Like a duck to water – Kayla Reyneke’s ODI debut

The 20-year-old scooped the player-of-the-match gong in the first of three matches against New Zealand in Christchurch yesterday, where she contributed 42 runs and held her nerve to hit two sixes in the final over to win the game with literally the last ball. Reyneke’s display in the 50-over match was a continuation of her meteoric rise in senior international cricket after bursting onto the scene in T20Is. She says while she was anxious, it was a special performance to kick start her career.

"Just trying to take it all in. I mean, an ODI debut again was a pretty special moment. Obviously, it was very stressful, But I think when you stay as calm as possible in the moment, nothing is impossible," said Reyneke

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Before Reyneke’s heroics, there were outstanding performances from the likes of Ayabonga Khaka with career-best bowling figures of 6/56 to restrict the hosts to 268. Then a key 123-run partnership between Annerie Dercksen and Suné Luus brought them back into the game after losing the opening pair of Tazmin Brits and captain Laura Wolvaardt by the sixth over. She highlighted the importance of her more senior teammates in the win.

 She also reiterated that they have moved on from the T20 International series where they lost 4-1 to the White Ferns, and are now focused on the ICC Women’s Championship points. With that win the Proteas Women moved to second on the standings behind New Zealand, and could possibly finish the series at the summit.