PIETERMARITZBURG: Emerging talent, Neo Molefe and Fay Cowling played a leading role to guide Lions Cricket to the Cricket South Africa (CSA) Under-16 Girls Week crown when the tournament concluded in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday.
Molefe was named cricketer of the week (and batter of the week) whilst Cowling made all-rounder of the week. The pair was instrumental with bat and ball, helping the Lions side seal four wins out of five with one match being abandoned on account of the summer rain in the KwaZulu-Natal capital.
Easterns and Free State also enjoyed unbeaten runs, but they had to settle for second and third respectively on the final table.
The week, which involved 50-over action over the first three days, began with a thumping 363-run triumph for Lions over Garden Route Badgers – a match in which Neo Molefe struck a phenomenal unbeaten 175, a score that proved to be the biggest individual effort of the competition.
Her effort helped Gauteng amass 427 for six, before Cowling, who also struck 72, claimed four for three to blow away Badgers for 64.
There were also wins for Shreeya Subbiah-inspired KZN Coastals, she took four for three, Free State, Western Province, Titans Cricket, Easterns and Northern Cape on the opening day. NC had a huge performance from R Gabobonwe (6/30) in their surprise 39-run win over hosts KZN Inland.
After the wet Midlands weather washed out the entire day two, day three yielded another mammoth win for Lions with the same two players again starring, this time against Western Province.
This time Cowling top scored with an unbeaten 109 and Molefe was two runs behind with her 107 not out that helped the Lions amass 281 for two. Their Cape opponents could only muster 125 every out in reply, conceding a 156-run loss.
FS, meanwhile, maintained their 100 percent record by overcoming KZNC and Easterns did the same by trumping Northern Cape by 256 runs thanks to a fine century by Ashleigh van Wyk (148).
Other teams to win on the third day of action included Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Titans, Boland and EP, for whom Danica Marais claimed a remarkable seven for 40 in a three-run win over KZNI.
Day four saw teams shift focus to T20 cricket and Cowling continue to inspire Gauteng by scoring an unbeaten 54 in a four-wicket win over Boland.
The form continued for Free State and Easterns too as they overcame NC and Limpopo respectively, while WP were comfortable winners over the Titans. Coastals won the KZN derby by beating Inland, KEI beat Mpumalanga and North West edged Badgers by one dash on the DLS Method as rain returned.
Lions then capped an outstanding week by beating previously unbeaten Easterns on the final day when Cowling’s 48 not out guide them to a five-run win, ensuring they ended the week as the top Girl’s U16 team.
Source: cricket.co.za
Dean Elgar: Cricketer Dean Elgar started out well, leading the South African Under-19 World Cup team in 2006, and became the captain of the South African national team in 2021. He is regarded as a pillar for the South African middle order and is known for his stability.
Slow Trot
Sport Trivia: What sport would you associate Brian Mitchell with? Answer: Boxing – Brian Mitchell won the WBA junior lightweight title in 1986, and ended up defending it successfully 12 times which in itself was a world record. He retired undefeated in 1991 with 46 wins, one loss, and two draws.
German Coach
Dean Elgar became the latest batsman to experience the anti-climactic feeling when he was dismissed for 199 during the first innings of the opening Test match against Bangladesh.