Miane Smit's Caribbean 'fun' sets her up for a place in the Proteas Women's World Cup squad
Image: Supplied
The Proteas Women's team may have lost a second successive T20I series since finishing runners-up at last year's ICC T20 World Cup, but they are beginning to unearth a group of promising youngsters to take the team forward.
The squad's dependence on a core group of senior players has long been a concerning factor, but there are signs that the next generation are starting to stake a claim for more prominent roles.
Last month's ODI Tri-Series, involving hosts Sri Lanka and India, saw allrounder Annerie Dercksen take centre stage by dominating with the bat, which was highlighted by her maiden ODI century.
Although it would have been hoped that Dercksen would build on the momentum in the Caribbean during the subsequent ODI and T20I series against the West Indies - although that had more to do with how low she bats in the line-up than anything else - there has been another young player, Miane Smit, that has now put up her hand.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Smit, aged just 20, was handed her T20I debut during the Windies series, and showed her vast potential with an unbeaten 59 off just 38 balls (7x4,1x6) in the series-decider to lift the Proteas to a respectable 147/6 after the visitors had slumped to 90/5 with just five overs remaining.
While Smit's late innings blitz was not enough to get the Proteas over the line, and ultimately the series win, the Bloemfontein youngster has now put her name in the reckoning for a ticket to the World Cup later this year.
'Yeah, it was disappointing. I think we didn't have enough runs on the board, especially the way we adapted to conditions, and we knew it wasn't the easiest wicket to bat on,' Smit said.
'Maybe few partnerships too short, so maybe we could have had 10 or 15 rounds. I think we sort of let it slip.
'But (personally) it was very cool. Yeah, I think I played a bit smarter today. I didn't force any boundaries where I just rotated very well and waited for the balls.
'And especially towards the end of the innings where we looked to maximise. I thought our options were quite clear and we capitalised at the end.
'Lots of learnings to take (from the tour) and I think it's a good build-up. The way we have thought about things and the plans we have for leading up to the World Cup.'
🌟 Take a bow, Miané Smit! 🌟
A brilliant innings just when it mattered most. Clutch, composed, and full of class 💪🇿🇦
In the heat of this series decider, Miané stands tall and delivers when her team needs it most 🔥🏏. #AlwaysRising #WozaNawe pic.twitter.com/TxGDblLKSD — Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) June 23, 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
31 minutes ago
- IOL News
Phili strikes late as Stellenbosch edge AmaZulu in extra-time thriller
Langelihle Phili of Stellenbosch celebrate after scoring his extra-time goal against AmaZulu at Cape Town Stadium on Sunday in the MTN8 quarter-finals. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix Langelihle Phili came off the bench to haunt his former club and seal Stellenbosch's place in the MTN8 semi-finals with a 3-2 extra-time victory over AmaZulu at the DHL Stadium on Sunday. The 20-year-old winger, a product of the Usuthu academy, emerged as the hero deep into extra-time after the tie had finished 2-2 in regulation. With both sides locked in an intense back-and-forth battle, it was Phili's powerful finish in the 108th minute that proved decisive. AmaZulu, featuring several new faces after a squad overhaul, struck first through debutant Keagan Allen in the 19th minute. The former Moroka Swallows centre-back capitalised on a lapse in concentration from the hosts, staying alert after a set-piece. A clever pass from defensive partner Sandile Mthethwa found Allen unmarked, and he bundled the ball past Sage Stephens to open his account. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ But Stellenbosch responded swiftly. Just seven minutes later, Bafana Bafana winger Devin Titus broke down the right and showed excellent composure to square for Sanele Barns, who tapped in from close range to level matters. The match had all the ingredients of a true MTN8 clash — edge, energy, and end-to-end transitions. Usuthu, under Arthur Zwane, handed starts to two new signings in Allen and Ryan Moon. But their plans were disrupted midway through the first half when goalkeeper Richard Ofori was stretchered off following a collision with Barns. Despite dominating possession, Stellies struggled to find the cutting edge in the opening stanza. Steve Barker's men repeatedly breached the final third but lacked execution to convert their territorial advantage into goals. In the second half, AmaZulu upped their tempo and wrestled more control in midfield. However, that resistance cracked in the 69th minute. Barns, a persistent menace throughout, completed his brace in style. This time, he struck from a free kick, curling the ball beautifully around the wall and past substitute goalkeeper Olwethu Mzimela. The build-up by AmaZulu 🤌🤌 Keegan Allan scores on debut ⚽🔥 📺 Stream #MTN8 on DStv: — SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) August 3, 2025 The visitors, however, were not done. Just four minutes later, AmaZulu equalised again — this time through 22-year-old academy graduate Tebogo Mashigo. The young attacker showed great awareness inside the box, latching onto a loose ball before firing a deflected effort that looped over Stephens to make it 2-2. Stellenbosch pushed for a late winner in regulation, but AmaZulu held firm, forcing the game into extra time. With tired legs and both teams showing signs of fatigue, it was always going to take a moment of individual brilliance or composure to separate the sides — and Phili delivered exactly that. The winger, introduced late in the second half, found himself in space and fired a riproaring shot to beat Mzimela and send the home crowd into celebration. Stellenbosch now join Orlando Pirates and Sekhukhune United in the last four of the MTN8, with the final quarter-final tie set to determine the last semi-finalist. For Usuthu, it's a bitter blow — but signs of promise under Zwane remain. SCORES Stellenbosch FC (1) 3 Barns 26, 69, Phili 108 AmaZulu FC (1) 2 Allen 19, Mashigo 73
IOL News
2 hours ago
- IOL News
Pieter Coetzé adds second silver to gold as he wraps up World Aquatics Champs in style
Pieter Coetzé grabbed silver in the 50m backstroke at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore on Sunday. SA finished in eleventh on the swimming medals table with that result on the final day of competition. Image: World Aquatics Pieter Coetzé equalled Roland Schoeman's record for claiming three medals at a long-course world championship, wrapping up his World Aquatics Championships campaign in Singapore with a surprise 50m silver on Sunday, to go with his earlier 100m gold and 200m silver. The achievement was made more remarkable by the fact that Coetzé does not specifically train for the 50m race. The 21-year-old became the only man to reach the podium in all three backstroke events at the championships, heralding his arrival as an Olympic medal hopeful in multiple events. His performances will only fan expectations of a return to glory for South African swimmers at the LA Games — something that had seemed unlikely in the build-up to the showpiece. The South African quartet of Erin Gallagher, Aimee Canny, Olivia Nel, and Rebecca Meder blazed to a new national and continental record of 3:59.47 in the 4x100m medley relay, but just missed out on the final by one place. Image: World Aquatics Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Coetzé lined up for the 50m final as the third-fastest qualifier behind two Russians — world record-holder Kliment Kolesnikov and Pavel Samusenko — after setting an African record in Saturday's semi-final. He went even quicker in the final, powering across the pool in another continental record time of 24.17 seconds to share the silver with Samusenko, who touched in exactly the same time. Kolesnikov took gold in a championship record of 23.68 seconds. 'I don't think I've ever tied in a final at this level, so it's pretty cool,' said a thrilled Coetzé afterwards. 'I'm very happy. I don't really train for the 50, I train for the 200, so to be able to go down so far and win a medal in the 50 is amazing,' he added. 'Kliment went very fast. That's an extremely fast time, so it was an honour to be in that race and hopefully I can push myself and also get below 24 seconds.'
IOL News
5 hours ago
- IOL News
Kenya's Christine Njoki smashes African all-comers record at Totalsports Women's Race Durban
Kenya's Christine Njoki crosses the finish line first at the Totalsports Women's Race Durban on Sunday in a record time of 30:13. Image: Anthony Grote Kenya's Christine Njoki stormed to the fastest 10km time on the continent by any woman as she defended her Totalsports Women's Race Durban title in a jaw-dropping time of 30:14 in perfect, sunny conditions on Sunday morning. The record was under threat early when the diminutive runner, who led from start to finish at the Suncoast Casino, went through the 5km mark in 14:45 — world record pace. She never let up in the second half on the fast, flat course, opening up a 300m gap to the chasing group as she smashed the all-comers record of 30:37. 'I feel so happy to defend my title. The race was good. I enjoy running here in South Africa and I'm so happy to run here again. And I ran my PB (personal best),' she told Independent Media after the race. Lesotho's Neheng Katala (left) beat her national 10km record at the Totalsports Women's Race Durban on Sunday, while her Hollywood Athletics club teammate Tayla Kavanagh also ran a PB at home. Image: Anthony Grote Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'I said earlier I want to chase my PB here, so I had to run faster, because if I go with other people I know I couldn't run my PB. So I had to chase my PB alone. From start to finish, I was alone.' Njoki was asked what it meant to hold the all-comers record. 'Today I made history because I could see that you can run a record on our own soil. There's no need to go to Europe to run a record — even here, you can run a record,' she said. There was a R1 million bonus on offer for anyone who could beat the women's-only 10km world record of 29:27 on the day, but that mark remains intact. Clare Ndiwa came in second in 31:37, while Jane Chacha finished third in 31:51, completing a clean podium sweep for the Kenyans. Lesotho's 10km national record holder, Neheng Khatala, delivered a superb performance to set a new national best of 31:53, securing an impressive fourth place overall. The first South African runner home was Khatala's Hollywood Athletics Club teammate, Tayla Kavanagh, who also set a new PB of 31:53 to finish fifth. 'The race was absolutely perfect, the weather was absolutely perfect,' said an elated Khatala. 'I could see on my watch that I was running at a comfortable pace. I didn't know I was on national record pace. I was just pushing with Tayla. We were communicating. From halfway, we just pushed a little more. 'It wasn't about the position — it was about us pushing through the time. We were very focused. I am so excited. I've been trying to run sub-32 for so many years.' Home favourite Kavanagh also dipped below 32 minutes for the first time in a 10km race, ensuring that South Africa featured in the top five. Last year, Njoki claimed back-to-back Totalsports Women's Race titles in Durban and Cape Town, and is confident of repeating the feat. The next race in the women-only series is on Saturday in the Mother City. 'Next week I'll run the Totalsports Women's Race in Cape Town. If the weather is the same as today, I know I will run another PB there,' said Njoki, issuing a clear warning to her rivals. Considering her form on Sunday, that is no idle threat.
