Mir and van Niekerk happy with preparation

by Harry Josephs

Grace Road plays host to it's first ICC Women's World Cup game tomorrow between Pakistan and South Africa - and respective captains Sana Mir and Dane van Niekerk are confident ahead of the fixture (10.30am start). 

Both sides have had identical results in preparation; emerging victorious against West Indies but beaten by Australia in the two official warm-up games. 

South Africa were particularly impressive in their second warm-up game, bowling current World T20 champions West Indies for 63. 

Masabta Klaas took four wickets, and she was backed up by Marizanne Kapp (pictured) who is the number one ranked bowler in the women’s game. 

Kapp has played 78 ODIs taking 75 wickets, however; she is also more than useful with the bat. Pakistan will be well aware of this as Kapp hit her first ODI hundred against them in the 2013 ICC Women’s World Cup. 

Pakistan also have reason to be confident in Bismah Maroof they have one of the most feared white ball all-rounders in the women’s game. Maroof was the first Pakistan women to reach 2,000 runs in ODIs and when Pakistan toured England last summer, Maroof was her country’s leading run scorer.

Pakistan captain Mir is happy with how everything has gone ahead of the first matchday. The team have five of their seven matches at Grace Road, and also played their two warm-up fixtures at the venue.

She said: "We have had two good weeks of preparation and are confident with the way the team has shaped up. We have had good chases against Loughborough and Windies, so that boosted our confidence.

"South Africa are a quality side, and we need to play good cricket to beat them. That’s our aim in the first match. Everyone is fit for tomorrow’s game, and we are really excited to step on the ground and play our first match of the World Cup."

South Africa skipper van Niekerk, who knows the region well following a spell in the Kia Super League with Loughborough Lightning last summer, is also confident ahead of the first game. 

“Preparation has been really good,” said van Niekerk. “The girls have got used to the conditions. The last tweaks have been made today. Everyone is fit and raring to go, some nerves are creeping in but I guess that is natural.” 

South Africa’s result against the West Indies was potentially the most eye-catching of the warm up results. van Niekerk recognised this but also is well aware of Pakistan's capabilities.

“We had a good result against the West Indies and that gives us confidence, you always want to go into these tournaments with momentum. Hopefully we can build on that performance.

“Pakistan are a fierce team, they are very skilful. We will never underestimate Pakistan, especially in a tournament like this.”

Teams (from):

South Africa: Dane van Niekerk (capt), Trisha Chetty (wk), Moseline Daniels, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Shabnim Ismail, Nadine de Klerk, Lizelle Lee, Sune Luus, Raisibe Ntozhake, Mignon du Preez, Andrie Steyn, Chloe Tryon, Laura Wolvaardt.

Pakistan: Sana Mir (capt), Ayesha Zafar, Bibi Nahida, Marina Iqbal, Bismah Maroof, Javeria Khan, Syeda Nain Fatima Abidi, Sidra Nawaz (wk), Kainat Imtiaz, Asmavia Iqbal, Diana Baig, Waheeda Akhtar, Nashra Sandhu, Ghulam Fatima, Sadia Yousuf.

* Tickets for the Pakistan v South Africa game in Leicester are available to buy from the ticket office at the Curzon Road entrance from 8.30am on Sunday morning.

Photo credit: ICC/Getty Images