North West crowned Women’s National Week champions

Tumi Sekhukhune and Lizelle Lee once again led from the front to help North West clinch the 2019 Cricket South Africa (CSA) Women’s National Week title with a seven-wicket victory over Western Province (WP) in Bloemfontein on Friday. Incredibly, the Potchefstroom based side have not lost a single match across all formats in the 2018/19 season. They also recently clinched the CSA Women’s Provincial T20 competition.

The Potchefstroom-based side sealed their second title in three years after they dismissed the WP outfit for 151 in 47 overs after losing the toss and fielding first. Despite a steady start for the Cape side, North West’s bowling attack remained patient, striking at crucial times as the diminutive Proteas seamer, Sekhukhune dismissed the in-form Laura Wolvaardt for 17. Although Lara Goodall (29) and captain, Alexis le Breton (29) contributed handy runs, Sekhukhune maintained the pressure on the batters and took a further three wickets to end with outstanding figures of 4/17.

Evodia Yekile (2/27) and Alyssa Erxleben (2/31) supported their teammate well, making serious inroads in the opponent’s batting line-up.

Chasing a favourable score, the impressive Proteas duo of Lee and Tazmin Brits (46) continued their fine form at the crease. The pair brought up another half-century stand for the first wicket, putting on 93 runs. Lee brought up her second fifty of the Week, notching up an exciting 56 off 57 deliveries, including eight fours to take their side on the verge of victory.

WP managed to make a match of it with three key wickets but Anneke Bosch (15*) and Tanja Cronje (3*) saw the champions home, seal the win and their historic achievement.

In the other clashes on the final day, Northerns took home third spot after a convincing eight-wicket victory against Free State, thanks to an all-round performance from Suné Luus. The Proteas women senior player made a brilliant return of 4/16 with the ball before hitting a 46-ball 48 (4 fours, 2 sixes) to help her side to victory.

Kiara Fisher (5/14) claimed a sensational five-wicket haul to help KwaZulu-Natal Coastal surprise Gauteng with a narrow, one-wicket win after dismissing them for just 101 in 41.1 overs. Proteas all-rounder Chloe Tryon helped her side over the line with a timely 34 off 47 balls.

Elsewhere, Border earned a commanding 97-run victory over Boland with Cinga Mhlubuluwana (5/20) taking a superb five-for to dismiss the Paarl side for 69 after posted a target of 166.

For her 269 runs with the bat and finishing as the leading wicket-taker of the Week, Northerns’ all-rounder, Luus was awarded the Player of the Tournament accolade. While her national teammate, Wolvaardt took home the Batter of the Tournament following her exceptional 368 runs at an average of 122.7, including two centuries and one fifty.

 

Awards List:

Women’s National Week                                   - North West

Provincial T20 League                                         - North West

Provincial 50-over League                                 - North West

Batter of the Women’s National Week          - Laura Wolvaardt

Bowler of the Women’s National Week        - Sune Luus

Player of the Women’s National Week          - Sune Luus