Namibia, also known as the Capricorn Eagles, went 2-0 down in the 4-match T20 series against South Africa Women’s Academy, after consecutive defeats in the first couple of games. The 3rd T20I turned into a must-win encounter for Namibia.
South Africa lost their top-order after the skipper Kayla Reyneke won the toss and opted to bat first in the 3rd T20I. Jenna Evans joined Jafta Gandhi at the crease when their side were in trouble at 26/4 in the 7th over of the innings, and the duo stitched a much-needed 20-run partnership for the 5th wicket, to take their side’s total past the 50-run mark.
A run-out ended Jafta Gandhi’s (12 off 20 balls) stay at the crease in the 12th over of the innings to provide the 5th breakthrough for Namibia. South Africa’s National Academy side eventually posted a competitive total of 116/8 in their quota of 20 overs on the back of another vital 38-run partnership for the 7th wicket between Verunnisa Reddy (16 off 14 balls) and Jenna Evans (44 off 44 balls) Jenna Evans fell 6 runs short of her well-deserved half-century.
Kejarukua Eveleen (4-0-18-2), Mekelaye Mwatile (4-1-11-1), Wilka Mwatile (4-0-24-1), and skipper Sune Wittmann (3-0-17-0) were the top performers with the ball for Namibia.
Chasing a target of 117, the Capricorn Eagles got over the line with 3 wickets in hand and four balls to spare. The 49-run partnership for the 2nd wicket between Yasmeen Khan and Kayleen Green was the highest partnership of the run chase for Namibia.
Yasmeen Khan (41 off 26 balls) was the top performer with the bat for Namibia, while Mekelaye Mwatile (18 off 16 balls) and Van Zyl Edelle (18 off 26 balls) chipped in with crucial contributions with the bat for their side to seal a memorable victory.
Alexandra Clare Candler (4-0-14-2) and skipper Kayla Reyneke (4-0-27-2) were the top performers with the ball for the South Africa National Academy side, while Jafta Gandhi (2-0-22-1) and Monalisa Legodi (4-0-12-1) chipped in with impressive spells with the ball for their side.
Yasmeen Khan was awarded the Player of the Match for her match-winning contribution with the bat for her side, playing a crucial role in helping Namibia seal a must-win encounter to keep the T20I series alive.
