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Nkowankowa Hub crowned Schools SA20 regional girls’ champs in Benoni

By Franco Oberholzer , in Cricket | Featured Cricket | News , at 2025-02-03 Tags: ,

The Nkowankowa Hub after their victory over Kwa-Themba Hub in the Schools SA20 Regional Final in Benoni on Sunday. Photo:  Nkowankowa Hub.

The Nkowankowa Hub, from just outside of Tzaneen, in Limpopo, created special memories on Sunday when they were crowned the Schools SA20 regional champions in Benoni.

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The girls from up north twice defeated a strong Kwa-Themba Hub team and also beat the Shoshanguve Hub side on their way to lifting the winner’s trophy.

Nkowankowa won their first match against Kwa-Themba, from Ekurhuleni,  by five wickets, but it showed that if they met again in the final, it would likely be a cracker.

In the title game, Kwa-Themba received outstanding performances from Mpumelelo Mashilwane (34) and Nonkululeko Mahlangu (4/7), but Nkowankowa maintained their composure to claim victory.

Unfortunately for Kwa-Themba, Mashilwane’s fine innings represented 72 percent of their runs, and they mustered only 47 all out. Mahlangu tried her best to defend that small total, but Nkowankowa kept a cool head to chase it down.

The champions also blew Shoshanguve out of the water, winning by 33 runs. Pontsho Refilwe Mopayi, one of Nkowankowa’s standouts, wreaked havoc with a spell she will likely never forget. In just 1.4 overs, she snapped up five wickets – an average of one every second ball – while conceding only three runs.

Motlalepule Joan Sbele (2/9) and Respect Mabasa (2/11) also got in on the action as the side from Limpopo bundled out Shoshanguve for only 29 runs to book another face-off with the Kwa-Themba Hub in the final.

Inclement weather led to the title decider being played over 15 overs a side and Mapoyi was again in the thick of the action, capturing 2/12. Alicia Mukhandi Masela, with 2/14, provided good support as Kwa-Themba was limited to 60/7.

Try as they might, they couldn’t halt the Nkowankowa Hub’s bid for victory and Ripfumelo Faith Nkuna for her side in the 14th over.

Summarised scorecards

Final

Kwa-Themba Hub 60/7 (Mpumelelo Mashilwane 23; Pontsho Refilwe Mopayi 2/12, Alicia Mukhandi Masela 2/14); Nkowankowa Hub 61/5 (Ripfumelo Faith Nkuna 20; Nonkululeko Mahlangu 2/3, Seipati Moagi 2/11). Nkowankowa Hub won by five wickets.

Round-Robin 

Kwa-Themba Hub 47 (Mpumelelo Mashilwane 34; Respect Mabasa 2/15); Nkowankowa Hub 49/6 (Extras 15, Respect Mabasa 10; Nonkululeko Mahlangu 4/7). Nkowankowa Hub won by four wickets.

Nkowankowa Hub 62/8 (Extras 16, Respect Mabasa 12; Tintswalo Matjeke 2/6, Nokubong Mpanza 2/8) Shoshanguve Hub 29 (Lesedi Ndlovu 9; Pontsho Refilwe Mopayi 5/3, Motlalepule Joan Sebele 2/9, Respect Mabasa 2/11). Nkowankowa Hub won by 33 runs.

Franco Oberholzer
error: Sorry ol' chap, those shenanigans are not permissible.