Dillon du Preez Admits Proteas Women ‘Feeling the Pressure’ Ahead of World Cup Semi-Final Against England

Proteas women’s bowling coach Dillon du Preez acknowledged that the team, and even the coaches, have an added pressure going into the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup semi-final clash against England women in Guwahati.

Gone are the days when South Africa was associated with having difficulties reaching the knockout stages of ICC events.

Over the past two years, the Proteas women’s team have made it to back-to-back ICC finals, having played in the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup final in Cape Town and the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup final in the United Arab Emirates.

Moreover, in the One Day International format, the team has also been to back-to-back semi-finals, having played in the semi-finals of the 2017 and 2022 editions.

Despite coming up short in all the aforementioned events, in that they are yet to win an ICC trophy, the Proteas women’s team have set a high standard and with high standards comes expectation from within the squad and the fans in South Africa.

Pressure

The expectations lead to pressure, as many would be backing the Proteas women to get past the England women in the semi-final of the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup in Guwahati.

Proteas women’s bowling coach, Dillon du Preez, knows about this pressure all too well, having been a part of the coaching staff for several years.

Du Preez was the one who coached the team to the 2024 T20 World Cup final, acting as interim coach after the departure of long-time head coach Hilton Moreeng.

He emphasised that the experience the team has picked up in successfully playing in knockout stages over the past few years will put the team in good standing going into their clash against England women on Wednesday.

“There's always pressure when it comes to knockout games. You mentioned that we've done well over the past two to three years. It's funny because you actually learn how to get to a semi-final and learn how to get past it,” Du Preez told SportsBoom.co.za. 

“And I think with the two finals, it's definitely a plus for us. If we can get to this final for this team, it'll mean a lot."

“So, the focus, I know it didn't look like it when we played Australia, but the focus is to go into the semi against England and break stuff down, get to the final and the same there."

“I think as a team we've done well. Something is definitely working for us, and I think all we need is to get to Mumbai."

“But there's definitely pressure even on the coaches. I think the thing there is just to try and keep, Mandla mentioned it to try and keep things simple. If I'm tense, it's pointless."

“If I walk around here and kick everything in my room, and the players see that it's not helping anyone."

“So, it's trying to do the same thing, trust the process that got us here, and not trying to change a lot of things. That's it. But pressure, yes, there will always be pressure.”

Proteas-England rivalry

South Africa has been knocked out twice in ODI World Cup semi-finals by England, in 2017 and 2022.

England women also handed South Africa an embarrassing ten-wicket defeat in the round robin stage of the ongoing tournament, bowling South Africa out for 69 as they continued to assert their dominance over the Proteas women in ODI World Cups.

This is a feat that the Proteas women will be looking to rectify going into Guwahati on Wednesday.

The fixture is set to get underway at 11.30 am SAST at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium.