News

DR JL DUBE IN THE MIX AGAIN AS QUEENS OF KZN COASTAL SET TO BE CROWNED

26 Sep 20254 mins

The Schools SA20 Volume 2 girls’ competition in KwaZulu-Natal Coastal is set for a thrilling conclusion as the four Pool-winning teams battle it out in the Finals Day on Sunday, 28 September at Kloof High School.

KCCD Hub, Chatsworth Hub, Nqabakazulu High School, and Dr JL Dube High School (the province’s Volume 1 winners who made it all the way to the inaugural national finals) - have all powered through the knockout stages with dominant performances. KCCD Hub were ruthless in Pool 1 dispatching both Grantleigh and Mtubatuba Hub, the latter by a commanding 93-run margin. Similarly, in Pool 3, Chatsworth Hub’s road to the semis has been emphatic, including a 264-run demolition of Umlazi Comtech High School followed by a 9-wicket win over Sivananda Technical High School.

Nqabakazulu showed their all-round strength, winning both their Pool 2 encounters convincingly – including a 53-run quarterfinal victory over Qhilika High. Meanwhile, Dr JL Dube advanced with style from Pool 4, winning their fixtures by 165 and 140 runs respectively, showcasing exceptional firepower with bat and ball.

With three of the four semifinalists winning by dominant margins, Sunday’s semifinals at Kloof’s fields promises high-quality matchups and fierce competition. The winners will progress to the final later that afternoon, which will conclude what has been an exciting Schools SA20 leg in the KZN Coastal and determine the province’s sole qualifier for the regional Phase 2 which will take place in January 2026.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Noxolo Biyela (KCCD Hub)

Biyela produced an excellent all-round display in Pool 1. During KCCD’s opener against Grantleigh High School, she claimed 4/11 in her four overs before contributing a team high 35 off 18 balls (5x4, 1x6) to guide KCCD to a nine-wicket victory chasing 90. Then, in the pool decider against Mtubatuba, Biyela again top-scored with 41 off 30 balls (6x4, 1x6) and followed it up with 2/12 off two overs as KCCD sealed their Finals Day place with a 93-run victory.

Thando Matamela (Chatsworth Hub)

Chatsworth beat Umlazi Comtech comprehensively but one performance still stood out, that being Matamela’s 103 off 46 balls – the first century of Volume 2 in KwaZulu-Natal Coastal. Ably supported by fellow opener Shreya Subbiah’s 66, Matamela stroked 16 4s and smashed three 6s before retiring not out.

Anelisa Mhlongo (Dr JL Dube High School)

Dr JL Dube’s captain Entle Mkhaliphi is undoubtedly the star in her side, and her unbeaten 71 off 50 balls in their thorough win over Masakhane proved it. That said, her middle-order mate Anelisa Mhlongo not only scored a classy 48 not out (10x4) in that match but then followed it up with a half-century of her own – 56 off 45 balls (8x4, 1x6) – in their pool decider against Umtapho High School to show that she’s in top form going into finals day.