Mieke van Voorst starred with the bat as the South Africa Under-19 Women claimed a 20-run victory over the Cricket South Africa (CSA) Youth XI in the third match of the Youth T20 Tri-Series at the Chatsworth Oval in Durban on Monday afternoon.
Van Voorst struck an unbeaten 56 from 32 deliveries, including six fours and two sixes, to guide the SA U19s to a commanding 152-5 in their allotted 20 overs.
She was supported well by allrounder Miya Lalor, who contributed 45 off 36 balls, including five boundaries.
The CSA Youth XI could only respond with a total of 132-7 in their chase, with Chanel Venter’s 45 off 29 balls not enough against the under-19 bowling and fielding performance.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, the SA U19s made a steady start through openers Shreeya Subbiah (1) and Lalor.
Nthabiseng Nini (2-31) provided the first breakthrough in the third over, dismissing Subbiah to leave the hosts on 12-1.
The wicket brought Karabo Meso (15) to the crease, and she combined effectively with Lalor in a 43-run partnership that laid a solid platform.
South Africa reached the halfway mark on 55-1 before Nini returned to break the stand, having Meso caught three balls later.
With their tails up in the field, the CSA Youth XI struck twice more in the three subsequent overs, with a run out and a scalp for Jeze Campher (1-19) removing Lalor and Ashley Barnard (3), respectively, reducing the SA U19s to 77-4 in the 14th over.
South Africa regained control through an important partnership between Van Voorst and Jae-Leigh Filander (19).
The pair added a crucial 56 runs from just 32 balls, lifting the total to 133-4 in the 19th over before Filander was dismissed by Bruzaan Goosen (1-33).
Van Voorst and Ashleigh van Wyk (3*) went on to add a dominant 19 runs in the remaining seven balls of the innings, with Van Voorst dispatching back-to-back boundaries to reach her half-century and push the under-19s to 152-5.
CSA YOUTH FALL SHORT IN CHASE
In their chase, the CSA Youth XI lost an early wicket when Cayleigh Wanckel (1-22) bowled Simone Lourens (0) with the fourth ball of the innings.
The visitors responded well through a half-century partnership between Venter and Deidre van Rensburg (24).
After Lalor (1-23) brought an end to Venter’s aggressive innings, Van Rensburg combined with Diara Ramlakan (21) in a further 41-run stand to keep the chase alive.
With the score on 91-2 after 13 overs and the Youth XI still needing 62 runs from 42 deliveries to win, the SA U19s tightened their grip on the contest.
Meso began with a run out of Ramlakan before Melissa van der Merwe (1-18) got the better of van Rensburg with the very next delivery.
Another run-out followed an over later, as Jeze Campher (0) departed, leaving the CSA Youth XI reeling on 94-5.
Although Siphokuhle Masilela added a valiant 22 late on, Ashley Barnard (1-7) and Subbiah (1-8) picked up two late wickets as the Youth XI succumbed to the chase to give the SA U19 Women a 20-run win.
Youth T20 Tri-Series action continues on Tuesday, 13 January, with the CSA Youth XI set to take on Zimbabwe Under-19 Women.
The match will be streamed live on Cricket South Africa’s YouTube channel from 1pm.
SA U19 Women Squad
Ashley Barnard (Mpumalanga), Chris-Mari Bezuidenhout (Mpumalanga), Jae-Leigh Filander (Western Province), Miya Lalor (Western Province), Karabo Meso (Central Gauteng Lions), Anelisa Mhlongo (KZN Coastal), Ziya Mohanlall (KZN Coastal), Shelfa Mukhari (Limpopo), Shreeya Subbiah (KZN Coastal), Melissa van der Merwe (Boland), Mieke van Voorst (Eastern Storm), Ashleigh van Wyk (Eastern Storm), Cayleigh Wanckel (Eastern Province), Nobubelebesisa Zwane (KZN Coastal)
REMAINING FIXTURES
Tuesday, 13 January - 4th Youth T20 at 13h00 - CSA Youth XI v Zimbabwe U19 (Chatsworth Oval, Durban)
Thursday, 15 January - 5th Youth T20 at 13h00 - SA U19 Women v Zimbabwe U19 (Chatsworth Oval, Durban)
Friday, 16 January - 6th Youth T20 at 13h00 - CSA Youth XI v Zimbabwe U19 (Chatsworth Oval, Durban)
Sunday, 18 January - Youth T20 Tri-Series Final at 13h00 - TBC (Chatsworth Oval, Durban)