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NKOWANKOWA WIN BATTLE OF THE HUBS TO CLAIM NATIONAL FINALS PLACE

2 Feb 20253 mins

Nkowankowa Hub have claimed a place in the Schools SA20 National Finals after emerging top of the Easterns-Limpopo-Titans regional tournament in Benoni over the weekend.

On the opening day, Easterns Phase 1 winners Kwa-Thema Hub got the action underway against their Titans counterparts, Soshanguve Hub, and it was the home team who claimed a comprehensive 70-run victory. In turn, Nkowankowa Hub, from Tzaneen in Limpopo, then beat Kwa-Thema by 4 wickets, leaving the Soshanguve with it all to do on Day 2.

‘Sosh’ did well enough to reduce Nkowankowa to 62/8 on Saturday morning, but Pontsho Mopayi (5/3) bowled the Limpopo champs to a 33-run victory to confirm a rematch against Kwa-Thema would be the Final.

Inclement weather around Benoni threatened the ability of getting the decider underway but it cleared up enough for the match officials to reduce only to a 15-over-a-side affair.

Having bowled first in their robin robin clash, Kwa-Thema this time batted first and largely struggled to build momentum, but for a 37-run second-wicket partnership between opener Jazmine Pitt (12 off 28, 1x4) and top-scorer Mpumelelo Masilwane (23 off 29, 3x4). By the end of their allotted overs, Kwa-Thema had scored 60/7… but would it be enough?

Nkowankowa set about trying to prove that it wouldn’t be enough, but saw their top order fall in quick succession to leave them 20/3 after 6.1 overs. Step forward their number 5 batter, Ripfumelo Nkuna to steady the chase with 20 off 26 (1x4).

Kwa-Thema’s Nonkuleko Mahlangu (2/3) and Seipati Moagi (2/11) were doing their best for Nkowankowa but Respect Mabasa and Shelfa Mukhari completed the 5-wicket victory – with 7 balls remaining - to set off the celebrations at Willowmoore Park Stadium.