Cricket South Africa (CSA) has confirmed the South Africa under-19 Women’s T20 series against Namibia and the Eastern Storm as they prepare for the second edition of the ICC U19 Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup in Malaysia and Thailand in early 2025.
In their first competitive assignment since hosting the inaugural T20 World Cup in January 2023, the SA U19 Women will take on the two senior sides from 01 - 06 July, with all matches held at Willowmoore Park in Benoni.
This tour will feature 10 T20 matches, with South Africa playing seven games against their provincial counterparts and the touring Namibian national team.
The 18-player squad selected to represent the SA U19 Women will convene in Johannesburg on Friday, 28 June. The team includes five rising stars from last year’s World Cup: Nthabiseng Nini, Seshnie Naidu, Kayla Reyneke, Simone Lourens, and Jemma Botha.
The selected group of players emerged from a series of regional camps held nationwide, where an extended roster was evaluated during the 2023/24 CSA National Weeks, with the youngsters also invited to two U19 Women’s Camps in collaboration with SA20 in November 2023 and April 2024
SA U19 Women's head coach, Dinesha Devnarain commented:
“This tour is paramount. Any cricket against any opposition is pivotal and the ability to play games is going to be key. If you take Namibia's team that's coming out, that's a senior women's team, so what a great opportunity to put our young guns against a team that's doing relatively well and let's see where we are as a unit.
“The focus for us right now is nailing our brand of cricket. It's been a brand of cricket that's been around for a while. It's really exciting. It's an aggressive brand of play and it fits very beautifully with what we are trying to achieve here at Cricket South Africa and the brand and philosophy that we want to play.
“I'm really excited to see that. I've seen glimpses of it at the camps, but now that we get into a series and we have proper opposition, can we execute that as a unit? That's very important,” Devnarain noted.
CSA Head of High Performance, Grant van Velden said:
"We are thrilled to arrange these unofficial matches for the SA U19 Women as they step up their preparations for the second-ever ICC U19 Women's T20 Cricket World Cup. This tour provides invaluable experience and helps our players develop their skills under pressure, which is crucial for their growth and success on the international stage.
“We are deeply grateful to Namibia for agreeing to tour South Africa, allowing us to foster a competitive spirit and build strong international relations. Their participation is instrumental in ensuring our team is well-prepared for the challenges ahead,” he concluded.
Audio featuring SA U19 Women's head coach, Dinesha Devnarain may be downloaded here.
South Africa under-19 Women Squad (T20 Series against Namibia and Eastern Storm)
Lethabo Bidli (Central Gauteng Lions), Jemma Botha (Western Province), Fay Cowling (Central Gauteng Lions), Jae-Leigh Filander (Western Province), Janicke Janse van Rensburg (Northerns), Simone Lourens (Northerns), Chanel Madurai (Kwa-Zulu Natal Coastal), Neo Molefe (Central Gauteng Lions), Shelfa Mukhari (Limpopo), Seshnie Naidu (Kwa-Zulu Natal Coastal), Nthabiseng Nini (North West), Diara Ramlakan (Central Gauteng Lions), Kayla Reyneke (Western Province), Mieke van Voorst (Easterns), Diedre van Rensburg (North West), Ashleigh van Wyk (Easterns), Chanel Venter (Northerns), Jane Verhage (Northerns),
Fixtures - South Africa U19 Women’s T20 Series against Namibia & Eastern Storm Women (01 - 06 July)
Monday, 01 July @ 9:30am - 1st T20: South Africa U19 v Eastern Storm (Willowmoore Park, Benoni)
Monday, 01 July @ 1:30pm - 2nd T20: South Africa U19 v Namibia (Willowmoore Park, Benoni)
Tuesday, 02 July @ 9:30am - 3rd T20: Eastern Storm v Namibia (Willowmoore Park, Benoni)
Tuesday, 02 July @ 1:30pm - 4th T20: South Africa U19 v Eastern Storm (Willowmoore Park, Benoni)
Thursday, 04 July @ 9:30am - 5th T20: South Africa U19 v Namibia (Willowmoore Park, Benoni)
Thursday, 04 July @ 1:30pm - 6th T20: Eastern Storm v Namibia (Willowmoore Park, Benoni)
Friday, 05 July @ 9:30am - 7th T20: South Africa U19 v Eastern Storm (Willowmoore Park, Benoni)
Friday, 05 July @ 1:30pm - 8th T20: South Africa U19 v Namibia (Willowmoore Park, Benoni)
Saturday, 06 July @ 9:30am - 9th T20: Eastern Storm v Namibia (Willowmoore Park, Benoni)
Saturday, 06 July @ 1:30pm - 10th T20: South Africa U19 v Namibia (Willowmoore Park, Benoni)