Cricket South Africa (CSA) continues to pave the way for the nation’s future cricketing stars, ensuring that the sport is accessible to aspiring players and all who want to play it.
As the South Africa Under-19 Women prepare for the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup semi-final, their journey is a testament to CSA’s commitment to nurturing young talent and providing a platform for excellence.
A crucial pillar of CSA’s development framework is the KFC Mini-Cricket programme, one of the largest grassroots initiatives on the continent. The programme has played a vital role in shaping many of the players competing on the world stage today.
Among them are Karabo Meso and Seshnie Naidoo, who have already earned their debuts for the senior national team, an achievement that underscores the strength of South Africa’s talent pipeline.
Western Province’s Jae-Leigh Filander, Jemma Botha and skipper, Kayla Reyneke are also a product of the KFC Mini Cricket programme.
“I started playing Mini Cricket in Grade 1 after watching my brother play. I thought I could beat him and from that moment, I fell in love with the game,” shared Filander.
“Mini Cricket played a crucial role in my journey because it introduced me to the sport and fuelled my passion to keep playing. I would advice to young cricketers to keep playing the sport. If you have a passion for the game, everything will fall into place. Always give 100% because, in the end, hard work and dedication will take you far," said Filander.
Meanwhile, the CSA National Weeks serve as another key stepping stone in a young cricketer’s journey, fostering age-group cricket and allowing players to hone their skills at a competitive level.
Easterns’ rising stars, Mieke van Voorst and Ashley van Wyk, exemplify the success of this system. Having progressed through the U13 and U16 Girls Cricket Weeks, they now find themselves representing South Africa at the World Cup while also making a significant impact in the Women’s Pro Series for Eastern Storm in Division 2.
Reflecting on their partnership, the duo credits their time together at the U16 National Week for strengthening their on-field chemistry.
“Representing our country in a World Cup semifinal is a big moment for us, but we’re staying calm and trusting in our preparation. We have incredible support from our coaches and management, ensuring that we are mentally and physically ready.
“We strongly believe that if you put in the hard work behind the scenes, your dreams will become reality. It may seem far away, but if you take it step by step, success will come,” said Van Wyk.
Their commitment is not only evident on the international stage but also in their determination to elevate their domestic team.
“We relied on each other a lot, batting together for long periods allowed us to understand and complement each other’s game. We are always striving for Division 1 status with Eastern Storm. The experience we’ve gained at the World Cup will help us bring back valuable insights and lift the overall standard of play within our squad,” shared Van Voorst.
The Women’s Pro Series has been instrumental in developing and nurturing young talent across South Africa. The professionalisation of women’s cricket, sparked by the Proteas Women's historic ICC T20 World Cup final appearance on home soil, was further strengthened by investments from the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) and key partners.
With the entire SA U19 Women squad already gaining exposure to professional cricket at such a young age, these rising stars are well-positioned to make a lasting impact on the game in the years to come.
South Africa U19 Women Squad
Kayla Reyneke (Captain, Western Province), Jemma Botha (Western Province), Fay Cowling (Lions), Jae-Leigh Filander (Western Province), Mona-Lisa Legodi (Titans), Simoné Lourens (Titans), Karabo Meso (Lions), Seshnie Naidu (Dolphins), Nthabiseng Nini (Dragons), Luyanda Nzuza (Free State), Diara Ramlakan (Lions), Diedré van Rensburg (Dragons), Mieke van Voorst (Storm), Ashleigh van Wyk (Storm), Chanel Venter (Titans).
Non-travelling Reserves
Lethabo Bidli (Lions), Keamogetswe Chuene (Lions), Jenna-Lee Lubbe (Lions), Jané Verhage (Titans), Sinelethu Yaso (Western Province).
Management
Dinesha Devnarain (Head Coach), Marcia Letsoalo (Team Manager), PJ Jansen (Batting Coach), Angelique Taai (Bowling Coach), Trisha Chetty (Fielding Coach), Adele van Eck (High-Performance Analyst), Dr Dhavina Naidoo (Team Doctor), Esther Bhengu (Physiotherapist), Stacey-Lee Hercules (Strength and Conditioning Coach), Terrence Adonis (Educator), Alungile Nyakambi (Media Specialist).
SA U19 Women Group Fixtures
Saturday, 18 January @ 8.30am SAST - 1st Match: New Zealand v South Africa (Borneo Cricket Ground, Sarawak) – South Africa won by 22 runs (DLS Method).
Monday, 20 January @ 8.30am SAST - 2nd Match: South Africa v Samoa (Borneo Cricket Ground, Sarawak) – South Africa won by 10 wickets.
Wednesday, 22 January @ 8.30am SAST - 3rd Match: South Africa v Nigeria (Borneo Cricket Ground, Sarawak) – South Africa won by 41 runs (DLS Method).
Super Six Stage
Saturday @ 8.30am SAST- South Africa v Ireland (Borneo Cricket Ground, Sarawak) – South Africa won by seven wickets.
Tuesday @ 4.30am SAST- South Africa v USA (Borneo Cricket Ground, Sarawak) – Match abandoned.
Semi-finals
Friday @ 4.30am SAST - Suth Africa v Australia (Bayuemas Oval, Kuala Lumpur)
Friday @ 8.30am SAST - India v England (Bayuemas Oval, Kuala Lumpur)
Sunday, 2 February @ 8.30am SAST - Final (Bayuemas Oval, Kuala Lumpur)
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