SILENT ASSASSIN

Photos: BackpagePix | AP By: Stuart Hess

Proteas seam bowler Ayabonga Khaka is ready to shine at the ICC Women’s World Cup.

Ayabonga Khaka generally plays second fiddle to the dynamic new-ball duo Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail, but on the eve of the ICC Women’s World Cup, she’s underlying her true value to the Proteas.

Khaka, who’s played 73 ODIs, may not have the pace and thunderous personality of Ismail, and the all-round force of Kapp, but she’s a gritty and skilful seam bowler.

It is these qualities that earned her the “Player of the Series” award in the recently concluded series against the West Indies, courtesy of the 10 wickets she picked up, which included a maiden five-wicket haul in the second ODI.

Such has been her consistent performances over the years that even skipper Sune Luus was surprised that Khaka’s 5/23 was her first international ‘five-for’.

“I can’t believe it’s her first fivewicket haul,” said Luus. “She’s been brilliant for the Proteas throughout the years. She is someone you can count on, she’s ready to bowl when you need her and she’s a real team player.”

Coach Hilton Moreeng believes the reward Khaka is receiving is due to her after all the years of hard work behind the scenes.

“She has always been one of the unsung heroes,” Moreeng said. “She’s a true professional and she’s been working hard behind the scenes to make sure she is still improving as a cricketer.

RIGHT: Ayabonga Khaka clebrates taking a wicket with her teammates at the 2017 CWWC.

“Where she (Khaka) is at the moment, she thoroughly deserves the Player of the Series award and we’re very proud of her. She’s come through leaps and bounds and like I said, [she is] one of the unsung heroes of our bowling attack.”

Khaka, who is ranked No 8 on the ICC ODI bowlers’ list, has moved to within four wickets of becoming just the fifth Proteas women’s bowler to claim 100 ODI scalps.

Those ahead of her – Ismail (164), Dane van Niekerk (138), Kapp (134) and Luus (108) – are all established names internationally and have earned call-ups to various T20 leagues around the world. Khaka only got her first overseas call up in the very brief Womens IPL tournament held two years ago.

RIGHT: All the hard work behind the scenes is paying off for Ayabonga Khaka. Khaka will be hoping for more success in New Zealand.

It could be her quiet nature that hasn’t drawn attention from elsewhere. This may all change if she continues to shine down under in New Zealand at the World Cup.