The Kuruman Hub beat HC Rose Hub by 37 runs at Hoërskool Diamantveld in a key Northern Cape girls’ rain Schools SA20 showdown on Thursday in Kimberley, with Tsentle Lekgetho fronting their challenge.
Opening the batting, Lekgetho made 37 off 36 balls, with four fours, and shared a 49-run opening partnership with Remoneeilwe Mogwera.
Only Paballo Block, with 12, joined Lekgetho in double figures, but Kuruman received a big boost from extras, with HC Rose Hub bowling 29 wides and conceding 36 extras in total, which helped lift the Kuruman Hub to 106/7 from their 20 overs.
Zanele Maphalala was the pick of the Rose Hub attack, capturing 3/13 from three overs, while opening bowler Sivenathi Matsoso returned 2/22 from four.
In reply, Rose Hub lost only five wickets, but they were unable to build any momentum at the crease, posting only 69/5 from their 20 overs.
Four bowlers picked up a wicket each, with the opening pair of Remofilwe Olefile and Tsholofelo Jafta returning 1/11 off four overs each. Ntlafatso Dithage claimed 1/3 from one, and Paballo Block 1/13 from 2.3.
Nicole Bitterbos top-scored with a laboured 16 from 46 balls, and she was the second-fastest run scorer as Kuruman tied down HC Rose Hub to score a convincing victory.
Rose Hub did, however, pick up a win, beating Hoërskool Kalahari by 23 runs.
Opening batter, Mapula Morakile, spent her side’s entire innings at the crease and faced half the allotted balls, hitting two fours in an unbeaten 31 from 60 deliveries.
Her score was matched by 31 extras, and Zanele Maphalala chipped in 13 runs before becoming one of two batters to be run out.
After 20 overs, Rose Hub had tallied 82/4, with Christenique Bosch claiming 1/11 and Mogomotsi Masegela 1/22.
They successfully defended that total, bowling out Kalahari for 59 in 16.4 overs after striking hard early to reduce the Kuruman school to 16/5 after six overs.
Opening bowler Sivenathi Matsoso led the attack, knocking over 3/6 in four overs, while Zanele Maphalala struck twice without conceding a run in one over.
Christenique Bosch, with 14 not out from 11 balls, with two fours, was Kalahari’s leading batter.
Unfortunately for Kalahari, they also came out on the wrong end of the results against St Patrick’s CBC, who skittled the Kuruman side for only 37 in 16.2 overs at the Sol Plaatje University.
Kalahari was stunned when their first four batters were dismissed without scoring, and they found themselves wobbling on 5/5 in the sixth over. Oratile Mosimanyane was their leading scorer with a modest nine runs as seven batters were dismissed for ducks. Extras with 21 gave Kalahari a minor boost.
The CBC opening bowlers, Bokao Ntuane and Avumile Binase, set their side on course for victory, capturing 3/6 from four overs and 2/0 from three overs, respectively. Juanita Chirembire, the first-change bowler, contributed 2/5 from 3.2, and Mishka Broughton, Brianna Arthur, and Tokello Tiro added a wicket each.
It took CBC 6.4 overs to record an eight-wicket win.
Brianna Arthur, at the top of the order, hit two fours before departing for 10 from eight balls. Then 20 runs from extras provided CBC with half the runs they required, and they reached the victory target, ending on 39/2.
Mogomotsi Masegela took both wickets to fall, returning 2/13 from two overs.
Summarised Scorecards:
Kuruman Hub 106/7 (Tsentle Lekgetho 37, Extras 36; Zanele Maphalala 3/13, Sivenathi Matsoso 2/22); HC Rose Hub 69/5 (Extras 21, Nicole Bitterbos 16*; Ntlafatso Dithage 1/3). Kuruman Hub won by 37 runs.
HC Rose Hub 82/4 (Mapula Morakile 31*; Extras 31; Christenique Bosch 1/11); Hoërskool Kalahari 59/10 (Christenique Bosch 14*; Sivenathi Matsoso 3/6, Zanele Maphalala 2/0). HC Rose Hub won by 23 runs.
Hoërskool Kalahari 37/10 (Extras 21, Oratile Mosimanyane 9; Bokao Ntuane 3/6, Avumile Binase 2/0, Juanita Chirembere 2/5); St Patrick’s CBC 39/2 (Extras 20, Brianna Arthur 10; Mogomotsi Masegela 2/13). St Patrick’s CBC won by eight wickets.
