Supplied
South Africa got their Netball World Cup campaign off to a winning start by beating Wales 61-50 before a capacity crowd at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on Friday.
The Spar Proteas were roared on by the home crowd as the Welsh didn’t only have to contend with the superiority of the Proteas but the partisan home crowd.
“Player of the tournament at the 2019 Netball World Cup in Liverpool Karla Pretorius made her 99th appearance for the Proteas and was in great form, putting her impressive defensive abilities on full display, according to a team statement.
South Africa, ranked fifth on the latest world rankings compared to Wales in ninth position, used their “height advantage” and speed and agility to take a 32-24 lead at half-time.
Ine-Mari Venter was named most valuable player of the match.
The Proteas will face Sri Lanka on Saturday after they were hammered 105-25 by Jamaica. South Africa face Jamaica on Sunday.
In other results England beat Barbados, 90-29 while Malawi got the better of Scotland, winning by 55 points to 49.