Durban – Hollywoodbets KwaZulu-Natal Coastal Women’s Provincial team kicked off the 2019/20 season with back-to-back victories over their Free State counterparts in the CSA Women’s Provincial League and CSA Women’s Provincial T20 Competition at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead this past weekend.
The home side bagged a seven wicket win followed by a three run victory over their opponents in the double-header on Saturday and Sunday.
Energised by the announcement of Hollywoodbets as a new sponsor, the KZN women got off to a good start as the coin fell in favour of captain Nondumiso Shangase in their fifty-over clash.
It was a spirited effort from the KZN Women as they backed the captain’s decision to field first and had Free State reeling on 32/2 after 10 overs. The women from Bloemfontein continued to struggle as the tight bowling from KZN prevented them from gaining any momentum.
Shangase introduced herself into the attack and made immediate inroads as she claimed the wicket of Izabela Cilliers for 11 in the 16th over.
In the following over, opening bowler Dheyanka Naidoo came back into the attack and claimed her second wicket of the day.
The Hollywoodbets women never took their foot off the pedal claiming the last five Free State wickets for just nine runs, restricting them to 89 all out in 42.4 overs.
Shangase lead from the front and was the pick of the bowlers going for just seventeen runs in her ten overs, picking up four wickets. Naidoo and Nonkululeko Mlaba chipped in with two wickets apiece.
Needing just under three an over, the KZN Women made light work of the chase. Trisha Chetty (41) and Shangase (18) combined for a healthy 56 run partnership to seal the fate of their opponents.
Nicole de Klerk and Dinesha Devanrain saw the KZN Women home in the 18th over.
On Sunday, the two sides shifted focus to T20 cricket. After winning the toss, Free State opted to field first.
Chetty continued to show good form blasting her way to 74 off 46 balls in an innings that included seven fours and one six.
Chetty was also involved in a 78 run stand with Shangase. Some solid batting from Devnarain saw the KZN Women finish on a competitive 135/5 after the allocated twenty overs.
The match proved to be a nail-biting encounter as Free State’s Yolandi Potgieter made 64 off 48 deliveries.
However, Devnarain’s experience prevailed as she claimed the crucial wicket of Potgieter. The pressure form KZN told after that as the Free State Women lost four wickets at the back end for just three runs.
Brilliant skill at the death from Jade de Figueredo saw her finish outstanding figures of 4/14 in four overs, as they completed a the three-run victory to seal off a good weekend.
Speaking after the weekend’s action coach Denisha Devnarain was proud of how her team started the season.
“I want to start by saying how proud I am of all the women, including those that came to support us over the weekend,” Devnarain said.
“It’s really a great feeling to have two wins under the belt. The work ethic was incredible leading into the fixture and they delivered and executed accordingly to plan.
“The bowlers did a fantastic job over the weekend and it would have been great to have a ten wicket win in the fifty over game but I’ll take the win and as a unit we will always look to improve.”
The Hollywoodbets KZN Coastal Women’s Provincial team travel to Gauteng to take on the Central Gauteng Lions over the weekend of 2 and 3 November.
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SUMMARY OF RESULTS – Hollywoodbets KZN Coastal Women’s Provincial v Free State Women.
CSA Women’s Provincial League (50 Overs)
Free State 89 all out (Nondumiso Shangase 4/17 Nonkululeko Mlaba 2/13
Coastal 90/3 (Trisha Chetty 41 (39))
Hollywoodbets KZN Coastal Women won by 7 wickets
CSA Women’s Provincial T20 Competition
Coastal 135/5 (Trisha Chetty 74(46))
Free State 132/7 (Jade de Figueiredo 4/14)
Hollywoodbets KZN Coastal Women won by 3 runs
