Karabo Meso and Jenna Evans Lead DP World Lions to Women’s T20 Cup Victory

In a hotly-contested battle, hugely talented wicket-keeper batter, Karabo Meso along with her SA U19 teammate, Jenna Evans batted beyond their years as they helped DP World Lions to a thrilling seven-wicket victory over Six Gun Grill Western Province in the latest CSA Women’s Provincial T20 Cup action on Sunday, 19 March 2023.

Meso dispatched seven fours during an undefeated 49-ball 47, which was preceded by another controlled 43 off 49 balls (5 fours) from Evans as the Lions successfully chased down Western Province’s first innings total of 126/5 with four deliveries to spare to clinch a seven-wicket win.

After winning the toss and electing to bat first, the home side got off to a superb start in the top-of the-table clash as Province openers Andrie Steyn (38) and Lara Goodall (23) raced to a 60-run partnership for the first wicket before Samantha Schutte (2/26) broke the deadlock in the eighth over.

Despite a good start at the crease, the Lions bowlers managed to reel in table-topping Western Province, restricting the hosts to 126/5 in their allotted overs, with Schutte, Yolani Fourie (1/15) and two run outs responsible for slowing down the scoring rate.

With the bat, the Lions made a bright start through opening batters Evans and Sunette Viljoen (17) before a Nadine de Klerk (1 / 26) wicket and two run-outs threatened to curtail the Johannesburg-based side’s innings.

Although they lost their top-order, Meso and the experienced Fourie (10) held their nerve as they safely guided the visiting side to an emphatic seven-wicket win in the final over to complete a hugely important win the context of the T20 Cup title picture.

In the other Division One match-up, the Hollywoodbets Dolphins moved into third place in the table as SA U19 fast bowler, Ayanda Hlubi claimed impressive figures of three for 11 to limit the Fidelity Titans to 80/9. Dolphins captain, Nondumiso Shangase then blasted an unbeaten 40 off 28 balls to steer the Dolphins home to a five-wicket triumph with 2.1 overs remaining.

In Division Two, much like in the One-Day format on Saturday, Eastern Province and the Northern Cape Heat romped to assertive wins over Kei and the Limpopo Impalas, with the EP dispatching their provincial neighbours by seven wickets while the Heat delivered a 60-run blow over the Impalas. The win gives the Heat an extended gap at the summit of Pool B in the second division, with Eastern Province narrowing the distance between third-placed Eastern Cape Iinyathi in Pool A. The next round of CSA Women’s One-Day and T20 Cup action gets underway between 25 – 26 March 2023.

Results: CSA Women’s Provincial T20 Cup

Sunday, 19 March 2023

Division One
Hollywoodbets Dolphins beat the Fidelity Titans by 5 wickets
Fidelity Titans: 80/9 after 20 overs; R. Searle 22 (43), N. van Rensburg 15 (19); A. Hlubi 3/11, N. Mlaba 1/10
Hollywoodbets Dolphins: 81/5 after 17.5 overs; N. Shangase 40* (28), J. de Figuerido 18* (21); N.van Rensburg 3/7, P. Mashishi 1/10

DP World Lions beat Six Gun Grill Western Province by 7 wickets
Six Gun Grill Western Province: 125 / 5 after 20 overs; A. Steyn 38 (33), L. Goodall 23 (19); S. Schutte 2/26, Y. Fourie 1/15
DP World Lions: 128/3 after 19.2 overs; K. Meso 47* (46), J. Evans 43 (40), N. de Klerk 1/26, D.Tucker 9/1

Division Two:
Eastern Province beat Kei by 7 wickets
Kei: 52 all out after 19.3 overs; Z. Nomgqani 14 (26), E. Sigampane 7 (17); L. Glass 3/4, J. Cole 3/8
Eastern Province: 56/3 after 10 overs; L. Gana 20 (31), S. Nazo 9* (12); M, Nontokozo 2/20 L. Mgqibi 1/10

Northern Cape beat Limpopo Impalas by 60 runs
Northern Cape Heat: 125/5 after 20 overs; B. Greef 68 (65), S. Khintsi 14 (20); K. Mistry 2/16, M.Seleka 2/24
Limpopo Impalas: 65 all out after 16.5 overs; P. Dlamini 21 (31), K. Manyaga 18 (25); R. Koekoe 2/9, K. Moraki 2/14

Photo 1 Caption: In a hotly-contested battle, hugely talented wicket-keeper batter, Karabo Meso along with her SA U19 teammate, Jenna Evans batted beyond their years as they helped DP World Lions to a thrilling seven-wicket victory over Six Gun Grill Western Province in the latest CSA Women’s Provincial T20 Cup action on Sunday, 19 March 2023. Photo: Jenna Evans (Instagram)

With editing by sport