Wilke leads Northerns to victory
She took six wickets, including four in one over.
An incredible spell with both bat and ball from all-rounder Megan Wilke inspired Benoni Northerns Cricket Club women’s side to a 290 run victory over Geluksdal at the Northerns C field on January 20.
After posting a neat half-century, Wilke took six wickets, including a hat-trick, as she bundled out the visitors before the game could reach its climax.
Opening the bowling, she took the wicket of Melissa Carlinsky with the fifth ball of the over, and what followed was a procession of batters from the middle to the dug-out in her second over, as the visitors’ run chase began on the back foot.
She first trapped Geluksdal skipper Nadine Wells (4 off 2) with the first ball of the over. The bowler then dismissed Jasmin Pitt, Beyonce Pringle and Asheeka Abdulah for golden ducks before trapping Chamila Reetley (4 off 7) in the fifth over.
Keira Ferreira completed the rout with the fifth ball of seventh over, as she had Megan Carlinsky caught by Carmen Sevenster to help Northerns to a resounding victory.
Wilke ended with 6/18 while Ferreira took 1/1 as Geluksdal was skittled out for 29 all out inside seven overs.
Earlier, Angel Botha’s four wickets and Wells’ three scalps were in vain as the home side posted 319, thanks to Carli Theron’s 80 off 84 balls and Wilke’s quick-fire 64 off just 24 deliveries which included eight boundaries and four maximums.
Playing with only nine players, it was always going to be difficult for the visitors, who were let down by poor fielding and numerous bad balls that Wilke and Theron took full advantage of.
Despite their meagre resources, Geluksdal put on a spirited performance with Wells and Botha leading the line with the ball.
Batting first, Northerns lost opener Refiloe Mogabe (8) in the second over to Botha before skipper Tamzyn Hartman (24 off 16) followed in the seventh over to leave the score at 62/2.
After losing the wickets of Anke Oosthuizen (4 off 9), Tayla McDonald (2 off 10), Sevenster (37 off 34) and Alicia Dicks 1 off 3), Theron and Wilke took over the middle overs with the former bringing up her fifty in the 23rd over while the latter brought up her half-century with a six over the fine leg boundary in the 25th over.
Wilke an over later but Theron, with the help of Ferreira (12 off 8) and Rebecca McKelvey (13 off 16) ensured they scored over 300 as Northerns posted 319, setting their opponents 320 to win.
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