The South Africa Under-19 Women clinched the Youth T20 Tri-Series title with a five-wicket victory off the penultimate delivery of the final against the Cricket South Africa (CSA) Youth XI at the Chatsworth Oval in Durban on Sunday.
Ashleigh van Wyk grabbed three wickets for 24 runs as the SA U19s restricted the Youth XI to 114-8 in their 20 overs before Mieke van Voorst expertly led the chase, scoring a measured 42 off 41 balls, including three fours, to help get her side over the line with one ball to spare.
After winning the toss and opting to bat first, the CSA Youth XI made a positive start.
Jezé Campher struck three boundaries on her way to 21 from 22 balls, sharing an opening partnership of 34 with Deidre van Rensburg (33) before being caught off the bowling of Anelisa Mhlongo (1-12) in the fifth over.
Van Rensburg continued to apply pressure alongside Chanel Venter (23), with the pair adding a vital 50 runs for the second wicket as the Youth XI took the game to their opponents.
The breakthrough South Africa needed arrived in the 14th over when Ashley Barnard (1-9) beat Van Rensburg’s bat, allowing Karabo Meso to complete the stumping.
That dismissal sparked a collapse for the invitational side, who slipped from 84-2 to 103-7 in six overs.
Van Wyk led the charge, removing Venter, Siphokuhle Masilela (6) and Gabriella Sequira (2), while Maria van der Vyfer (1) was run out and Ashley Sibanda (0) fell to Miya Lalor (2-18).
Simone Lourens contributed a valuable run-a-ball 15 before becoming Lalor’s second wicket of the afternoon and the final batter to fall, as the Youth XI closed their innings on 114-8.
HOLDING THEIR NERVE
Chasing 115 to secure the title, the SA U19 Women struggled to find their rhythm at the crease early on as Sibanda (1-10) and Bruzaan Goosen (1-18) removed Lalor (7) and Meso (1) inside the first five overs, leaving South Africa 25-2.
Opener Ashley Barnard (33) then combined with Van Voorst for the third wicket to bring calm to their dressing room, adding 48 runs to propel their team to 73-2 in the 12th over before Van der Vyfer (1-24) broke the stand by rearranging Barnard’s furniture.
Van Voorst followed up with another important stand, this time alongside wicketkeeper-batter Jae-Leigh Filander (13*), as the duo added 26 runs to move South Africa to the brink of victory.
Van Voorst was eventually dismissed by Puseletso Sekhuthe (1-19), leaving the hosts with work still to do.
Requiring 16 runs from the final three overs, and despite losing Ashleigh van Wyk (3) in the 18th, the SA U19 Women held their nerve.
Filander and Nobubelebesisa Zwane (9*) guided their side home with one ball remaining, sealing an unbeaten campaign and the Youth T20 Tri-Series trophy.
Van Voorst was deservedly named Player of the Series following a standout tournament, finishing as the leading run-scorer with 201 runs in five innings at an average of 50.3 and a strike rate of 121.8, including one half-century.
SQUAD: Ashley Barnard (Mpumalanga), Chris-Mari Bezuidenhout (Mpumalanga), Jae-Leigh Filander (Western Province), Miya Lalor (Western Province), Karabo Meso (Central Gauteng Lions), Anelisa Mhlongo (KZN Coastal), Ziya Mohanlall (KZN Coastal), Shelfa Mukhari (Limpopo), Shreeya Subbiah (KZN Coastal), Melissa van der Merwe (Boland), Mieke van Voorst (Eastern Storm), Ashleigh van Wyk (Eastern Storm), Cayleigh Wanckel (Eastern Province), Nobubelebesisa Zwane (KZN Coastal)
RESULTS
1st T20 - SA U19 won by 31 runs
SA U19: 135/4 after 20 overs; M. van Voorst 35, K. Meso 29; B. Maposa 1/32, S. Maseka 1/30
Zimbabwe U19: 104/8 after 20 overs; R. Mpofu 15, L. Pemhiwa 14; M. Lalor 2/13, Z. Mohanlall 2/18
2nd T20 - SA U19 won by 11 runs
SA U19: 78/6 after 10 overs; K. Meso 36, M. van Voorst 23; N. Nini 4/15, J. Campher 1/7
CSA Youth XI: 67/3 after 10 overs; J. Botha 24, C. Venter 18; C. Wanckel 1/17, S. Mukhari 1/3
3rd T20 - SA U19 won by 20 runs
SA U19: 152/5 after 20 overs; M. van Voorst 56, M. Lalor 45; N. Nini 2/31, B. Goosen 1/33
CSA Youth XI: 132/7 after 20 overs; C. Venter 45, D. van Rensburg 24; C. Wanckel 1/22, M. Lalor 1/23
4th T20 - CSA Youth XI won by 18 runs
CSA Youth XI: 134/7 after 20 overs; J. Campher 37, G. Sequira 22, T. Garutsa 2/14, C. Mutasa 1/24
Zimbabwe U19: 116/8 after 20 overs; M. Zinyama 41, N. Makanhiwa 24; J. Camphor 3/15, P. Sekhuthe 2/18
5th T20 - SA U19 won by 5 wickets
Zimbabwe U19: 95 all out after 20 overs; M. Zinyama 23, C. Mutasa 12; Z. Mohanlall 3/12, M. van der Merwe 3/12
SA U19: 96/5 after 14.2 overs; M. van Voorst 45, M. Lalor 16; S. Museka 3/22, B Maposa 1/11
6th T20 - Zimbabwe U19 won by 31 runs
Zimbabwe U19: 120/5 after 20 overs; S. Museka 40, N. Makanhiwa 25; N. Mini 2/19
CSA Youth XI: 89 all out after 19.2 overs; M. van der Vyfer 19, A. Sibanda 17*; S. Museka 4/15, B. Maposa 2/13
Final - SA U19 won by 5 wickets
CSA Youth XI: 114/8 after 20 overs; D. van Rensburg 33, C. Venter 23; A. van Wyk 3/24, M. Lalor 2/18
SA U19: 115/5 after 19.5 overs; M. van Voorst 42, A. Barnard 33; A. Sibanda 1/10, N. Nini 1/15