth opportunity in a market that is yet unsaturated.
But brands are not confident when it comes to assessing the opportunity of sponsoring women's sports, because they are looking at more traditional metrics of sponsorship, which translates to how many minutes they will get on television. But with a growing market like that of women's cricket, the metrics are better evaluated in terms of sheer positive engagement, social footprint as opposed to awareness.
Momentum, the financial services group that serves as the name sponsor for the Proteas Women, are a case in point. Their arrival in 2014 was instrumental towards Mignon du Preez becoming the first fully contracted women's cricketer in South Africa. Marizanne Kapp and the other seniors joined her and within a few months the whole squad came under the ambit of the central contracts. And as Smithies points out, it was a significant point in South Africa women's cricket, one that now allows the likes of Chloe Tryon to clear a full-sized Wanderers outfield as she did on Sunday.
"With central contracts, the girls can play full time professional cricket. That means they've also got opportunities to the top-class coaches. The improvisation of batting, the bowlers have to get it right. Be precise. The strength aspect is also better. They train more. There are full-time fitness trainers watching their progress, their nutrition, their fitness levels, their fat content and all of that. We had it but it was a very sporadic thing," she says.
Niekerk too was effusive in her gratitude for the sponsor after the Wanderers win. "I have to commend CSA and Momentum, the work that they've put in to get our profile up has been immense. And with televised games our profile will only go up leaps and bounds. We can get more people interested in and hopefully get more people into women's cricket."
While Momentum's efforts early initiative to come on board in 2014 are praiseworthy, there is a sense that they can do more than make the whole association look like a CSR project without necessarily burning their pockets along the way. Even when there was no telecast of the match, Momentum's social profile on Twitter did little in the name of promoting the event. No boards of van Niekerk or Shabnim Ismail adorned the paths heading to the Wanderers. There was little or nothing in terms of an awareness that a game, a televised one at that, was going to be played at the Wanderers.
"I think it is important for the women's game to be showcased. It's growing around the world. I think when people see it for the first time, they are quite surprised by the skill level. And if they do see it, they may then think of coming down to the stadium and seeing it live. I think it is wonderful for the game worldwide that way," Smithies says. "I think this lack of awareness has been a problem with women's cricket. I was listening to a [radio] station on the way to the Wanderers - obviously highlighting that the men's game starts at 2.30 pm but they didn't even mention the women's game. Again I don't know whose part [are] that responsibilities. I think it should be addressed by the local administrators to try and push it as much as they can."
In contrast, the integrated energy and chemicals company Sasol sponsors the 'Banyana Banyana' - South Africa's women's national football team with fan and social engagement at the top of their agenda so much so that the players of the side recently descended at the Sandton Centra Business District in a sponsored interaction.
Yes, it is challenging to develop a business case for women's sport's sponsorship and broadcasting deal, more so with cricket. But there is a reservoir of opportunity to look at the return that can be made on the game's social footprint, which is where Sasol really merits. The days of TV exposure of a t-shirt with a company logo on it may just be numbered with the evolution of the online space.
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Eventually, for all the broadcasting and sponsorship, the onus will be on ICC and its constituent member boards to really make sure that the massive momentum surge built by last year's big event is not scuppered. That the Indian Women's team played no international games between July 2017 to February 2018 is downright ridiculous.
"You can't expect international teams like India, like South Africa not to play international cricket for a such a long time," Smithies says. "And that's been the problem for a long time. The reason why women's cricket is held backwards is because you never have the opportunity of playing good quality cricket over a long period. That's got to change. I know India now play Australia and England. These guys will then improve the game. It's certainly something they must look out."
If they felt more strongly about it then perhaps they would also have taken steps to nudge CSA into aligning with them. And if it is indeed the broadcasters holding boards to ransom, as is the case, there is always a case to turn a historic lack of awareness into an opportunity to get inventive. For example, Manchester City Women's Football Club, in 2016, became the first team to stream a competitive game on Facebook Live in partnership with Nissan. Because they held the rights to marketing, they were able to create 12 million impressions in three days. The tentativeness lies in the perception that women's sport is for women only. According to ECB's data from the last World Cup, 45% of ticket sales were to women. Men and young boys made up for the rest.
According to the Nielsen report, 93 percent of fans questioned after the last year's gala event in England said the tournament represented the best standards of cricket while 67% said they will follow women's cricket more closely.
They just need a stage. Who'll be there for them?
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