Superior bowling sees S.A women proceed to the final

Picture courtesy (Getty Image) South Africa women’s team Captain Nondumiso Shangase.

Sibusiso Zulu

Captain Nondumiso Shangase and all-rounder Kayla Ryeneke lead the South African women’s team to the inaugural African Games final in their T20 semi-final clash against Uganda in Ghana, Accra on Monday.

South Africa were sent to bat first as skipper and player of the match Shangase led from the front with bat in hand with her 38 runs from 42 deliveries which set the tone for her side. Prior to that, the opening 28 runs partnership of Faye Tunnicliffe (14) and Annerie Derkcsen (14) set the tone for Dinesha Devnarain side before the pair was dismissed by Concy Awekho.

Shangase and debutante Jenna Evans formed their own partnership in the 4th wicket, scoring 44 runs before the latter retired through injury undefeated with 14 runs from 26 deliveries. Uganda’s measured bowling display got the wicket of the Hollywoodbets Dolphins player through Awekho for her 2nd and final wicket of the match.

Miane Smit’s (20) and Kayla Reyneke (14) stabilised the South Africans’ innings, helping their side to triple figures as Team S.A posted 122-4 in their allotted 20 overs at the Achimota Senior Secondary School.In reply for their innings, Uganda began the chase of 123 on the wrong foot, losing Immaculate Nakisuuyi (0) having scored only 2 runs in the opening over, through Jane Winster through an LBW.

The South Africans consistently frustrated their opponents with ball in hand as Uganda failed to reach the required run rate on their chase, reaching the end of power play needing 96 runs for victory. Kayla Reyneke dismantled a 31-runs 2nd wicket partnership of Gloria Obukor and Esther Iloku with her first ball, edging Obukor for 12 and then she went on to grab two more wickets in her first over, finishing with the figures 3-14 with an impressive economy of 3.25.

Uganda lost Phiona Kulume (12) and Concy Aweko (5)who looked to provide a late surge but fell to some excellent bowling and fielding display by Shangase’s team. Wickets from Jane Winster, who finished with a respectable total of 2-12 in her first T20 international did enough for an honorary mention for her bowling display. Player of the match Shangase also grabbed 2 wickets from 15 runs, made sure that Uganda were only restricted to 72 runs.South Africa Women have set an all-Southern Africa final against semi-final 2 winners Zimbawe on Wednesday, 13 March, who defeated Nigeria by 5 wicket at the same venue