ESHOWE High School’s Banele Mbhele played out of her shoes in the first team girls cricket match on Wednesday afternoon at St Catherine’s, proving to be a major thorn in the home school’s side.
Mbhele smashed 69 not out off 33 balls, which included 13 fours and ended with bowling figures of 5/6 in 4.
‘I am so excited about my performance today and have no words to describe how I feel. It was so much fun batting first and passing 50 for the first time in my cricketing career. Then to follow that knock up with a five wicket haul is just unbelievable. I am so happy to have contributed to my team’s win,’ said Mbhele.
St Catherine’s won the toss and elected to field first in the 20 over game.
‘I decided to field first, as it is more fun for us and we communicate more whilst fielding. But playing at home on this pitch under overcast conditions produces swing with the new ball, which we hope to utilise,’ said St Catherine’s captain, Deanne Reddy.
Unfortunately for the home team, things did not go all according to plan, when openers Mbhele and Noxolo Dlamini (29) put on an opening partnership of 106 in 16 overs.
eShowe ended their time at the crease with an impressive total of 139/1, after scoring at 6.95 runs per over.
Mahrunisa Shaikh was the only bowler to take a stick after bowling Dlamini out from a dipping full toss.
She ended with figures of 1/9 in 4.
eShowe packed their fielders close to the bat, with two short legs under the helmet applying pressure to the chasing side.
This strategy paid off, when the home team was dismissed for 52 in the 17th over, to hand the eShowe girls a comprehensive 87 run victory.
Extras were the top scorers on the day on 43, with Shaikh 3, Sarah Giles 2 and Betty Adetiba 2 contributing with the bat.
This was the last game of the season for the girls who told the Zululand Observer that playing cricket in the first term was fun and challenging and that they hope the sport grows in the region.
