An all-round performance from captain Kayla Reyneke and the SA Under-19 Women bowling unit helped the home side secure back-to-back victories and a 5-0 series whitewash against Ireland Under-19 in the Youth T20 International (T20I) series held in Tshwane on Friday.
The dynamic Reyneke starred in the fourth T20I with a career-best fifty and figures of 1/18, leading South Africa to a 37-run victory. Although the final T20I posed more of a challenge, Reyneke, Nthabiseng Nini and Fay Cowling took key wickets to restrict Ireland to a manageable score, setting up a successful run chase for a series clean sweep.
In the first match of the day, the SA U19s were put into bat after Ireland won the toss. Despite losing both openers in the first eight balls, South Africa rallied to post the series' highest total of 168/6, thanks largely to Player of the Match Reyneke’s explosive 73 off 42 balls, which included two fours and eight sixes, supported by Karabo Meso’s quickfire 36 off 20 balls (5x4, 1x6).
With the ball, SA U19s kept up the pressure, claiming four wickets through Reyneke (1/18), Mona-Lisa Legodi (1/23) and Cowling (1/23), along with a crucial run out. Their efforts restricted Ireland to 131/4 in their 20 overs, despite a resilient 73 off 52 balls (10x4) from Irish captain Amy Hunter. The 37-run victory gave South Africa a commanding 4-0 lead in the series with one match remaining.
In the fifth and final Youth T20I at the Assupol Tuks Oval, the SA U19 Women again bowled first. Contributions from Reyneke (2/11), Nini (2/12, and Cowling (1/24), alongside three run outs, limited Ireland to 104/9 in 20 overs. Lara McBride top-scored for Ireland with a steady 33 off 34 balls (3x4).
During their chase, SA U19s encountered a challenge as Ireland’s Player of the Match Aimee Maguire delivered figures of 4/17 in her four overs, supported by Freya Sargent (2/29). Despite the Irish bowlers’ efforts, South Africa completed the chase in the 15th over, with contributions from Simoné Lourens (29) at the top of the order and lower-order runs from Cowling (18), as well as an unbeaten partnership between Ashleigh van Wyk (7*) and Nini (9*).
Reyneke (pictured with head coach Dinesha Devnarain) was awarded the Player of the Series accolade after finishing as the leading runscorer with 138 runs in five innings along with seven wickets.
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