Nkowankowa repeats as Northern Regional Girls’ Schools SA20 champ

A dramatic conclusion to the Northern Regional Playoff Girls’ Final saw the ladies of Nkowankowa Cricket Club successfully defend their title on Saturday, in Benoni.

With the win, the team from just outside of Tzaneen maintained their record as the only side to have lifted the regional trophy since the inception of the Switch Schools SA20 competition in 2024.

Relive all the Switch Schools SA20 action on SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com)

A heavy afternoon storm swept across the home of the Eastern Storm, Willowmoore Park, and brought the boys’ semi-finals to an abrupt halt. It had a similar impact on the girls’ final.

That forced the finalists to relocate to the Rowlin Cricket Academy, where Nkowankowa and Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen decided the outcome of their clash by means of a bowl-off.

A bowl-off, akin to a penalty shoot-out in football, is employed when inclement weather prevents play and a result cannot be attained on the field of play.

In accordance with tournament regulations, the outcome is then determined by the teams each selecting a bowler to send down one over. The team that hits the stumps more often in that over wins the match. In the absence of an indoor facility, the contest would have been decided by a coin toss.

There was next to nothing in it in the tense title decider, but the side from the country’s northernmost province prevailed 1-0 thanks to Blondy Baloyi.

Before the weather intervened, Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen had posted a competitive 88/6 in 19.5 overs. Bruzaan Goosen led the way with an unbeaten 33 from just 27 balls, following a valuable contribution of 20 from 18 deliveries by Tenique Williams, batting at number four.

Tshepiso Motswi was the pick of the Nkowankowa bowlers, returning figures of 2/17 from 3.5 overs.

When the finalists met earlier in the day in the last of the group matches, Nkowankowa convincingly beat their Boksburg opponents by 63 runs.

Blondy Baloyi starred with the bat, making 22 as Nkowankowa posted 100/7, while Jessica Morgan was Jansies‘ best bowler, knocking over 3/9.

Her strong effort was, however, eclipsed by the brilliance of the experienced Ponthso Mopayi, who tore through the EG Jansen line-up with a superb spell that brought her figures of 4/6 and brought an abrupt end to EG Jansen’s innings for only 37 runs.

Nkowankowa will next turn their attention to the National Playoffs later this year at the University of Pretoria, where their experience will be a useful strength in their quest for the national title.