With SA rugby currently wading in deep waters, it seems sports fans can only rely on good performances from the national cricket teams.
The Proteas men’s team have their tails in the air in Australia, while the women’s side is also doing quite well.
And yet another women’s cricket team, the indoor cricket masters team, recently gave South Africans something to be proud of. They were crowned world cham­pions in England. Five players from Pretoria were part of that team.
Monja Fourie, Ronel Oosthuizen, Angela Wynne, Sandra Kolia and captain, Talita Wiegand were all part of this team that made history in Birmingham, England. Another member of the extended group, manager Henriette du Plessis, is also a local woman from Pretoria.
After months of sacrifice and hard work, the team recently left for England on their own bat, expected to cover their tour costs themselves.
This did not dampen their enthusiasm and they firmly believed this year’s tournament would bring them success.

After nine round robin games in the first phase of the tournament, they eventually qualified for the semi-final where they beat New Zealand to make the final against Australia.
They battled hard and Australia needed nine runs from their final eight balls to win the game and the championship. But Wiegand, from Centurion, had other plans, bringing herself to bowl the last over to the Aussie captain. Wiegand took wickets with her first two balls and then controlled the game brilliantly to prevent Australia from getting the necessary runs for victory. The final score was 107-99 and the South Africans walked away with the World Cup.
This team made history because they were the first South African team to win this prestigious tournament. For Wiegand it was also a personal triumph. She played in her third World Cup and after all these years of sacrifice and hard work, she could finally receive the World Cup trophy as captain of the world’s best World Indoor Cricket women’s team.
The Centurion teacher told Rekord her team consisted of a good mix of ­experience and a few enthusiastic newcomers. She believed their attitude won them the tournament. After all, their motto is: “It all starts with heart …”