Team Sa Qualify For African Games Semi-Finals After Nigeria Triumph

ACCRA: Thanks to stellar performances from spinner Seshnie Naidu and top-order batter Faye Tunnicliffe, Team South Africa secured their spot in the Women’s T20 Cricket semi-finals at the 13th African Games with a four-wicket victory against Nigeria at the Achimota Senior Secondary School in Accra on Sunday.

Team SA clinched the top spot in Group A as Naidu claimed outstanding figures of four for 13, complemented by a commendable three-for-12 return from Kayla Reyneke, restricting Nigeria to 74 all out in 18.4 overs.

Tunnicliffe showcased her prowess, smashing eight fours in a 45-run knock off 34 balls as South Africa successfully chased down the 75-run target with 5.1 overs to spare, despite a spirited effort from Lillian Udeh, who claimed a five-wicket haul for 18 runs in her four overs.

Opting to set a score after winning the toss, Nigeria had a solid start with openers Favour Eseigbe (17) and Esther Sandy (10) contributing to a 25/0 score after six overs.

The first breakthrough for South Africa came in the seventh over as SA U19 Women rising star Naidu found the outside edge of Sandy’s bat before quick thinking in the field between Nondumiso Shangase and Reyneke resulted in a run out of Eseigbe to leave Nigeria 43/2 after 10 overs.

Although Nigeria celebrated their fifty in the 11th over, Reyneke played another pivotal role in the fall of the next wicket as the Western Province spinning all-rounder clean-bowled Peculiar Agboya for a 20-ball 15.

With their tales up in the field, Team SA quickly picked up another trio of wickets with Shangase taking a diving catch to help Naidu claim her second of the match to remove Salome Sunday (5). This was before Reyneke made it three wickets for the game as she rearranged Blessing Etim’s (4) furniture prior to having Christabel Chukwuonye (0) brilliantly caught by Tunnicliffe to leave Nigeria 68/6 after 16 overs.

It soon became seven down for Nigeria as Naidu added a further scalp to her two wickets with the dismissal of Sarah Etim (4), caught behind by wicket-keeper Karabo Meso. Naidu then made it a memorable four-wicket haul after Udeh (0) skied a delivery for a comfortable catch for Tunnificlffe.

With Nigeria 71/8 after 17 overs, a run out of Adeshola Adekunie (1) by ‘keeper Meso as well as the wicket of Usen Peace (0) by Shangase (1/13) brought an end to Nigeria’s innings on 74 all out after 18.4 overs.

Facing a target of 75 for victory and a spot in the semi-finals, Team SA began their innings with the early dismissal of Jemma Botha (0) through Udeh’s bowling.

The experienced Tunnifcliffe and youngster Simone Lourens (6) then combined for 31 runs for the second wicket before Lourens was the next to fall for the Green and Gold, as South Africa ended their powerplay on 43/2, still needing 32 runs to win.

Tunnicliffe continued to play her role of protagonist for her side, with South Africa surpassing the 50-run mark before the tall right-hander finally departed in the 10th over at the hands of Peace (1/15), five runs short of a maiden Games half-century.

Team SA faced further setbacks as Udeh trapped Shangase (4) LBW, bowled Meso (0), and claimed Reyneke’s (1) scalp with another leg-before decision to seal her fifer, leaving South Africa 66/6 in the 12th over.

Despite the valiant fight shown by Nigeria, Team SA duo of Miané Smit (10*) and Leah Jones (4*) steered South Africa to a four-wicket triumph and a place in the semi-finals of the inaugural Women’s T20 Cricket event at the African Games.

At the end of the round-robin phase, Team SA topped Group A with four points, leading second-placed Nigeria by one point after Tanzania defeated Namibia by one wicket in the other group match.

South Africa will take on Kenya in the first semi-final on Monday, 11 March at the Achimota Senior Secondary School from 09h30 local time (11h30 SAST).

Team SA – Women’s T20 Cricket Squad: 2023 African Games in Accra, Ghana

Nondumiso Shangase (Captain) (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Nobulumko Baneti (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Jemma Botha (Western Province), Annerie Dercksen (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), Jenna Evans (DP World Lions), Gandhi Jafta (Fidelity Titans), Leah Jones (Western Province), Simone Lourens (Fidelity Titans), Karabo Meso (DP World Lions), Seshnie Naidu (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Kayla Reyneke (Western Province), Miané Smit (Recon Tactical Free State), Faye Tunnicliffe (Western Province), Jané Winster (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), Caitlin Wyngaard (Western Province)

Management

Dinesha Devnarain (Head Coach), Claire Terblanche (Assistant Coach), Marcia Matshipi Letsoalo (Team Manager), Gabi-Lee van der Westhuizen (Strength and Conditioning), Esther Bengu (Physiotherapist)

Results

Game 1: 

Namibia beat South Africa by 1 run (DLS)  

Namibia: 89/7 after 20 overs; W. Mwatile 37 (41), E. van Zyl 19 (17); J. Botha 2/9, J. Winster 2/17

South Africa: 29/4 after 6 overs; M. Smit 12*, J. Botha 5 (7); K. Green 3/6, W. Mwatile 1/7

Game 2:

South Africa beat Tanzania by 8 wickets 

Tanzania: 66 all out after 18.3 overs; T. Omary 9 (10),  H. Omary 9 (15); N. Shangase 5/13, L. Jones ⅖

South Africa: 67/2 after 10.2 overs; F. Tunnicliffe 29* (27), J. Botha 28 (26); A. Mohamed 1/12, A. Qwele 1/19

Game 3: 

South Africa beat Nigeria by 4 wickets

Nigeria: 74 all out after 18.4 overs; F. Eseigbe 17 (28), P. Agboya 15 (20); S. Naidu 4/13, K. Reyneke 3/12

South Africa: 78/6 after 14.5 overs; F. Tunnifcliffe 45 (34), M. Smit 10* (15); L. Udeh 5/18, U. Peace 1/15

Fixtures 

Women’s T20 Cricket

Monday, 11 March

Semi-final 1: South Africa vs Kenya @ 09h30 local time

Semi-final 2: Zimbabwe vs Nigeria @ 13h50 local time

Wednesday, 13 March

Bronze Medal: Semi-final Loser 1 vs Semi-final Loser 2 @ 09h30 local time

Gold Medal: Semi-final Winner 1 vs Semi-final Winner 2 @ 13h50 local time

Source: cricket.co.za

Garth le Roux (born 1955) – 18 internationals, 15.19 average, 45 high score, 76 wickets, 21.62 average, 6-55 best, four five-wicket innings: Le Roux was a revelation when he played World Series Cricket. He continued this outstanding form in a further 15 rebel Tests.