Proteas Women teen Karabo Meso making great strides

Meso earned a call up to the Proteas Women’s three-day test series against Sri Lanka, having come through the KFC Mini Cricket League ranks, where she started playing cricket when she was just 7 years of age.

Speaking to SABC Sport, the Soweto-born cricketer says she’s relishing this moment as it’s something she didn’t think would happen this early on in her career.

"My first Proteas senior team call-up felt like a movie – I couldn't believe it, it felt like a dream that someone would just come snap their fingers to wake me up from," said Meso.

"But, at the same time, it wasn't a dream, it was a real thing, so it took time to take in every moment because of the congratulatory messages, and I'm like, 'Oh my god, it's happening. It's me, I made the Proteas Women's senior team.'

"It was so amazing . At this age, nobody would expect that younger generations can make senior teams at such a young age, but I'm really grateful and I still relive the moment until today."

Meso participated in the inaugural U19 Women's T20 World Cup that was hosted in South Africa, and was named by the International Cricket Council (ICC) as part of the Team of the Tournament. 

She says the unity in the team made the World Cup experience more fun and encouraged them to carry the badge with pride.

"Playing in the SA under19 World Cup was amazing, one the best. Good people, teammates, everybody clicked even though we are from different provinces we looked like a one team and we were a team," she added.

"We never had problems it was just fun times, a bunch of teenagers playing cricket the thing that we like and that brought us together.

"Also, the encouragement of management made us more hungry and just carry that badge with pride all the time when we stepped outside.”

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