Nzuza and Fillies push SA Schools all the way in u19 girls’ clash
Luyanda Nzuza’s efforts with the bat ensured that the SA Fillies side pushed a strong SA Schools team all the way in a T20 clash played between the two national u19 teams on Friday in Cape Town.
The SA Schools team was made to sweat before they clinched a hard-fought four-run win.
In just 47 deliveries, the talented KwaZulu-Natal batter blasted her way to an attractive 54 runs as the Fillies chased 130 for victory.
After winning the toss, the Fillies decided to put the SA Schools side in to bat first. Deidre van Rensburg, however, got the senior line-up off to a good start with a well-played 28 from 39 balls. Her strike rate of 72, though, was testament to a disciplined bowling performance from the Fillies, who rarely strayed from a good line and length.
This led to a number of wickets falling in quick succession. The consistent Caitlin Wyngaard led the charge, snapping up 2/19, to stunt the momentum that Van Rensburg had given the innings.
The SA Schools’ captain, Kayla Reyneke, provided her side’s batting effort with some much-needed impetus, weighing in with 21 runs from 22 balls to help SA Schools to 129/7 from their 20 overs.
Nzuza went after the SA Schools’ bowlers from the start of her innings, however, determined to see her team chase down the victory target. She played a fantastic knock. However, after her departure, things went pear-shaped for the Fillies.
Their demise was triggered by wonderful bowling from Western Province’s Jemma Botha, who claimed three wickets at the cost of only 12 runs.
Koketso Lesenyago provided stubborn resistance, making 22 from 26 balls, but a good spell by Reyneke, who bagged two wickets for 21 runs, led to the Fillies being bowled out for 125, leaving them an agonising four runs shy of the SA Schools’ total.
Summarised Scores
SA Schools 129/7 (Deidre van Rensburg 28, Kayla Reneke 21; Caitlin Wyngaard 2/19); SA Fillies 125/10 (Luyanda Nzuza 54, Koketso Lesenyago 22; Jemma Botha 3/12, Reneke 2/21). SA Schools won by four runs.
