Dolphins, Badgers, Iinyathi and Easterns win on weather-affected Day 3
As with the boys’ tournament, inclement weather throughout Gauteng stumped the third day of the CSA u16 Girls Week in Johannesburg, with most of the matches unable to conclude.
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The day, nevertheless, produced some solid performances as the Dolphins, Garden Route Badgers, Eastern Cape Iinyathi and Easterns emerged victorious before the weather could play any part.
The Dolphins’ Sinothando Matamela delivered a little gem of 29 runs, helping her side reach what would turn out to be a winning score of 97 against the Central Gauteng Lions, who are still winless this year.
Nonhlanhla Mashaba was a shining light for the Lionesses, leading the way with the ball as she took three wickets for a mere 20 runs. Right on her heels, Zaheerah Ismail produced an equally impressive return of 3/29, while Kaylin Erasmus weighed in with 2/14.
Unfortunately, the Lions’ batting would let them down thereafter. Only Magdaleen Ernst (25) was able to make a noteworthy contribution, as the Dolphins’ Paige Clark did the bulk of the damage with 3/24. Sophie Read (2/15) and Ziyanda Xulu (2/21) shared a further four wickets between them, restricting the Lionesses to 87/9, seven runs short of the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern “par” score.
Tishe Frans was once again at the forefront of a Garden Route Badgers victory, as her exceptional spell of 4/7 rocked the Mpumalanga batting order. Jeze Capher, the Badgers’ other top performer for the week thus far, backed up Frans with her return of 3/9, to help defend a meagre total of 52.
Samkelisiwe Mashaba was Mpumalanga’s mainstay with the ball as her 4/14 inflicted the bulk of the damage to the Badgers lineup. Sadly, the Mpumalanga batters could not quite replicate Mashaba’s performance with the ball, as they went down by 10 runs in a low-scoring thriller.
Azomile Silhere achieved a memorable five-for, helping Eastern Cape Iinyathi defend 53 against the Tuskers. Alitha Fotiyi provided brilliant support with an almost equally impressive bowling performance, only conceding a single run for her three wickets. The Tuskers bowlers also piled on the pressure, with Nothando Khumalo snapping up 3/3 and Carli Hughes chipping in with 2/7.
Rebecca McKelvey and Siphokuhle Masisela batted Easterns to victory, to hand the Titans their third consecutive loss. Both batters used the platform set by Kananelo Mokoena’s inspirational spell of 5/14 to tear the heart from the Titans’ bowling attack. McKelwey and Masisela both reached 25 not out, as Easterns raced towards a seven-wicket victory.
Miya Lalor led Western Province once more, performing well with both bat and ball in their encounter with a Free State side looking for redemption. With the bat, Lalor top-scored with a wonderful half-century, while she picked up 2/10 with the ball before the weather halted play. Rauel Beires (39) and Zaurah Titus (34) also impressed with willow, with the side from down south once again recording the highest total for the day.
Although WP batted extremely well, Lebohang Rakoeane, showcased her formidable skill with the ball, too, sending five Titans batters back to the shed for only 19 runs.
Roeline Louw set the ball rolling for Northern Cape, claiming four wickets for just 16 runs against Kei. Fifty-five extras, however, courtesy of the Northern Cape bowling lineup, gave Kei a bit of a boost, helping them to a total of 123.
It was disappointing that the clashes between Eastern Province and North West, and Boland and Limpopo, could not finish, as both promised exciting finishes. A solid start from North West’s Jessica Joshua (26*) helped her side to 40 without loss, as the teams left the field with her side chasing 156 set by their Eastern Cape counterparts.
Limpopo also did well in restricting Boland to only 120, which was particularly impressive after Taymin Muggels brought up a classy half-century. Minjake Venter did most of the damage for the Impalas, toppling 4/11, while Murisi Rhikotso picked up 3/31.
Summarised scorecards:
Dolphins 97 (Extras 33, Sinothando Matamela 29; Nonhlanhla Danisa 3/20, Zaheerah Ismail 3/29, Kaylin Erasmus 2/14); Central Gauteng Lions 87/9 (Extras 26, Magdaleen Ernst 25; Paige Clark 3/24, Sophie Read 2/15, Ziyanda Xulu 2/21). Dolphins won by seven runs (DLS method).
Garden Route Badgers 52 (Extras 24, Jeze Campher 14; Samkelisiwe Mashaba 4/14, Mbali Mothoane 2/4, Omphile Mandi 2/25); Mpumalanga 42 (Extras 18, Dineo Mlimo 8; Tishe Frans 4/7, Jeze Campher 3/9). Garden Route Badgers won by 10 runs.
Eastern Cape Iinyathi 53 (Extras 29, Njabulo Mandita 11; Nothando Khumalo 3/3, Carli Hughes 2/7, Luthando Ngcobo 2/15); Tuskers 39 (Extras 20; Azomile Silhere 5/12, Alitha Fotiyi 3/1). Eastern Cape Iinyathi won by 14 runs.
Titans 57 (Extras 15, Mohau Phasha 12*; Kananelo Mokoena 5/14); Easterns 58/3 (Rebecca McKelvey 25*, Siphokuhle Masisela 25*; Abigail Ellis 2/10). Easterns won by seven wickets.
Western Province 190 (Miya Lalor 52, Sofia Rauel Beires 39, Zaurah Titus 34; Lebohang Rakoeane 5/19, Simone Mouton 2/23, Boitomelo Mahlaba 2/27); Free State 23/2 (Kekeletso Mohapi 10*; Miya Lalor 2/10). Match abandoned due to lightning.
Kei 123 (Extras 55, Sikho Khetho 23, Sisonke Rutsha 21; Roeline Louw 4/16, Brianna Arthur 2/8, Kaeleboga Ndebele 2/25); Northern Cape 76/3 (Kezaih Adams 20; Kwanele Kratshi 2/19). Match abandoned due to lightning.
Eastern Province 156 (Extras 43, Bianca Graham 25; Reabetswe Dithipe 4/17, Gogontle Padi 3/12); North West 40/0 (Jessica Joshua 26*). Match abandoned due to lightning.
Boland 120 (Taymin Muggels 50; Minjake Venter 4/11, Murisi Rihotso 3/31, Palesa Mathebula 2/6); Limpopo Impalas 48/3 (Tshepiso Dineo Motshwi 24*; Janel Steenkamp 2/8). Match abandoned due to lightning.
