16 Jan Lourens Half-Century Not Enough In World Cup Opener
BENONI: Simone Lourens’s brilliant half-century was not enough as SA U19 Women suffered a seven-wicket defeat against India in their opening match of the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup at Willowmoore Park.
After winning the toss the team elected to bat first, opening the batting line up with Elandri Janse Van Rensburg and Lourens.
The pair displayed a full force of control of the game and managed to score 50 runs by the end of the third over. Janse Van Rensburg scored a stunning 23 off 13, her innings were cut short by Richa Ghosh catching her from behind.
Lourens smashed a magnificent 50 runs off 33 balls making it the second fifty in the tournament.
The opposition pressed hard and dismissed Oluhle Siyo on the first delivery she faced. Halfway through the innings South Africa had two fall of wickets. Kayla Reyneke brought in her vitality to the pitch to keep up the pace of the team prior to departing on 11 from 26 balls.
Lourens continued to exert dominance and energy until she was run out by India’s wicket-keeper at 61 off 44, after holding down a tight partnership of 36(22) with Madison Landsman and making her the key player of the team.
Landsman registered a quick 32 runs from 17 balls with 3 overs left to be bowled when an unlooked for delivery had her wicket falling by LBW.
Miane Smit 16(9) and Karabo Meso 9(11) put in a battle to the end of the last ball. The team wrapped the innings 166/5 all balls bowled.
Ayanda Hlubi opened the bowling form for South Africa, while enduring challenging moments to dismiss the India batters. Smit gave the team a breakthrough dismissing India’s Shafali Verma assisted by Seshnie Naidu. The opposition put in a constraint batting aiming for the boundary and speeding their chase.
Trisha’s wicket by Naidu kept the team intact to fight and restrict India from keeping up. Although it was too late to defend the score, Landsman gave the team one more wicket taking out Soumya Tiwari. Shweta Sehrawat from India maintained a 92(57) not out and guided herr team to a 7 wickets victory.
ICC U19 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP FIXTURES- WILLOWMOORE PARK
Saturday, 14 January 2023 @13:45: South Africa U19W vs India U19W – India won by 7 wickets
Monday, 16 January 2023 @ 13h45: South Africa U19W vs Scotland U19W
Wednesday, 18 January 2023 @ 13h45: South Africa U19W vs United Arab Emirates U19W
ENDS
Issued by: Cricket South Africa – Corporate Communications
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