Brits pleased to have ‘Silent Assassin’ back

March 17, 2026 41

Proteas opener, Tazmin Brits, has heaped praised on fast bowler Ayabonga Khaka for hitting her stride after both players led from the front in the second women’s T20 International against New Zealand in Hamilton on Tuesday.

After suffering an 80-run defeat in the opening match two days earlier, the Proteas bounced back with an 18-run victory to level the five-match series at 1-1.

Brits scored 53 runs off 43 balls to guide the visitors to 177/5, while Khaka produced a match-winning spell of 4/27 to spearhead the visitors’ bowling attack. New Zealand were eventually bowled out for 159 in the final over of their innings.

Twenty-year-old, Kayla Reyneke, who was named Player of the Match hit a quickfire 28 off nine deliveries down the order and gave away 15 runs without a wicket from her two overs with the ball.

Brits said she was particularly pleased to see Khaka rediscover her rhythm.

“When it comes to Aya, I always say she’s a silent assassin,” Brits said after the match..

“She’s very quiet but she does her job quite well, and it’s nice to see her doing that in the game because that’s who we know. In the previous game I think she was a bit all over, so it’s nice to have her back.”

Brits also credited the squad’s bowlers for carrying the team across the line with a fine all-round performance, which also saw spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba grabbing 3/27.

“I think they did very well. Our slower balls were good and we weren’t leaving the wicket as much,” she said.

A Series-Levelling Win! ⚔️

Highlights of the second T20I in Hamilton as #TheProteas drew the series 1-1, with three games still to come. 👊🇿🇦#Unbreakable pic.twitter.com/UZeHJAms0O

— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) March 17, 2026