KNOW THE FINAL SHOWDOWN GIRLS' TEAMS

The girls’ division of the Schools SA20 Final Showdown sees the four schools and two hubs teams divided into two pools with those who finish top meeting in the final to decide the ‘best of the best’.

Pool A pits Dr JL Dube High School, Nkowankowa Hub and Saints Christian School against each other while Pool B features Nomandi Junior Secondary School, Steyn City School and Victoria Hub.

Dr JL Dube, who unveiled a new campus in KwaMashu last year, emerged victorious in KwaZulu-Natal; initially over a KZN Coastal Invitational Team in the provincial leg before taking the regional honours over Bonginhlanhla High School from Pongola in the regional tournament. Nkowankowa Hub emerged as the pride of Limpopo before also winning the regionals in Benoni against the best from Easterns and Titans. Saints Christian School, meanwhile, have played the most Schools SA20 matches of both the girls and boys Final Showdown teams (11) and won all of them to emerge as one of the favourites for the national title.

On the other hand, Kei winners Nomandi are arguably the Cinderella story thus far of the inaugural Schools SA20 season after they beat their ‘big city’ rivals from Border and Eastern Province in the regional tournament in East London. Steyn City, of course, boast two national Under-19 players in Karabo Meso and Diara Ramlakan (who missed Phase 2 due to the Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup) as well as non-travelling reserve Jenna-Lee Lubbe so it’s no surprise that they emerged victorious in Central Gauteng Lions and the Phase 2 Final against Mpumalanga winners Ligbron Academy of Technology. Victoria Hub, meanwhile, complete the girls line-up with the Western Province and Western Cape winners boasting a few talented players who’ll be determined to be the inaugural Schools SA20 champions.

Read more on each of the girls teams below:

POOL A

DR JL DUBE HIGH SCHOOL

Road to the Final Showdown

Phase 1 – KwaZulu-Natal Coastal

Group 3 vs Kheswa High School (9/10/2024, won by 10 wickets)

Group 3 vs Zeph Dhlomo Secondary School (11/8/2024, won by 7 wickets)

Group 3 vs Fredville Senior Primary School (11/8/2024, won by 10 wickets)

Group 3 vs Mqhawe High School (11/8/2024, won by 96 runs)

Semifinal vs Nqabakazulu Comprehensive High School (19/10/2024, won by 144 runs)

Final vs KZN Coastal Invitational (26/101/2024, won by 14 runs)

Phase 2 – KwaZulu-Natal (played in Pietermaritzburg)

Final vs Bonginhlanhla High School (17/1/2025, won by 8 wickets)

Phase 2 leading run-scorer | 41 – Entle Mkhaliphi

Phase 2 leading wicket-taker | 2 – Sthembile Dlamini,Anelisa Mhlongo,  Zikuswa Msiya

Dr JL Dube’s Final Showdown squad: Omuhle Buthelezi, Hlengiwe Dlamini, Sthembile Dlamini, Olwethu Duma, Nokwazi Khumalo, Lethokuhle Mbili (wicketkeeper), Zama Mdunge, Anelisa Mhlongo, Entle Mkhaliphi (wicketkeeper), Lusanda Mkhize, Lungile Ngcobo, Zukiswa Ntombela, Ziyanda Xulu.

Head coach: Mzwandile Sibiya | Manager: Phumzile Dlamini

NKOWANKOWA HUB

Road to the Final Showdown

Phase 1 - Limpopo

Group A vs Stanford Lake College (10/10/2024, won)

Group A vs Hoërskool Ben Vorster (15/10/2024, won)

Group A vs Giyani Hub (19/10/2024, won by 5 wickets)

Group A vs Phalaborwa Hub (19/10/2024, won by 81 runs)

Semifinal vs Mohodi Hub (23/11/2024, won by 10 wickets)

Final vs Phalaborwa Hub (23/11/2024, no result [Nkowankowa advance on previous match-up])

Phase 2 – Easterns, Northern Gauteng and Limpopo (played in Benoni)

Round robin vs Kwa-Thema Hub (31/1/2025, won by 4 wickets)

Round robin vs Soshanguve Hub (1/2/2025, won by 33 runs)

Final vs Kwa-Thema Hub (1/2/2025, won by 5 wickets)

Phase 2 leading run-scorer | 32 – Ripfumelo Faith Nkuna

Phase 2 leading wicket-taker | 9 Pontsho Refilwe Mopanya 

Nkowankowa Hub’s Final Showdown squad: Blondy Baloyi, Anita Khosa, Respect Mabasa, Remember Manyike, Alicia Masela, Mpho Molopo, Karabo Monyela (wicketkeeper), Pontsho Mopayi, Tshepiso Motswi, Shelfa Mukhari, Ntsakiso Mukhavela, Ripfumelo Nkuna (wicketkeeper), Motlalepule Sebele.

