QUEENS CROWNED CGL WINNERS WITH COMMANDING WIN OVER JEPPE

Queens High School claimed a dominant 90-run victory over Jeppe High School for Girls in the Switch Schools SA20 Central Gauteng Lions Phase 1 girls final held at St Stithians College on Thursday, 23 October 2025.

Queens had reached the showpiece match of the province’s Finals Day after beating Hoërskool Randburg by 65 runs to set up a meeting with their neighbours Jeppe (3km separate the schools) who saw off Northcliff High School by 50 runs in the other semifinal.

Batting first, Queens posted a formidable 165/7 in their 20 overs, thanks to a string of solid contributions throughout the order. Karabo Matlaila was the standout with an aggressive 34 off 27 balls (4x4), well supported by Tshepi Choma (22 off 19), captain Boitumelo Chuene (21), and Nonkululeko Mthethwa (23). The Queens batters also benefitted from Extras, collecting a generous 36 runs through wides and no-balls.

Jeppe’s bowlers had their moments – opening bowler Ashley Sibanda (2/19) and first-change Samkelisiwe Mthembu (2/28) were among the wickets - but wayward bowling, reflected in 29 wides and 6 no-balls, allowed Queens to reach their daunting total.

In response, Jeppe’s chase never found momentum. Early wickets tumbled, and despite a brisk 16 from Amani Ayob, the side collapsed to 75/9 in 15.3 overs – having batted one short after their captain Fallyn Lawrence was injured in the field. Queens’ bowling unit, led by the exceptional Tshepi Choma (3/3 in her single over), and backed by Thanya Nkuna (2/7) and Hlekani Chisane (2/3), ripped through the Jeppe batting lineup.

The emphatic win means Queens High School (Volume 1 CGL runners-up) now take over as provincial winners, after Steyn City – who went on to claim the national title - were knocked out early in the competition this time around. With this commanding display, Queens now set their sights on regional honours in the next phase of the Switch Schools SA20 come January 2026.

PLAYER OF THE DAY

THANYA NKUNA

Considering Boitumelo Chuene (Queens High School) and Alyssa Edwards (Hoërskool Randburg) scored fifties on the day, and 3-fors were taken by Samkeliswe Mthembu (Jeppe High School for Girls) and Tshepi Choma (Queens High School) there were numerous candidates for Player of the Day at St Stithians College on Central Gauteng Lions girls’ Finals Day.

However, no player was as consistent as Queens High School opening bowler Thanya Nkuna. While Edwards was trying her best to upset Queens in the semifinals – with her unbeaten 75 coming off 54 balls including 10 fours and one maximum – Nkuna still managed remarkable figures of 2/3 of her three overs with 15 dot balls and a maiden over.

Then in the final, Nkuna again proved unplayable by sending down 21 dot balls across her four overs (two of which were maidens) and produced figures of 2/7 as Queens put the brakes on Jeppe’s run-chase from the off.

RESULTS: CENTRAL GAUTENG LIONS GIRLS’ FINALS DAY

Thursday, 23 October 2025 @ St Stithians College

Semifinals

Queens High School 167/5 – 20 overs (Boitumelo Chuene 52*)

Hoërskool Randburg 102/7 – 20 overs (Alyssa Edwards 75*)

Queens won by 65 runs

Jeppe High School for Girls 136/8 - 20 overs (Ashley Sibanda 45)

Northcliff High School 86/9 – 20 overs (Samkeliswe Mthembu 3/13)

Jeppe won by 50 runs

Final

Queens High School 165/7 - 20 overs (Karabo Matlaila 34)

Jeppe High School for Girls 75/9 – 15.3 overs (Tshepi Choma 3/3)

Queens won by 90 runs to progress to Phase 2