Queens overpowers Middelburg, reaches Schools SA20 national finals
Queens High galloped to a resounding 10-wicket win over Hoërskool Middelburg in their Switch Schools SA20 Volume Two Phase Two match on St David’s Marist Inanda’s La Valla Oval on the weekend to claim a place in March’s national finals.
The toss went Middelburg’s way, and the Mpumalanga school elected to bat first, but they struggled to get out of the blocks, with their innings generating only 49 runs and ending after 12 overs.
Queens made light work of the chase, rocketing to 50/0 in only 3.5 overs.
Mankwana Moriri tore into Middelburg’s bowling attack, slamming an unbeaten 33 from 14 balls, including six fours, to lead her team to an emphatic victory. Nonkululeko Mthethwa, who had the best seat in the house to enjoy Moriri’s onslaught, added an unbeaten eight runs from 10 deliveries.
Earlier in the match, the Queens trio of Bonolo Phalane, Tshepang Choma, and Thanya Nkuna took eight wickets between them for a miserly combined 20 runs as they ran through the Middelburg batting lineup.
Phalane was the most successful, snapping up 3/6 in three overs, while Choma bagged 3/11 in three. Nkuna, who was the only bowler to deliver a maiden over, finished the match with the eye-catching return of 2/3 from three overs. Hlekani Chisane was the other wicket-taker, claiming one and going nine runs in two overs.
Only Alana van Melden made it into double figures for Middelburg, scoring 14 off 15 balls. Alicia Oliver came close to getting there, but she ran out of partners and was left stranded on nine not out from 11 balls.
Summarised Scorecard
Hoërskool Middelburg 49/10 (Alana van Melden 14, Alicia Oliver 9*; Bonolo Phalane 3/6, Tshepang Choma 3/11, Thanya Nkuna 2/3). Queens High 50/0 (Mankwana Moriri 33*, Nonkululeko Mthethwa 8*). Queens High won by 10 wickets.
