Nomandi repeats as Eastern Cape Switch Schools SA20 champion
Nomandi Junior Secondary School will return to the national finals after an edge-of-the-seat four-run win over Woodridge College in their Switch Schools SA20 Volume Two match at the Bohemians Oval, in East London, on the weekend.
Qhawe Tenjwa, the Nomandi captain, won the toss in the Eastern Cape regional final and elected to bat first. Her side advanced in fits and starts on their way to 116 all out in 19.2 overs. Tenjwa’s bowling attack then did just enough to restrict Woodridge to 112/6 in reply.
The victory underscored Nomandi’s dominance in the region, with the ladies from Port St John’s going back-to-back as the region’s number one.
After an indifferent start to the innings, which saw Nomandi’s top six batters score only 26 runs from 70 deliveries between them, Yonga Tenjwa and Yankela Mnqabashe mounted a spirited lower-order fightback that gave Nomandi a chance at victory. They joined hands at the close of the 12th over and resurrected Nomandi’s innings with a 35-run seventh-wicket partnership.
Yonga Tenjwa tallied an outstanding 28 from 24 balls, while Mnqabashe contributed 15 from 16 deliveries. Unako Nompandana (12) and Kwanele Kratshi (10*) were the only other batters to move beyond single figures.
Woodridge could have won the match had their batters better exploited a solid platform constructed by Quinn Foreman and Ava Horner.
Foreman was the top scorer in the match, with 42 from 43 balls, while Horner added 28 from 26 deliveries. Together, the duo shared an outstanding 61-run second-wicket partnership that left Woodridge on the brink of victory.
They, however, departed from consecutive deliveries in the 16th over. Foreman was the first to go, run out by Amile Bushula and Yolanda Mdumba. Then, Bushula bowled Horner with the next delivery. When they exited, Woodridge required 26 runs from 28 balls.
The pressure was on, and Woodridge’s batters struggled against Nomandi’s disciplined bowling at the death. Qhawe Tenjwa, Bushula, and Olwethu Njani held tight lines and hit good lengths to prevent Woodridge from hitting out.
Njani was Nomandi’s best bowler with a tidy 1/12 from four overs. Kratshi and Bashula took a wicket each, too, but had higher economy rates.
Fielding also played a huge role in Nomandi’s win. Of Woodridge’s six dismissals, three came by way of run outs.
Summarised Scorecard
Nomandi 116/10 (Yonga Tenjwa 28, Yamkela Mnqabashe 15; Ashlee Buhr 3/12, Quinn Foreman 2/23). Woodridge 112/6 (Quinn Foreman 42, Ava Horner 28; Olwethu Njani 1/12, Kwanele Kratshi 1/12). Nomandi won four runs.
