Proteas Test skipper Bavuma hopes women's game gets more care after World Cup

Proteas captain Temba Bavuma said his team wants to channel the positive energy generated by the success of the women's national cricket team going into the Test series against the West Indies.

Sune Luus's charges recovered from a shock opening T20 World Cup game loss to Sri Lank to bounce back and fight their way into Sunday's final, which they lost by 19 runs to Australia at a packed Newlands.

They left the country brimming with pride despite defeat, with Bavuma saying the men's Proteas team have every reason to take inspiration from the achievements of their compatriots.

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The women's team became the first senior Proteas team to qualify for an International Cricket Council tournament final, succeeding where the South African men's teams have failed.

They also became the first South African team to qualify for a home play-off.

Bavuma, who has presided over two failed T20 World Cup campaigns and has since relinquished the T20 captaincy, hoped that the women's team will get better care invested in the women's game in the country.

"It was massive and not just for us, but for the nation," Bavuma said.

"All the guys were watching the semi-final and the final, supporting the ladies, and I think for us as a team, we look for areas everywhere where we can get energy and draw inspiration from.

"I'm sure we'll be using that energy going into our games because what the women's team achieved was big, especially with their limited resources.

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"I hope that with performances like this, there will be a lot more support and a lot more care that'll be invested into the women's team."

The newly appointed Test