South Africa national women's cricket team

The South African women's cricket team is the team that represents the country of South Africa in international women's cricket matches.

History

Pre-expulsion

Prior to South Africa's exclusion from international cricket (see Gleneagles Agreement), South Africa played host to two touring sides. There was a four match test series against England in 1960/61, which England won 1-0, with three games drawn. South Africa did not return to the international arena until 1972 when New Zealand toured for a three match test series. New Zealand won the series 1-0, in what was to be the last official international cricket for a South African side for more than 20 years. It was also the last Test match for the South African women until 2002.

Post-expulsion

1990s

Thirty five years after their home series against New Zealand, South Africa returned to international women's cricket with a tour of Ireland and England in 1997. They beat Ireland 3-0 in that ODI series, but lost 2-1 to England in the ODI series against them. That one win though was their first in international cricket. Later that year, they competed in their first World Cup in India, reaching the quarter finals. 1999 saw a tour of Australia and New Zealand, which went without any success.

2000s

2000 saw a return trip to England, this time losing 3-2. An improvement in form was forthcoming in that year's World Cup, as they reached the semi finals, losing to Australia. In 2002, South Africa made their return to Test cricket, losing to India. They also played two Test matches on a tour to England the following year.

In 2005, South Africa hosted the Women's World Cup, two years after they hosted the men's event. It was not a successful tournament for the hosts, and they finished in seventh place, meaning that they will have to qualify for the 2009 World Cup in Australia

Tournament History

=World Cup=

*1973 to 1993: Did not participate
*1997: Quarter Finals
*2000: Semi Finals
*2005: 7th place

Cricket in 2007

South Africa will travel to Pakistan in January for a five match ODI series. In July, they be touring the Netherlands, where they will take part in that countries first ever Test match, in addition to three ODIs. At a currently unknown date, they will play in the Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Ireland, where they will play the hosts as well as Bermuda, The Netherlands, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Scotland and an African qualifier.

Records

Test cricket

*Highest team total: 316 v England, 7 August 2003 at Denis Compton Oval, Shenley, England
*Highest individual innings: 105 not out, Yvonne van Mentz v England, 13 January 1961 at Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa
*Best innings bowling: 6/39, Jean McNaughton v England, 31 December 1960 at Kingsmead, Durban, South Africa
*Best match bowling: 7/76, Lorna Ward v New Zealand, 24 March 1972 at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa

ODI cricket

*Highest team total: 258/7 v Pakistan, 16 December 1997 at Baroda, India
*Highest individual innings: 101 not out, Linda Olivier v Ireland, 16 December 2000 at Christchurch, New Zealand
*Best innings bowling: 4/4, Cindy Eksteen v Ireland, 5 August 1997 at Belfast

ee also

* South African men's cricket team