The road to the final has been a dominant display from both sides. The Lions finished at the top of the table with 8 wins from their 9 matches they played, showing incredible grit even in tight games. Their campaign started strong with a win over the Dolphins and they never really let the momentum slip, barring a single loss. On the other hand, Western Province also secured 8 victories but ended just a couple of points behind due to an extra defeat. They’ve been the most explosive team with the bat, frequently putting up massive totals like their 192 against North West. While both teams have traded blows this season—WP winning comfortably in November and the Lions returning the favor in February—they arrive in Durban as equals on the hunt for silverware.
All eyes will be on Faye Tunnicliffe, who has had a legendary season for Western Province. She recently made history by becoming the first woman to cross the 400-run mark in a single South African domestic T20 campaign. Her record-breaking 414 runs at a strike rate near 150 makes her the biggest threat at the top of the order. For the Lions, the experience of Tazmin Brits and the leadership of Raisibe Ntozakhe will be vital. The Lions’ bowling unit, particularly Kgomotso Rapoo, has shown they can defend modest totals, and they’ll need that clinical edge to keep the Province batters in check on what usually is a balanced Kingsmead surface.
With the match being played at Kingsmead, the toss could play a significant role given the 6:00 PM local start. The evening moisture often helps the seamers early on, but the ball tends to come onto the bat better under lights. Western Province will likely look to use their batting depth to set a target that’s out of reach, banking on the likes of Delmari Tucker and Lara Goodall to support Tunnicliffe. The Lions, however, have thrived on pressure situations and tactical disciplined bowling. If they can pick up early wickets and break the WP top-order rhythm, they have the middle-order stability to chase down any target. It’s a classic battle of explosive firepower versus calculated consistency.
Squads:
Lions Women
Nonkululeko Thabethe, Diara Ramlakan, Madison Landsman, Razeena Manack, Jenna Evans, Sunette Viljoen-Louw, Fay Cowling, Shabnim Ismail, Raisibe Ntozakhe, Ngomotso Rapoo, Relebohile Mkhize
WSB Western Province Women
Babette de Leede, Caitlin Wyngaard, Faye Tunnicliffe, Jemma Botha, Kayla Reyneke, Kelsey Adams, Lara Goodall, Leah Jones, Nosipho Vezi, Saarah Smith, Tatum Le Roux, Yandiswa Mangele
Players to watch out for:
Faye Tunnicliffe
Faye Tunnicliffe has been a standout batter in the CSA Women’s Pro20 Series 2025/26, racking up impressive runs across her matches as per the leaderboard snapshot. She has topped charts with scoring 414 runs in the season so far, with a best of unbeaten 110, also scoring the only century in the tournament, showing her ability to anchor innings under pressure. Her form makes her a key player to watch as they enter the final
Sunette Viljoen
Sunette Viljoen delivered solid contributions for Lions Women, featuring prominently in the batting stats from your images spanning 2025-2026. In 10 matches over 8 innings, she piled on 230 runs off 219 balls at a blistering strike rate of 105.02, highlighted by a gritty 57* and two half-centuries that kept her side in contention. That strike rate really jumps out, proving she’s got the firepower for T20 cricket
N Vezi Kbw
Vezi tops the bowling charts for Western Province Women in the 2025-26 series, as shown in the most wickets table you shared. She has claimed 15 wickets in 9 innings across 36 overs, conceding just 178 runs at an economy of 5.39 and an average of 11.86. Those numbers make her the go-to bowler right now
Relebohile Mkhize
Relebohile Mkhize impressed for her side with 10 wickets from 20 overs, as detailed in the attached bowling stats for 2025-2026. She gave away 81 runs for an average of 8.10 and economy around 4.05, proving her worth in tight situations during the ongoing games. She’s climbed the leaderboards steadily this season
Pitch Report:
The pitch at Kingsmead is traditionally a haven for fast bowlers, famously influenced by the changing tides of the nearby Indian Ocean which often aids extra swing and seam movement. While it offers significant pace and bounce, modern limited-overs tracks here have become flatter, allowing for high-scoring games if batters can weather the initial movement. Historically, it is a “bat-first” venue, as the average first-innings score is typically higher than the second, and the surface can become slightly more difficult for chasing under lights
Weather Report:
For tomorrow, Friday, March 13, 2026, the weather in Durban will be cloudy during the day and mostly cloudy at night, with a high temperature of 27°C and a low of 21°C. There is a 10% chance of rain throughout the day and night, with humidity at 69% and northeast winds blowing at 17 mph
Fantasy XI:
Nonkululeko Thabethe, Razeena Manack, Sunette Viljoen-Louw, Fay Cowling, Shabnim Ismail, Relebohile Mkhize, Babette de Leede, Faye Tunnicliffe, Kayla Reyneke, Lara Goodall, Leah Jones
Match Details:
Date: 13th March, 2025
Time: 9:30 PM
Venue: Kingsmead, Durban, South Africa
Broadcast: The game will be live-streamed on the FanCode app and website