PROTEAS WOMEN LAUD SUNRISERS' ABRAHAMS FOR HISTORIC T20 WORLD CUP WIN

Proteas Women's heroine Anneke Bosch has heaped praise on Sunrisers Eastern Cape assistant coach Baakier Abrahams for his role in her match-winning innings in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup semi-final in Dubai last night.

Bosch spearheaded the Proteas’ run-chase with a career-defining 74 not out off 48 balls to send six-times champions Australia crashing out of the tournament. It was the first time the Proteas were able to overcome the mighty Aussies in a World Cup match. 

It was also sweet revenge for the Proteas after losing to Australia in last year's T20 World Cup final at Newlands.

Bosch unleashed a string of sweep and reverse-sweeps, which she attributes to work done behind the scenes with Abrahams, who doubles up as the Proteas Women's team's batting coach.

Abrahams has been an instrumental part of the Sunrisers Eastern Cape’s back-to-back Betway SA20 championship success the past two seasons.

Working in tandem with head coach Adrian Birrell, Abrahams has shaped the development of Sunrisers star batters such as Tristan Stubbs, Jordan Hermann along with all-rounders Marco Jansen and Patrick Kruger.

The 41-year-old has now seamlessly transferred his skills to the Proteas Women's environment.

“He's been really good for us. He's been really good for the team, having him in our space and in the environment. He's been so good for us as batters,” Bosch said.

“I think, just like kind of opening a whole new world of batting, and all the different options and plans against different bowlers in different conditions. 

“And just our kind of philosophy, I would say, as a batting unit is to put teams under pressure and to take the positive option and show intent, and to not hold back and be fearless. So yeah, he's been really good for us.

“I think a lot of what happened today, we can give credit to him, obviously, for how much he's helped us and worked with us.”

Bosch was particularly appreciative of Abrahams’ backing even when she was struggling during the initial stages of the tournament.

“He kept believing in us. Or in me, even after a couple of bad games, he still had my back,” she said.

“He believed in me. And he told me a good innings is coming. So, he always has our backs. And he just really gives a lot of good advice and helps us a lot as a batting unit.”

The Proteas will face the winner of West Indies and New Zealand in the grand final on Sunday in Dubai.