Impressive Start for Women’s Pro20

Just a few days before
the national women’s heads off on their UK tour, some of the key players are
busy getting in some last minute practice at the two-day Women’s Pro20 Super
4’s Women’s Pro20 Super 4’s tournament, which got underway in Potchefstroom
today, with the Central team taking on the Highveld team, and the East Coast
locking horns with the West Coast.

The Central team and
national skipper, Cri-Zelda Brits, chose to set the target against Highveld and
steered her team to 103/5 in their 20 overs. 
Brits topscored with an unbeaten 37 and she was ably supported by fellow
national team players, Susan Benade (24) and Analie Minny (23).

 But their contributions
were not good enough as the Highveld team easily reached the required total of
104 for the loss of five wickets in 19.1 overs. Charlize van der Westhuizen
claimed 2/11 in four overs. Highveld’s Mignon du Preez (45 not out) and
Michelle van Niekerk (22 not out) guided their team to victory by five wickets.

The other match saw
national players Alicia Smith (2/9) and Shandre Fritz (2/13), representing the
West Coast, destroying the East Coast by snaring four wickets between them to
help their team to a six-wicket win. East Coast made 77/9 in 20 overs, with
Marizanne Kapp, hitting 23.  Smith and
Fritz capped their bowling performance by scoring an undefeated 25 and 26,
respectively, to steer West Coast to 80/4.   

CENTRAL
103/5 (20 overs)

S
Benade 24, C Brits 37*, A
Minny 23

C van der Westhuizen
2/11

HIGHVELD
104/5 (19.1 overs)

M du Preez 45*, M van
Niekerk 22*

Highveld won by 5 wickets

EAST COAST 77/9 (20 overs)

M Kapp 23

A Smith 2/9; S Fritz
2/13

WEST COAST 80/4 (17 overs)

A Smith 25*, S Loubser 26*

West Coast won by 6 wickets

 In the second matches of
the day, East Coast defeated the Central team by 16 runs and West Coast
triumphed over Highveld by eight wickets.

 East Coast posted 130/5,
thanks to contributions of 47 by Khufelwa Soka and 40 by Trisha Chetty, who
laid the foundation for a good win over the Central team. The Central team
could only manage 114/9, despite decent knocks of 35 by Stacey Harmse and 46 by
Cri-Zelda Brits. . Analie Minny was the toast of the Central bowlers by
claiming 3/14 and Jenne Hambrook of the East Coast took 2/9.

West Coast had a good
run, winning their second match of the day by beating Highveld.  Highveld made 104/5, with Mignon du Preez (53),
knocking the first half century of the tournament but it did not help as West
Coast’s and former national captain, Alison Hodgkinson caned an undefeated 39
and Shandre Fritz with 31 not out, aided the Westerners to an impressive win.
West Coast’s Sunette Loubser took 3/12.

 EAST COAST 130/5 (20 overs)

K Soka 47, T Chetty 40

A Minny 3/15

CENTRAL 114/5
(20 overs)

S
Harmse 35, C Brits 46

J Hambrook 2/9

East Coast won by 16 runs

HIGHVELD
104/5 (20 overs)

M du Preez 53

S
Loubser 3/15

WEST COAST 105/2 (18.1 overs)

A Hodgkinson 39*, S
Fritz 31*

West Coast won by 8 wickets

Remaining fixtures:

 Sun 27 July:    West Coast vs Central – Witrand Cricket Field
(10:00)

East Coast vs Highveld – Defence Force Field (10:00)

Final: Team 1 vs Team 2 – Witrand Cricket Field (14:00)

Plate: Team 3 vs Team 4 – Defence Force Cricket
Field (14:00)