South Africa missed out on a golden chance to win their maiden women's T20 World Cup as they were outclassed by Australia in the final. Despite the loss, it is a big achievement for the hosts who were stunned by Sri Lanka in the tournament opener. South African players were distraught after losing to Australia but wicketkeeper-batter Sinalo Jafta choses to look at the brighter side.
Jafta shed a few tears too after the final but not because South Africa lost by 19 runs to Australia. "Two months ago, I came out of rehab," she said. "I've got God to thank for my sobriety, and the team have been so supportive. I came out on December 8, and for me to get fit, to play... hectic. What a journey. The person you get on the field is someone who gets on their knees every day. I am not in control of anything. God is always in control."
Jafta became a victim to online abuse which made her turn to alcohol after South Africa failed to qualify for semi-finals.
"Social media, it doesn't support you. You have a really tough day and people just bullet you. That sent me over the edge. It just wouldn't stop. I remember coming back from the Commonwealth Games [in August] and everything just broke. I lost who I was.
"My mom [Lumka Jafta] was one of the people who supported me through it, and the team doctor and the management gave me two months' medical leave. I was in treatment for 56 days. I learnt the best about myself. People are allowed to have their opinions but it doesn't define who I am."
Jafta was not involved in any of Australia's six dismissals. However, she did not falter behind the stumps and did not concede a single bye. She scored nine runs off six balls including a boundary towards offside but the game had slipped out of South Africa's grasp by the time she marked her guard in the middle.
"I can pick up my mom's and my brother's voice anywhere. And my cousins. So I knew they were behind me. My mom came to her first ever international against Sri Lanka [the tournament opener at Newlands on February 10]. She knows nothing about cricket but she knows how to cover drive, apparently."
The 28-year-old who was exceptional for South Africa in the tournament revealed that she had decided to hang her boots last year but things have changed now.
"I was walking away from cricket. October 7 is when I made the decision I was going to go into treatment. I was done. I felt like I had nothing left to give. I was 27. I was done. Now, as a 28-year-old, I've got my career ahead of me. The fact that I can say I have a career ahead of me," she recalled.
As tears of joy rolled down Jafta's cheeks, she looked at the silver medal hanging around her neck. She was gutted after the final but satisfied to settle with her maiden silver medal in international cricket. She held the medal as a prized possession, kissed it and said, “I am going to wear this, I am going to go to bed with it, I am going to shower with it. Because this wasn't even possible for me. This is my gold for now.”
