Nondumiso Shangase takes five wickets as Team SA earn first African Games win

Team SA earned their first two points in Group A after Shangase's exemplary five-for helped bowl out Tanzania for 66 in 18.3 overs before contributions from Jemma Botha (28) and Faye Tunnicliffe (29*) secured South Africa's eight-wicket triumph.  

After losing the toss and being asked to bowl first, Team SA stifled the Tanzanian batters in the opening period of the game before seamer Leah Jones (2/5) delivered the ultimate ball to dismiss opener Perice Kamunya (2) LBW to make the initial breakthrough. 

Jones soon followed that up with her second wicket of the morning, completing a smart caught and bowled to remove the other opening batter Saum Mtae for nine to leave Tanzania 17/2 at the end of the final field-restricted over. 

After the powerplay, Team SA continued to pick up important wickets, this time through Proteas Women-capped all-rounder Annerie Dercksen (2/8), who picked up the scalps of Neema Pius (7) and Agnes Qwele (4) in her first two overs of the match. 

With the score 32/4 at the halfway mark of Tanzania's innings, Team SA captain Shangase entered the action in fine fashion and struck with her third ball of the encounter as Caitlin Wyngaard took the catch to see the back of Mwanaidi Swedy (9). 

Shangase then, assisted by the wicket of Hudaa Omary (9) off the bowling of Ghandi Jafta (1/), marked the beginning of the end for the Tanzanians as the right-arm spinner picked up three more quick wickets to leave their opponents 58/9 after 17 overs. 

In the penultimate over of the contest, Shangase claimed her five-wicket haul with the final wicket of the match, removing Mwanavua Ushanga (5) to conclude the Tanzania innings on 66 all out after 18.3 overs. 

Tasked with getting 67 runs for their first victory of the competition, Team SA lost an early wicket in Annerie Dercksen (1) before Botha and Tunnicliffe grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck to propel South Africa to 46/1 at the end of the powerplay,

Still needing 21 runs to win, the duo of Botha and Tunnicliffe continued to dominate proceedings out in the middle as the pair brought up their 50-run stand for the second wicket before Botha was eventually dismissed for a well-played 28 by Aisha Mohamed (1/12). 

Despite the all-important wicket, Tunnicliffe and Shangase (4*) saw Team SA over the line in the 11th over to seal the eight-wicket victory and get off the mark in Group A. South Africa (2 points) currently sit second in their group, behind log-leaders Nigeria (3) by one point after the Nigerians™ win over Namibia on Friday. 

South Africa will look to clinch semi-final qualification in their final round-robin encounter against Nigeria on Sunday at the same venue.

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