In the 3rd match of the Nigeria Invitational Women’s T20 Tournament in Lagos, the South Africa Women Under-19 side produced a commanding all-round display to outclass Ghana Women, showcasing depth with both bat and ball in a dominant performance that underlined their tournament credentials.
South Africa’s innings began on a slightly cautious note after the early dismissal of Chanel Venter, who scored a brisk 8 off 8 balls before being caught by Essoun off Awuah at 12/1 in 2.2 overs. The early breakthrough gave Ghana a hint of opportunity, but Ashley Barnard and Siphokuhle Masilela attempted to rebuild. However, Barnard fell for 8 off 10 deliveries at 24/2 in 3.2 overs, with Sagoé striking to keep Ghana in the contest.
The innings was then steadied through a crucial partnership between Masilela and skipper Mieke van Voorst. Masilela compiled a patient 37 off 44 balls, anchoring one end while van Voorst injected momentum into the innings. Their partnership pushed South Africa past the 100-run mark before Masilela departed at 130/4 in 16.4 overs, caught by Awuah off Adotei.
The defining contribution came from van Voorst, who led from the front with a fluent 50 off 34 balls, striking six boundaries at a strike rate of 147.05. Her innings not only stabilized the middle phase but also accelerated the scoring rate when it mattered most. After her dismissal at 108/3 in 14.1 overs, South Africa still had a platform to finish strongly.
The finishing touch was provided by Rethabile Nthoba and Jae-Leigh Filander, both remaining unbeaten on 17 off 12 balls each. Their late surge ensured South Africa posted a competitive 168/4 in their 20 overs, with a healthy run rate of 8.40. Notably, extras contributed a significant 31 runs, reflecting some lapses in Ghana’s bowling discipline.
For Ghana, Kate Awuah was the standout bowler, picking up 2 wickets for 22 runs in her 4 overs, maintaining an economy of 5.50. Ernestina Sagoé and Rebecca Adotei chipped in with a wicket each, while the rest of the attack, including Rashidatu Salia and Grace Essoun, struggled to contain the scoring flow.
Chasing 169, Ghana’s innings never truly gained momentum. Early strikes by South Africa’s bowlers put them under immediate pressure. Elizabeth Annor fell cheaply for 2 at 5/1 in 1.2 overs, and though Rashidatu Salia showed some resistance with 12 off 29 balls, the scoring rate remained well below the required mark.
A brief stand between Salia and Awuah (12 off 18 balls) helped Ghana reach 28/2 in 6.4 overs, but wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals. Ellen Asante managed just 1 run, while Miriam Eshun was dismissed for a duck. The middle-order collapse saw Ghana slip from 43/3 to 47/7, effectively ending any hopes of a comeback.
Captain Jacqueline Kokam remained unbeaten on 9 off 11 balls, but lacked support from the other end. Contributions from Ernestina Sagoé (7 off 12) and Esther Bakiweyem (2 off 13) were not enough as Ghana were eventually bowled out for 69 in 19.3 overs, falling short by 99 runs.
South Africa’s bowling unit was clinical and disciplined. Mieke van Voorst capped off a brilliant all-round performance with figures of 3 for 1 in 2 overs, completely dismantling the middle order. Ziya Mohanlall supported well with 2 wickets for 19 runs in her 4 overs. Contributions also came from Miya Lalor, Bruzaan Goosen, Kananello Mokoena, and Ashleigh van Wyk, each picking up a wicket to maintain constant pressure.
This comprehensive victory highlighted South Africa Women U19’s balanced squad and tactical execution, making them one of the standout teams in the Nigeria Invitational Women’s T20 Tournament. With strong performances from both their batting and bowling departments, they will carry significant momentum into their upcoming matches, while Ghana Women will look to regroup and address their batting inconsistencies.
I am Yash Tailor, and I believe work should be driven by passion. Therefore, after completing my Engineering, I chose to work in the Cricket industry, my passion. My goal is to reach a stage where I truly enjoy what I do and give my best to every task with energy and purpose.