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Junior Proteas face tough New Zealand challenge in T20 World Cup campaign opener

Junior Proteas face tough New Zealand challenge in T20 World Cup campaign opener
Kayla Reyneke (Captain) of South Africa with Clifford Isaacs (Match Referee) during the 3rd Youth WT20I match between U19 Women South Africa and United States of America at Bridge House School on January 08, 2025 in Franschoek, South Africa. (Photo by Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images)
Keanan Hemmonsbey
By Keanan Hemmonsbey
15 Jan 2025
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South Africa’s powerful Under-19 Women’s cricket team are in Malaysia and have an excellent opportunity to bring back the country’s second Under-19 World Cup trophy.

South Africa’s Under-19 Women’s team begin their T20 World Cup campaign with their toughest task of the group stages, a clash against New Zealand, on Saturday, 18 January 2025.

The powerful team with senior international experience will be led by 19-year-old Western Province all-rounder Kayla Reyneke, who has a self-proclaimed “strong personality”.

South Africa’s previous showing at the tournament, at home in 2023 at the inaugural edition, saw the side narrowly miss out on the semi-final stage on net run rate despite only losing one match throughout the group and Super Six stage.

The junior Proteas’ final match of that tournament was a one-run victory over Sri Lanka in Potchefstroom with a then 17-year-old Reyneke named the player of the match after scoring 43 off 49 deliveries and picking up two wickets for 16 runs in her four overs with her off-spin bowling.

Since then, Reyneke has built a power game to match her exquisite timing with her strike rate rarely dropping below 100 these days. She has a simple answer to how she’s developed that side of her batting: “Gym,” she said to Daily Maverick. “We’ve been working hard on more of the details that I need to work on specifically, but also the team.

“There is room for improvement in each player, but a lot of strength and conditioning work has also been done.”

Reyneke also often opts to bowl her offbreaks in the powerplay. She’s shown exemplary control and improvement in this department over the past two years.

“That’s a really tough job to take on as a player,” Reyneke said. “But I like pressure. I always like to challenge myself also.

“I like to take the first ball, but we’ll see how it goes in the World Cup.”

Cricket idols


Besides Reyneke, there are four other members of the Proteas Under-19 side that took the field on that day against the Sri Lankans who are in the 2025 tournament squad as well. Fast bowler Monalisa Legodi, leg spinner Seshnie Naidu, wicketkeeper Karabo Meso and opening batter Simone Lourens.

Since 2023, Naidu and Meso have both gone on to make their national team debuts, running out for the senior team in 2024.

Reyneke has ambitions to play alongside her idols one day.

Fay Cowling and Kayla Reyneke of South Africa celebrate winning the practice Super Over after the third Youth WT20I match against USA on 8 January 2025 in Franschoek, South Africa. (Photo: Grant Pitcher / Gallo Images)



Kayla Reyneke with match referee Clifford Isaacs after the third Youth WT20I match against USA. (Photo: Grant Pitcher / Gallo Images)



“I really want to play alongside Chloe (Tryon), but also Wolfie (Laura Wolvaardt) and Kappie (Marizanne Kapp), just to get that experience as a youngster,” she said. “They are quite a lot older than me, so just getting that experience from them would be quite nice.”

Like Reyneke, Tryon also bowls finger spin and gives the leather ball a big whack. While not crediting the seasoned international as a role model, she is someone who inspires her performance, alongside Australia’s Ashleigh Gardner — who plays the same role with bat and ball for her country.

“I never had a specific role model growing up, but at the moment I have Chloe Tryon and Ash Gardner,” Reyneke said. “Then back at home I have Faye Tunnicliffe, who I see more as a mentor. I would say Ash Gardner because she has a similar role, a similar skills set (to me).

“And then Chloe Tryon because she’s a great person. I don’t know her personally, but she looks like a great person and she can hit the ball quite nicely.”

Leading from the front


For now, Reyneke’s focus is on getting her side deep into the tournament in Malaysia where they will also face Samoa and Nigeria in the group stage, before the Super Six stage of the tournament.

In preparation for the World Cup, the team played series against Ireland, India and USA, as well as several skills camps back home.

“It’s always nice to know that you’re spending time with (the same) teammates every couple of months when you gather around, and not in and out, in and out. It’s been nice to have the same team.”

The unfamiliar conditions in Malaysia are the biggest challenge Reyneke foresees for her side at the tournament.

“I think condition-wise we need to adapt quickly to where we’re going to play as it is a different country,” she said. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t see any other challenge. We’ve been with each other for quite a couple of months.”

The quality of the players, with several having been part of the previous World Cup and two having played at senior level already, has created positive expectations of the side. Reyneke has also dubbed the group “special”.

“It’s a good group,” she said. “There is something special about this group.”

South Africa’s only other World Cup success has come at under-19 level when Aiden Markram led a star-studded side to the junior Cricket World Cup trophy in 2014.

This under-19 women’s side is equally talented and has all of its bases covered. It will be a threat to every side it encounters at the tournament, despite the unfamiliar conditions. DM

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