Youngsters break boundaries

Four cricket players of Steyn City School who were selected for the Imperial Lions women’s squad are ready to show their skills.

Grade 11 learners Kiara Reddy, Jenna Evans and Oluhle Siyo, and Grade 12 learner Sarah Nettleton were recently announced in the women’s squad for the
2021/2022 season. All four players missed out on the Cricket South Africa Women’s Provincial One Day tournament competition due to their year-end exams.

While this will be Jenna and Oluhle’s second time representing the team, Kiara and Sarah said they were excited to play their first season with the Lions. “It’s great that we get to be in a higher level. We’ve obviously been working towards this, and it’s great that we have been recognised,” said wicket-keeper/batter Kiara.
“It’s also a great bunch of people we will be playing with, so it’s really nice to be playing in a space like that,” Sarah said.

All four players unanimously said their dream was to play for the South African women’s cricket team, and also play in tournaments such as the Women’s Big Bash League in Australia and The Hundred in England.
They noted how the increased exposure of the national players was inspiring for all girls in the country, be it with the women’s game getting more sponsorship deals, an increase in provincial contracts or grassroots-level cricket receiving more finances.

“It is motivational to see them [national players] getting noticed more. Seeing them perform makes me want to perform better because I’m able to show the world that I am going somewhere,” batting all-rounder Jenna said.
“It’s nice that we can get recognition, and we are slowly getting to a place where the women and men are getting the same amount of recognition,” Kiara added.

Fourteen-year-old Karabo Meso, wicketkeeper and top-order batter, was also named in the Imperial Lions side for the season.