CSA launches inaugural women's T20 Super League

Cricket South Africa (CSA) in a path-breaking move have launched their own domestic T20 league, namely the Women's T20 Super League. The launch of the event took place at the Tuks Cricket Clubhouse in Tshwane on Thursday (September 5), that saw many former, current and future superstars of the women's game come together under one roof.



The T20 Super League will begin on Friday (September 6) and will see four teams compete in six games played over three consecutive days at the Irene Country Club.



The league has come at an important time in South Africa, as the country's cricket team attempts to play catch up with the likes of England and Australia who have run well ahead of the rest of the pack. Following a disappointing campaign in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2018, Dane van Niekerk, the South African skipper, spoke extensively about the need to create depth in their system and find a way for players to step up at the international level.



“We need to address the lack of game time and provide more competitive cricket for the Women’s structure in order to produce quality cricketers and to improve the pool of players for National selection,” said Edward Khoza, Cricket South Africa (CSA), head of pathways.



The aim to launch the Super League is to create a wider base of players and identify potential match winners who can take the South African cricket forward, he added.



“The Super League is a concept that will be utilized to close the performance gaps of identified players and coaches within the CSA pipeline, introducing a minimum 3 x Super League weekends (strength vs strength) per season whereby players are drafted into 4 teams with the specific focus of preparing players for international competition.”



52 players will participate in the first edition of Women's T20 Super League showcasing their skills and talent with both bat and ball. The tournament provides CSA a perfect perfect platform to spot talented youngsters and groom them for the two major ICC tournaments to follow within next two years.



Squads:



DEVNARAIN XI: Dane Van Niekerk, Andrie Steyn, Zintle Kula; Mignon du Preez; Sinalo Jafta; Faye Tunnicliffe; Eliz-Mari Marx; Shabnim Ismail; Tumi Sekhukune; Nonkululeko Mlaba; Tshegofatso Rampai; Jane Winster; Anri Grobbelaar. Coach: Denisha Devnarain; Assistant coach: Dillon du Preez 



M. VD MERWE XI: Lizelle Lee; Lara Goodall; Sune Luus; Izeabella Hester Cilliers; Marizanne Kapp; Delmi Tucker; Michaela Andrews; Christine Tomlinson; Zintle Mali; Evodia Yekile; Nadia Mbokotwana; Nicole De Klerk; Tebogo Macheke. Coach: Martelize vd Merwe; Assistant coach: Jimmy Kgamadi



F. VD MERWE XI: Tazmin Brits; Robyn Searle; Nadine de Klerk; Gandhi Jafta; Trisha Chetty; Alyssa Elxlebben; Ayabonga Khaka; Moseline Daniels; Raisibe Ntozakhe; Khayakazi Mathe; Yolani Fourie; Carmen Nagel. Coach: Francois vd Merwe; Assistant coach: Mark Charlton 



TERBLANCHE XI: Laura Wolvaardt; Annemarie Dercksen; Saarah Smith; Anneke Bosch; Chloe Tryon; Nondumiso Shangase; Verunissa Reddy; Masabata Klaas; Tatum Le Roux; Jade de Fiquerido; N Baneti; Nicolene Janse Van Rensburg; Palesa Mapoo. Coach: Claire Terblanche; Assistant coach: Ephraim Nyawo