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South East Stars, the women’s cricket team representing London & South East region, once again secured South African star Tazmin Brits. Meanwhile, the East Midlands region’s The Blaze welcomes back allrounder Nadine de Klerk for the 2024 season after her impressive performance in 2023.
Brits inked a renewed deal with the Stars for the first ten rounds of Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. The top-order batter, however, will be participating in full for the Charlotte Edwards Cup until July 14, 2024.
Meanwhile, de Klerk, who plays for the South African national women’s team, will rejoin The Blaze for the entire 2024 season, excluding any international commitments.
Return to South East Stars
Hailing from Klerksdorp in North West Province, Brits is a right-handed batter and occasional wicketkeeper. She has represented the South Africa women’s cricket team since her international debut in May 2018. She has also played in both One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is).
Brits delivered an immaculate performance throughout 2023. She notched up 214 runs in four appearances, including a remarkable unbeaten 112 off 75 balls against the Sunrisers, a women’s cricket team representing London and the East region, in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.
Previously, the 33-year-old, boasting 67 caps for South Africa, inked a short-term contract with the Stars in June 2023. She expressed her “buzzing” excitement about returning to Stars and “pick up from where I left off.”
“South East Stars have an amazing group of players and coaches, whom I formed a real connection with during my previous stint,” Brits said. “I’m really looking forward to joining them again in the English summer.”
The Stars’ Regional Director of Women’s Cricket, Emma Calvert, lauded Brits as an “incredible talent” with a stellar work ethic.
“With a wealth of experience and an impeccable work ethic, her presence benefits the squad not only on the field but off it as well,” Calvert said. “She is an inspiring figure in the dressing room.”
Last year, South East secured a third-place finish in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. The team also claimed the fifth spot in the Charlotte Edwards Cup, a tournament they triumphed in two years prior.
De Klerk’s impactful 2023
South Africa national women’s team’s last confirmed fixture before the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup is an ODI against Sri Lanka on April 17. This date is just ahead of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy starting on April 20.
In 2023, de Klerk proved instrumental for The Blaze, leading them to the finals in both competitions. Notably, their 50-over performance dipped when she was absent, winning five out of eight matches in the seven she played.
The Pretoria-born athlete contributed 104 runs in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy with a high score of 43, coupled with 13 wickets at an economy of 3.96. As the leading wicket-taker in the Charlotte Edwards Cup, de Klerk secured 15 wickets with an economy rate of 6, also adding 83 runs with a strike rate above 115.
Anticipating her impactful batting, the Blaze aims for her significant contribution in 2024, especially after witnessing her impressive 51 not out of 25 balls for Oval Invincibles against Trent Rockets in The Hundred.
“I’m really excited to get back with The Blaze,” de Klerk said. “It was a pleasure to be part of the group last season. We gelled well and put together a lot of good performances.”
With Brits re-joining South East Stars and de Klerk returning to The Blaze, both teams bolster their lineups for the 2024 cricket season. The players’ past performances and anticipated contributions make them intriguing options for online cricket betting on Sportsbet.
Fans can assess team dynamics, individual form, and upcoming fixtures to make informed choices, adding an extra layer of excitement to the unfolding cricket action.