Head coach: Blessing Mabunda | Manager: Moira Mohale

SAINTS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Phase 1 – North West

Round robin vs Hoërskool Klerksdorp (8/8/2024, won by 53 runs)

Round robin vs Matlosana Hub (16/8/2025, won by 51 runs)

Round robin vs Hoërskool Wolmaransstad (22/8/2024, won by 8 wickets)

Round robin vs Ikageng Hub (5/9/2024, won by 2 wickets)

Round robin vs Potchefstroom Gimnasium (9/9/2024, won by 79 runs)

Round robin vs Hoërskool Lichtenburg (10/9/2024, won by 10 wickets)

Round robin vs Hoërskool Wesvalia (13/9/2024, won by 7 wickets)

Final vs Matlosana Hub (22/9/2024, won by 66 runs)

Phase 2 – Central (played in Potchefstroom)

Round robin vs Botshabelo Hub (17/1/2025, won by 6 wickets)

Round robin vs Kuruman Hub (17/1/2025, won by 90 runs)

Final vs Botshabelo Hub (18/1/2025, won by 31 runs)

Phase 2 leading run-scorer | 74 – Reabetswe Dithipe

Phase 2 leading wicket-taker | 4 – Yodahe Erco

Saints’ Final Showdown squad: Reabetswe Dithipe, Siphokazi Duma, Siphumelele Duma, Yodahe Erco, Jessica Joshua (wicketkeeper), Valencia Kitime, Lindelwa Makapela, Leanny Makusha (wicketkeeper), Tshegofatso Monyela, Diarabilwe Ngubeni, Kgalalelo Olaniran, Gogontle Padi, Tshiamo Skunka,

Coaches: Claudio Lucas and Che Williams

POOL B

NOMANDI JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL

Road to the Final Showdown

Phase 1 - Kei

OR Tambo Group vs Jumba Senior Secondary School (15/9/2024, won by 1 wicket)

OR Tambo Group vs Nomandi 2 (19/9/2024, won by 3 wickets)

OR Tambo Group vs Cibeni Senior Secondary School (19/9/2024, won by walkover)

OR Tambo Group vs Old Bunting Junior Secondary School (22/9/2024, won by 10 runs)

Semifinal vs Ntabankulu Senior Secondary School (29/9/2024, won by 9 wickets)

Final vs Jumba Senior Secondary School (29/9/2024, won by 1 run)

Phase 2 – Eastern Cape (played in East London)

Round robin vs Stirling High School (17/1/2025, won by 66 runs)

Robin robin vs Pearson High School (18/1/2025, won by 7 wickets)

Final vs Stirling High School (18/1/2025, won by 105 runs)

Phase 2 leading run-scorer | 66 - Sikho Khetho (3 matches)

Phase 2 leading wicket-taker | 7 – Enkosi Mditshwa

Nomandi’s Final Showdown squad: Amile Butshula, Thembakazi Gegesi, Sikho Kheto, Kwanele Kratsha, Onele Madikizela, Chumani Majambe, Enkosi Mditshwa, Yamkela Mnqabashe, Olwethu Njani, Esona Nomphanda, Unako Nompandana (wicketkeeper), Sisonke Rutsha, Qhawe Tenjwa.

Head coach: Salathiso Mjacu | Manager: Sinethemba Huna

STEYN CITY SCHOOL

Road to the Final Showdown

Quarterfinal vs South Hub (12/9/2024, won by 144 runs)

Semifinal vs Northcliff (2/10/2024, won by 94 runs)

Final vs Queens High School (4/10/2024, won by 2 runs)

Phase 2 – Central Gauteng and Mpumalanga (played in Johannesburg)

Phase 2 Final vs Ligbron Academy of Technology (1/2/2025, won by 9 wickets) | READ MATCH REPORT

Phase 2 leading run-scorer | 14 – Caitlyn Freeman

Phase 2 leading wicket-taker | 2 – Samia Essop, Tyla-Jade Harpur

Steyn City’s Final Showdown Squad: Samia Essop, Dominique Ferguson, Caitlyn Freeman, Amy Gear, Tyla-Jade Harpur, Jenna-Lee Lubbe, Olivia Marais, Karabo Meso (wicketkeeper), Sivaakani Naidoo, Tyler Piehl, Hannah Pike (non-playing), Diara Ramlakan (captain), Leeya Singh, Michaela Tarr.

Coach: Rachel Langley | Manager: Yolani Human

VICTORIA HUB

Road to the Final Showdown

Phase 1 – Western Province

Round 1 vs Ottoman Hub (18/10/2024, won)

Quarterfinal vs Mitchell’s Plain Hub (25/10/2024, won)

Semifinal vs Reddam House Constantia (1/11/2024, won by 131 runs)

Final vs Gugulethu Hub (8/11/2024, won by 7 wickets)

Phase 2 – Western Cape (played in Oudtshoorn)

Round robin vs Bridgton Hub (24/1/2025, won by 96 runs)

Round robin vs HTS Drostdy (25/1/2025, won by 9 wickets)

Final vs HTS Drostdy (25/1/2025, won by 34 runs)

Phase 2 leading run-scorer | 92 – Nuha Benjamin

Phase 2 leading wicket-taker | 6 – Sakeenah Williams

Victoria Hub’s Final Showdown squad: Imaan Bassier, Nuha Benjamin, Lily-Grace Brink, Fatiema Dollie, Thaurah Dollie, Gabrielle Fourie, Zhandre Jacobs, Frendoline Milnerton, Ashline Titus (captain), Zaurah Titus, Hanim Toefy, Imaan van Schalkwyk (wicketkeeper), Sakeenah Williams.

Head coach: Gary Fourie | Manager: Myles Williamson