It’s the way of the wickets on day one of the CSA u16 Girls Week
Sunday, the first day of the CSA u16 Girls Week in Johannesburg, delivered three five-wicket hauls as the bowlers enjoyed a strong start to the inter-provincial competition.
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Ziyanda Xulu, the Dolphins‘ mainstay, was the pick of the bowlers on day one, with her effort steering the Dolpins to a 36-run victory over Eastern Province.
Tasked with defending only 88 runs, which owed plenty to a patient 22 runs by Shreeya Subbiah, the KZN opening bowler captured a memorable six wickets in only six overs at a cheap cost of 14 runs.
The Eastern Province bowlers were impressive, too, with Musa Halana snapping up 3/8 and Ashlee Buhr following suit with a return of 2/12 as they presented their batters with a victory target that looked reasonably easy. Then Xulu intervened.
Boland‘s Janel Steenkamp also couldn’t have asked for a better start to the week. She found her rhythm early on, which played a key role in the Western Cape side scoring a significant 45-run win over Mpumalanga.
In 5.3 overs, she recorded three maidens while snapping up five scalps for only four runs. It was a case of the wickets she took and the runs she didn’t concede heaping pressure on Mpumalanga. Steenkamp wasn’t alone, however, in her team’s efforts to defend the 111 they had posted in their innings. Her partner, bowling from the other end, Melissa van der Merwe, sparkled, too, claiming 4/17 in seven overs.
Danika Gloy was Mpumalanga’s leading performer, delivering a solid all-round performance. She led the way with the ball, knocking over 2/23, and contributed a well-played 20 runs with the bat. It was, unfortunately for Gloy, not enough to overcome Boland’s fine bowling.
Western Province‘s batting line-up looked the most accomplished on the first day. Opening batter Erin Scroonby became the first player to record a half-century at the week, playing well for 56 runs from 73 deliveries, seven of which she dispatched to the boundary. Miya Lalor (34) and Nakeeta Collins (30) provided good support as the Capetonians bounded their way to 189, the biggest total of the day.
On a disappointing day for Easterns, Thandeka Mngomezulu stood out. Although a tad expensive, the opening bowler followed in the footsteps of Xulu and Steenkamp by laying claim to the third five wicket-haul of the day. Her batters, though, were unable to provide any support, with WP’s Chuma Xameni damaging their efforts with a decisive return of 3/5.
She found support from Lalor, who followed up her impressive batting performance with two wickets with the ball. Zita Logenstein also removed two batters as Easterns slumped to 31 all out.
The Tuskers, from the KwaZulu-Natal Inland region, kicked off their campaign on a winning note, convincingly beating Kei by five wickets, thanks to a well-rounded bowling performance, which was led by Sindswa Xaba‘s return of 2/2. Ayanda Mhlongo (2/12), Wandia Kaula (2/14), and Luthanda Ngcobo (2/17) chimed in with two wickets each, as Kei was restricted to a meagre 65 runs.
Siphokazi Xaba then played a patient innings of 21 runs to lead the Tuskers side to victory. It wasn’t a staightforward win, though, as Kei’s Yamkela Mnqabasha (2/11) and Amila Butshula (2/24) nearly threw the cat amongst the pigeons with four quick wickets between them.
Summarised scorecards
Dolphins 88/10 (Extras 30, Shreeya Subbiah 22; Musa Halana 3/8, Ashlee Buhr 2/12); Eastern Province 52/10 (Extras 22; Ziyanda Xulu 6/14). Dolphins won by 36 runs.
Boland 111/10 (Taymin Muggles 31, Waynique Julies 29, Extras 29; Samkelisiwe Mashaba 3/17, Quinzel Bisschoff 3/20, Danika Gloy 2/23); Mpumalanga 66/10 (Extras 21, Danika Gloy 20; Janel Steenkamp 5/4, Melissa van der Merwe 4/17). Boland won by 45 runs.
Western Province 189/10 (Erin Scroonby 56, Extras 46, Miya Lalor 34, Nakeeta Collins 30; Thandeka Mngomezulu 5/28, Khanyisile Hlatswayo 2/25); Easterns 31/10 (Extras 11; Chuma Xameni 3/5, Miya Lalor 2/6, Zita Logenstein 2/7). Western Province won by 158 runs.
Kei 65/10 (Extras 24; Sindiswa Xaba 2/2, Ayanda Mhlongo 2/12, Wandiswa Kaula 2/14, Luthando Ngcobo 2/17); Tuskers 66/5 (Siphokazi Xaba 21; Yamkela Mnqabasha 2/11, Amila Butshula 2/24). Tuskers won by five wickets.
