Ayabonga Khaka proving to be the unsung hero for the Proteas

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

Even skipper Sune Luus was surprised that Khaka’s 5/23 in the second One-Day International against the West Indies on Monday, was her first international ‘five-for.’ Khaka, who’s played 71 ODIs, doesn’t have the pace and thunderous personality of Ismail, and the all-round force of Kapp, but she’s a gritty and skilful seam bowler.

The 29 year old dragged the Proteas back into that second match on Monday after Deandra Dottin had pummelled the new ball. Having set the West Indies back by taking two top order wickets — including Dottin’s — Khaka removed the dangerous Hayley Matthews and then returned late in the innings, with the tourists seemingly heading for a comfortable victory to break the crucial seventh wicket partnership between Chinelle Henry and Chedean Nation.

“I can’t believe it’s her first five wicket 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.”

Khaka moved to within eight of becoming just the fifth Proteas women’s player to claim 100 ODI wickets. Those ahead of her Ismail (156), 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.

It could be her quiet nature that hasn’t drawn attention from elsewhere and initially may have explained why she didn’t bowl the super over in Monday’s