Tazmin Brits praises Ayabonga Khaka's performance after Proteas' T20I win The South African women's cricket team, the Proteas, secured an 18-run victory over New Zealand in the second T20I match at Seddon Park, Hamilton, following a lackluster performance in the series opener. Proteas opener Tazmin Brits highlighted the team's improved bowling efforts, particularly praising veteran seamer Ayabonga Khaka for her crucial role in limiting the world champions to 159. Brits, who top-scored with her 15th T20I half-century, credited Khaka's four-wicket haul of 27 runs as pivotal to the win. Khaka's ability to take wickets in all phases of the innings—during the powerplay, middle overs, and closing stages—helped the Proteas maintain control. "When it comes to Aya, she is a silent assassin," Brits said, describing Khaka's quiet yet effective approach. "She is very quiet, but does her job very well. It’s nice to see her do that in the game, because that’s actually who we know." Brits also noted that Khaka had previously struggled in the series opener, but her return to form was a positive sign. "The previous game she was a bit all over, so it's nice to have her back," she added. The Proteas' bowling unit showed marked improvement compared to the first match, where they conceded 190 runs. Brits emphasized the team's better execution, citing effective use of slower deliveries and more consistent line and length. "We weren’t leaving the wicket as much. They wasn’t a lot of width like the previous game. This time they actually bowled a lot better," she said. The Proteas now prepare for the third T20I match against the Black Caps at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday. The team's ability to adapt to challenging conditions and deliver under pressure will be key as they aim to strengthen their position in the series.#t20i #seddon_park #proteas #tazmin_brits #ayabonga_khaka
