South Africa take on Ireland in the Youth T20 International Series in Tshwane starting on Monday, and CSA Girls U19 Player of the Tournament Jemma Botha is one of the star players within South African camp to keep an eye on ahead of this pivotal opportunity.
Born on 29 May 2007 in Grassy Park, Cape Town, has steadily developed into a promising young all-rounder, 17-year old ‘Jem’ is already making waves on both the national and international stages, representing the SA U19 Women and her hometown team, World Sports Betting Western Province in the Hollywoodbets Pro Series.
Botha’s journey into cricket began in her early childhood – “My dad, he put a baseball bat in my hand and threw balls at me, and at the age of five, I started playing (KFC) Mini-Cricket,” Botha recalls.
Her passion for the game was ignited from that moment, and it wasn’t long before her natural talent began to shine. Growing up, she idolised AB de Villiers, one of South Africa’s most iconic cricketers, and modelled her game after his aggressive style of play.
In addition to her cricketing prowess, Botha has also been an accomplished athlete during her time at Wynberg Girls High School, representing Western Province in javelin. Off the field, she loves animals and enjoys gaming, which provides a balance to the life of a cricketer. Botha’s all-round abilities have been important for both Western Province and the SAU19 Women’s team.
“As an all-rounder, I have to bat and bowl, but I’d say I’m more of a batter than a bowler, “she says, adding that bowling offers her another way to contribute to the team’s success. Her versatility doesn’t stop there, as she places equal importance on her fielding abilities.
The off spinner’s notable performances for Western Province on the domestic front earned her the CSA Girls U19 Player of the Tournament accolade for the 2023/24 season, a recognition she holds dear.
“To be recognised as the best player there – speechless, that’s all I can say. It’s a big honour,”
CSA Girls U19 Player of the Tournament, Jemma Botha
Botha has already represented South Africa at several major tournaments. She played a crucial role in the inaugural ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup, held in South Africa last year. Reflecting on her experiences, she says,”Playing in a World Cup at such a young age forces you to mature faster . Not many people my age can say they’ve competed on the world stage, and for that, I’m incredibly grateful.”
Her international journey continued when she represented Team South Africa at the 2024 African Games in Ghana. The youngster was part of the squad that won a silver medal in the T20 cricket tournament.
“Winning silverware at 16 is really cool. It wasn’t gold, but it’s still something I’m proud of,” Botha noted.
Now, Botha is gearing up for her next major challenge – the SA U19 Women’s five-match Youth T20 International (T20I) Series against their counterparts Ireland, taking place from 28 October to 1 November, at the Groenkloof Oval in Tshwane.
The excitement of playing youth international cricket on home soil is not lost on her.
“It’s amazing to have Ireland come here. It’s another opportunity for our families to come and watch us play, and we’re ready to give them some warm South African cricket, so be ready for some great matches,” she says with a smile.
The SA U19’s will use this tour to intensify their preparations for the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup in Malaysia from 18 January to 2 February, 2025. Head coach Dinesha Devnarain’s side has been drawn in Group C alongside New Zealand, Samoa and an Africa Qualifier for the second instalment of the competition.
SA U19 Women’s Squad for Youth T20 International Series against Ireland
Jemma Botha (World Sports Betting Western Province)
Fay Cowling (DP World Lions)
Jae-Leigh Filander (World Sports Betting Western Province)
Mona-Lisa Legodi (Fidelity Titans)
Simoné Lourens (Fidelity Titans)
Karabo Meso (DP World Lions)
Seshnie Naidu (Hollywoodbets Dolphins)
Nthabiseng Nini (Glencore Dragons)
Luyanda Nzuza (Knights)
Diara Ramlakan (DP World Lions)
Kayla Reyneke (World Sports Betting Western Province)
Deidré van Rensburg (Glencore Dragons)
Mieke van Voorst (Eastern Storm)
Ashleigh van Wyk (Eastern Storm)
Chanel Venter (Fidelity Titans)
Fixtures for the Youth T20I Series at the Groenkloof Oval in Tshwane
Monday, 28 October
09h30: South Africa U19 Women vs Ireland U19
14h00: South Africa U19 Women vs Ireland U19
Wednesday, 30 October
14h00: South Africa U19 Women vs Ireland U19
Friday, 1 November
09h30: South Africa U19 Women vs Ireland U19
14h00: South Africa U19 Women vs Ireland U19
Original Copy: Cricket South Africa, with editing by gsport
Main Photo caption: Jemma Botha, born on 29 May 2007 in Grassy Park, Cape Town, has steadily developed into a promising young all-rounder within South African cricket and one of the notable talents in her age group. Photo: Supplied
Photo 2 caption: Western Province cricketer Jemma Botha and the SA U19 Women’s Team take on Ireland in a five-match T20I Series starting in Tshwane Monday. Photo: Supplied
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