In a thrilling finale at Chatsworth Oval in Durban, South Africa Under-19 Women sealed an unbeaten Youth T20 Tri-Series title with a five-wicket victory off the penultimate ball against the CSA Youth XI, capping a dominant run through six league matches and the decider against Zimbabwe U19, CSA Youth XI, and themselves as the standout force.
Opting to bat after winning the toss, the CSA Youth XI started briskly with openers Jezé Campher (21 off 22, three fours) and Deidre van Rensburg (33) forging a 34-run stand before Anelisa Mhlongo (1-12) struck in the fifth over. Van Rensburg and Chanel Venter (23) then piled on 50 for the second wicket, pushing the score to 84-2 by the 14th over.
But Ashley Barnard (1-9) induced a stumping via Karabo Meso to spark a collapse from 84-2 to 103-7. Ashleigh van Wyk led the rout with 3-24, dismissing Venter, Siphokuhle Masilela (6), and Gabriella Sequira (2); Maria van der Vyfer (1) ran herself out, Ashley Sibanda (0) fell to Miya Lalor (2-18), and Simone Lourens (15) became Lalor’s final scalp as the Youth XI ended on 114-8.
Chasing 115, SA U19 stumbled early, Lalor (7) and Meso (1) fell to Sibanda (1-10) and Bruzaan Goosen (1-18), slipping to 25-2. Ashley Barnard (33) and Mieke van Voorst (42 off 41, three fours) steadied with 48 for the third wicket, reaching 73-2 before van der Vyfer (1-24) bowled Barnard.
Van Voorst paired with Jae-Leigh Filander (13*) for 26 more, but her dismissal by Puseletso Sekhuthe (1-19) left 16 needed off three overs. Even after van Wyk (3) fell in the 18th, Filander and Nobubelebesisa Zwane (9*) held firm, clinching victory with one ball left.
Mieke van Voorst earned Player of the Series honours, topping the run charts with 201 runs in five innings at an average of 50.3 and strike rate of 121.8, including a half-century; her 42 in the final epitomised her cool-headed brilliance.
South Africa U19 were the only unbeaten side in the series
1st T20: SA U19 135/4 (van Voorst 35, Meso 29); Zim U19 104/8 (Mpofu 15, Pemhiwa 14). SA won by 31 runs (Lalor 2-13, Mohanlall 2-18)
2nd T20: SA U19 78/6 (Meso 36, van Voorst 23); CSA Youth XI 67/3. SA U19 won by 11 runs (Nini 4-15)
3rd T20: SA U19 152/5 (van Voorst 56, Lalor 45); CSA Youth XI 132/7 (Venter 45, van Rensburg 24). SA U19 won by 20 runs
4th T20: CSA Youth XI 134/7 (Campher 37, Sequira 22); Zim U19 116/8 (Zinyama 41, Makanhiwa 24). CSA won by 18 runs (Campher 3-15)
5th T20: Zim U19 95 all out (Zinyama 23, Mutasa 12); SA U19 96/5 (van Voorst 45, Lalor 16). SA U19 won by 5 wickets (Mohanlall 3-12, van der Merwe 3-12)
6th T20: Zim U19 120/5 (Museka 40, Makanhiwa 25); CSA Youth XI 89 all out (van der Vyfer 19, Sibanda 17*). Zim won by 31 runs (Museka 4-15)
Final: CSA Youth XI: 114/8 (D. van Rensburg 33, C. Venter 23); A. van Wyk 3/24, M. Lalor 2/18. SA U19: 115/5 after 19.5 overs; M. van Voorst 42, A. Barnard 33; A. Sibanda 1/10, N. Nini 1/15
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