With the inaugural champions Western Province crowned champions of the debut season of Cricket South Africa’s Women’s Professional T20 Challenge the week prior, DP World Lions Women and Recon Tactical Free State Women finished off the season with heads held high after both teams recorded wins on Sunday 14 April 2024.
After missing out on the professional domestic 50-over national title the day before, the Lions came out guns blazing on Sunday in their final match of the season against the Hollywoodbets Dolphins Women at the iconic Wanderers Stadium.
The hosts won the toss and with a very tactical gameplan sent in the Dolphins to bat. Hosts Lions struck in the second over, claiming the wicket of Nobuhle Busane (6) off the bowling of Samantha Schutte, only for Luyanda Nzuza (0) to be run out by the brilliant fielding of Jenna Evans.
From then on it was catastrophic fall of wickets, as Lions captain Kgomotso Rapoo dismissed Nondumiso Shangase (9) and Courtney Gounden (18), whilst Madison Landsman sent the stumps of Zintle Mali (2) and Seshnie Naidu (2) flying.
Alexandra Candler was the mainstay of the innings, continuing from where she left off the day before with an unbeaten (62*), taking the Dolphins to a challenging total of 121/6 at the end of their innings.
In response the Lions recovered well after losing Landsman (0) in the first over, when Sunette Viljoen-Louw (32) and Kirstie Thompson (42) took the team to 62/1 within a punishing eight opening overs.
Bowlers Chandre Pather and Candler took care of the openers, but the damage was already done. With just 60 runs to get for victory, the stage was set for a thrilling finish.
Diara Ramlakan (24) and Nonkululeko Thabethe (11) brought the team within sight of a win before Ramlakan was bowled by Jade de Figueiredo, and Thabethe was run out by Busane.
It came down to a run a ball for the last two overs in nailbiter of finish that had everyone on the edge of their seats, before Kgomotso Rapoo (4) and Jenna Evans (5) took their team over the line in dramatic fashion with three balls to spare.
The triumph over the Dolphins elevated the Lions into second position on the final day log, completing the maiden season as worthy runners-up in the T20 Competition.
In the final match of the season Recon Tactical Free State Women completed the weekend double and finished off their season with a win against the Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers in Oudtshoorn.
Winning the toss, Free State elected to bat first, a good choice for Yolandi Potgieter (71) who put up a formidable stance as her team mates, Izel Cilliers (16), Verunissa Reddy (12), Mignon van der Merwe (19) and Miane Smit (13) provided valuable support, to amass 143/6 in their allotted overs.
Micaela Andrews was the most economical bowler for the Badgers, with figures of 2/14 in her spell.
Thabitha le Grange (48) and Micaela Andrews (37) showed good intent for the Badgers but it was the sensational bowling of the Free State team that saw them restrict their hosts to 116/6 in their innings, to be rewarded with a 27-run victory, and the weekend double win on the road as they closed off the season in fine style.
CSA Women’s Professional Domestic T20 Challenge Division 1 Results on Sunday,14 April 2024
DP World Lions Women beat Hollywoodbets Dolphins Women by 5 wickets (Wanderers, Johannesburg)
Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers Women lost to Recon Tactical Free State Women by 27 runs (Recreational Ground, Oudtshoorn)
Main Photo Caption: Lions and Free State Women concluded the inaugural season Cricket SA’s T20 Challenge on a high note when they won their final matches of the first-ever season of professional T20 women’s cricket in South Africa, on Sunday, 14 April, 2024. Photo: DP World Lions on X
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