SA Under-19 women’s captain Kayla Reyneke with coach Dinesha Devnarain. Photo: Bernadette Reyneke Facebook
Proteas Under-19 captain Kayla Reyneke has opened up about how special it felt to lead the national side at such a prestigious tournament as the T20 World Cup, capped off with her team’s undefeated streak.
The Proteas and India were the first two sides to qualify for the semis, after finishing on top of their respective Super 6 groups.
The last Super 6 match against the US was abandoned and both teams shared a point each. South Africa finished the Super 6 stage atop the group with seven points and have not lost a game in the World Cup so far.
Reyneke will now lead the team in what is expected to be an epic battle against one of the world’s most cricket-crazy nations and SA’s natural rivals on the cricket pitch – Australia – in Friday’s first semi-final in Kuala Lumpur (4.30am).
India will face England in Friday’s second semi-final (8.30am).
POV: Moments when you realise you're an ICC T20 World Cup Semi-finalist 🥳🌎🏆🏏.#AlwaysRising #U19WorldCup #WozaNawe #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/q9EIxaOXUo
— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) January 29, 2025
The 19-year-old all-rounder said there’s still room for improvements in their batting order before the semis, but as a unit she says they “look solid”.
“Our bowling has been great. The team has been working hard on our strengths at every practice. We also know that cricket is a game of small margin, so we are looking to improve in certain areas,” Reyneke said.
“If I had to compare, batting is a bit of a let-down for us in this tournament, but we have fire-power and we have quality batters in our order. I still back them 100 percent, even though the bowling has been a little better. We are a well-rounded team,” she said.
Reyneke herself has been consistent as a bowler during this tournament, picking up nine wickets in four matches. She’s fourth in the World Cup standings for most wickets taken, and the only South African to make the top 10.
India’s Vaisnava Sharma has the most wickets in the tournament so far at 12, and an economy of two in her 14 overs.
Proteas bowlers dominate the best strike list, with Reyneke, Seshnie Naidu and Monalisa Legodi cracking the top five.
It’s semi-final time in this year's #U19WorldCup 🏏🌎🏆🔥.
— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) January 29, 2025
🇿🇦 SA Women's U19 are set to take on 🇦🇺 Australia's Women's U19 in the first semi-final of the competition 🏏.
Catch all the action LIVE on Supersport 🖥.#AlwaysRising #U19WorldCup #WozaNawe #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/ycMQDmG2qv
Reyneke said having the opportunity to captain her country so far has been an honour.
“Being the captain of your country, even if it’s the baby side or the ‘juniors’, has been pretty special, leading under Coach D (Dinesha Devnarain), on top of skills and the knowledge that she has as well as the other coaches.
“Also just my team, for backing me. It is never easy being the captain... it is a very hard job, in fact.
“There is a lot to think about and to do, so it has been special and an honour, given how the team has been going.
“Hopefully, we can take this into the semis, but we are far from done yet. We just have to keep working hard and looking forward.”
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