Our hearts cant take another close semi-final, says Proteas Women's captain Suné Luus

Cape Town - In the annals of sport, choking is a common phenomenon. It is one of the elements that make games worth watching.

In a South African cricket context its more the reason for not watching, especially when major ICC tournaments come around every so other year.

Truth be told, its the Proteas male species that have actually exhibited this trait and with it brought heartache and despair to the nation.

However, the Proteas Women's side have endured their own traumas with three gut-wrenching semi-final defeats over the last few years imprinted on their playbook.

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The fundamental difference, of course, is that the ladies were the underdogs then and were not burdened with the expectation to win. They were still welcomed as heroines upon returning from their epic battles despite their ultimate defeats.

All that has changed though in 2022 as the 12th edition of the ICC Women’s World Cup in New Zealand is about to get underway with the Proteas, who are No 2 on the ICC rankings, now listed as one of the favourites to win their first World Cup.

"I don't think that (being favourites) adds any pressure to our team. I don't think we see it like that and don't carry it around with us. I think everybody is just taking it one game at a time. We're not putting any extra pressure on us," said captain Suné Luus, who is leading the team in the absence of the injured Dane’ van Niekerk.

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"There is natural pressure on us because its a World Cup so we not going to add any extra pressure on us. I think we just taking the confidence from that into the World