Women’s cricket blossoms in Boland
2007-02-08
WOMEN’S cricket in the Boland is alive and well.
This was aptly illustrated when the Boland u.19 girls’ cricket team returned home undefeated from the national interprovincial championships.
The tournament was played in Kimberley in December.
What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that Boland managed to beat their nemesis, Western Province, the only other unbeaten team at the tournament, a week before the tournament by four wickets in the annual Boland/WP Schools Derby matches.
This makes the Bolanders the only unbeaten u.19 girls’ team in the country this season so far.
With the senior women’s team also unbeaten, it bodes well for the
future of Boland Woman’s Cricket.
In the first match Boland played against Border and thanks to a brilliant spell of seam bowling from Lee-Ann Whitehead (5/20) Border was skittled for 68 runs.
The chase was not easy. Some indifferent batting displays saw Boland lose their first three wickets for only 28 runs.
Bernice Crossman (22) safely steered the ship home however and Boland won the match relatively easily within 17 overs by four wickets.
Boland beat Griquas (47) with eight wickets in their second match.
Top players here were Lee-Ann Whitehead (6/13), Yolani Fourie (2/12) and Lauren Esterhuyse (18*).
The third match against Kei proved to be a feast of runs for the Bolanders.
Boland scored a mammoth 385 runs in their allotted 50 overs.
The run feast was led by captain Robyn Appels (100 70 balls, 4x14, 6x1), Ronel Pentz (86 108 balls, 4x7) and Moseline Daniels (51 39 balls, 4x8).
With most of the seamers being rested this match, the spinners took their opportunity and bowled the Kei team out for 32 runs within 15 overs.
Robyn Appels (4/0), Melinde Taljaard (4/15) and Yolani Fourie (2/5) really turned things on when it mattered.
The last match of the tournament once again brought out the fighting spirit and courage within the Boland team.
After winning the toss North West was asked to bat. They were limited to 82 after excellent bowling by Moseline Daniels (3/17), Appels (3/10) and Whitehead (3/29).
Indifferent shot selection soon saw Boland in trouble at 8/3 but a fighting innings from Ronel Pentz (27*) saw Boland home to a four wicket win.
“These players believe in each other and in themselves and in what we are trying to achieve. They have a work ethic second to none because of their love for the game,” was coach Cobus Roodt's
comment on the success of the team.
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