Proteas Women looking to seal T20 series as Tazmin Brits is set to earn milestone cap

During the pre-match press conference on Friday, Brits highlighted the importance of sealing the T20I series with a game to spare, following the series-opening triumph, and with the backdrop of preparing for the Women's T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in September.

She added: "Momentum is always good, and with the World Cup coming up in September, it'll be very good for us if we can maybe do a 3-0 win. If we can look at doing that, that'll be great for the team.

"We seemed to be losing the first T20I or the first game of every series that we've played, so that was one of the things we wanted to correct. That was also with (different) combinations and getting to those points that we were setting, like the powerplay and everything. It was great." 

In the first contest in Benoni, the Proteas Women posted 198/5, their second-highest total in the shortest format, with captain Laura Wolvaardt notching up her maiden and only South Africa's third T20I century, worth 102 off 63 balls, alongside Marizanne Kapp's 40-ball 60.

After contributing an aggressive 15 off eight balls, Brits witnessed the impressive 116-run partnership between Wolvaardt and Kapp which anchored the Proteas innings. 

"We've always looked at, you have to have your in batters (in the end), so that was a big thing for us. Wolvaardt scoring that 100, that will get you to the 200s at the end of the day so they're very confident, and they're looking forward to tomorrow's game."

The second game is not only an opportunity for the Proteas to take an unassailable lead in the series, but it will also be a memorable occasion for the Klerksdorp-born batter as she is set to earn her 50th T20I cap for South Africa. 

When asked about the special day, the Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers star said: "Firstly, I'm hoping I play tomorrow but I'm very happy that if I do, my 50th game is here in Potch; my home crowd with my mom and I've got a lot of family members also coming. 

"Hopefully not just that, but scoring a 50 will be great as well. 

"I never looked that far, I didn't think this day would come, but with it being here I'm more excited. I'm hoping I can get a 50th cap in ODIs, I'm a bit behind on that, but hopefully, I can do that before I retire." 

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