Zwarries’ Girls top of the pops in Titans’ Switch Schools SA20
Continuous rain in Pretoria over recent weeks had made life difficult for the Hoërskool Zwartkop and Cornwall Hill College girls’ 1st XIs, who had been eager to battle it out in the Switch Schools SA20 – Volume Two girls’ final for the Titans Union‘s title.
At last, on Thursday, they met, nine days after the rain-shortened semi-finals were completed on 4 November.
Incredibly, the Zwartkop girls, who went on to lift the trophy, didn’t lose a single wicket in either their semi-final win, or in their comprehensive victory over Cornwall Hill College in the title game.
In the Zwarries‘ semi-final, which was reduced to a nerve-wracking five overs – no chance for any errors – they thumped the Soshanguve Hub by 10 wickets; five overs are the minimum requirement for a result to be declared in a T20 match.
Captain Chanel Venter led the way in that game, smashing an unbeaten 20 to help her side chase down a target of 29 runs in only 2.5 overs.
Cornwall’s semi-final lasted longer, with both sides set to bat for 15 overs, although the Duckworth–Lewis–Stern (DLS) Method was needed after rain once again halted play.
Gabriella Sequeira led the way for Cornwall, weighing in with a sublime unbeaten 62 from just 39 deliveries, which proved to be a match-winning knock in a 19-run win over the Hammanskraal Hub.
In the final, though, Cornwall Hill College had no answers to the brilliance of Thyea Gerhard, who set up Zwartkop for victory in the title decider with a magnificent spell of 4/15. Jean-Mari Engelbrecht complemented her with 3/25.
Rae Haagner provided some resistance for Cornwall, compiling an unbeaten 33, to lift her side to 96 before the final wicket fell.
Unfortunately for the home side, Chanel Venter was in a destructive mood. She took just 34 deliveries to smash an unbeaten 47, while Carmen Hugo, who had taken 2/21 in the Cornwall Hill innings, added 35 not out to complete an excellent all-round performance.
Together, they saw Zwarries across the line in the 11th over.
Summarised scorecards
Final – 13 November
Cornwall Hill College 96 (Rae Haagner 33*; Thyea Gerhard 4/15, Jean-Mari Engelbrecht 3/25, Carmen Hugo 2/21); Zwartkop 97/0 (Chanel Venter 47*, Carmen Hugo 35*; Kailyn Beard 0/13). Zwartkop won by ten wickets.
Semi-Final 1 – 4 November
Shoshanguve Hub 28/3 (5) (Mohau Phasha 7; Genique Greeff 2/6); Zwartkop 34/0 (2.5) (Chanel Venter 20*; Nokubong Mpanza 0/9). Zwartkop won by ten wickets.
Semi-Final 2 – 4 November
Cornwall Hill College 11/2 (15) (Gabriella Sequeira 62*, Jessica Staubli 24; Batsenana Mthinuye 2/27); Hammanskraal Hub 58/3 (10.3) (Extras 20, Dimakatso Mojela 12; Kailyn Beard 1/13). Cornwall Hill College won by 19 runs (DLS).
