by Mandla S Dlamini
The Eswatini Cricket Association’s High Schools U17 Girls T20 League is off to an electrifying start at the Bhejisa Sports Ground located in the picturesque Shiselweni region. Group A of the league features four prominent schools – Our Lady of Sorrows, Masiphula, Matsanjeni Community, and Hluthi Central High School. The teams are scheduled to compete in a series of group stage matches played in a round-robin format to determine their standings in the league.
The action commenced on Friday, 14 June 2024, with the first set of thrilling matches. In the opening match, Masiphula ladies clashed with Matsanjeni High School. Winning the toss, Matsanjeni High School opted to bowl first, allowing Masiphula High School to bat. Displaying impressive batting prowess, Masiphula managed to post a challenging total of 142/9 in their allotted 20 overs. In pursuit of the target, Matsanjeni High School faltered and crumbled under pressure, only mustering 30 runs before being bowled out in just 10 overs. Masiphula emerged victorious by a comprehensive margin of 112 runs, showcasing their dominance in the match.
In the subsequent match, a fierce battle unfolded between Our Lady of Sorrows and Hluthi Central High School ladies. Hluthi Central won the toss and elected to field first, a decision that proved to be fruitful as they stifled OLOS in their batting innings. With exceptional bowling prowess, Hluthi Central managed to dismiss OLOS for a mere 39 runs in 13.5 overs. In response, Hluthi Central calmly chased down the target, reaching the required total in just 8.3 overs with 6 wickets still in hand. Hluthi Central High School ladies emerged victorious by 6 wickets, displaying their strong all-around performance on the field.
Looking ahead, the upcoming fixtures in Group A promise more excitement and intense competition. Our Lady of Sorrows is set to face Matsanjeni High Schools in a highly anticipated showdown, while Hluthi Central will take on Masiphula High School in another thrilling encounter. Additionally, in Group B, fans can look forward to an exciting match as Manzini Nazarene High School prepares to challenge Mhlume High School ladies in the coming weeks.
The stage is set for an action-packed season of cricket as these talented young players showcase their skills, passion, and determination in the Eswatini Cricket Association’s High Schools U17 Girls T20 League. Stay tuned for more thrilling matches and remarkable performances from these budding athletes.
