Thistles (women's cricket)
| Personnel | |
|---|---|
| Captain | Tumi Sekhukhune |
| Coach | Angelique Taai |
| Team information | |
| Colours | Light blue |
| Founded | 2019 |
| History | |
| WSL wins | 0 |
Thistles, previously known as F van der Merwe XI, are a South African women's cricket team that compete in the Women's T20 Super League. The team has no geographical base, instead being made up of some of the best players from across South Africa. They are captained by Tumi Sekhukhune and coached by Angelique Taai.[1] Their best T20 Super League finish came in 2020–21, when they were runners-up.
History[]
Thistles were first formed in 2019 to compete in the Women's T20 Super League, a tournament designed to provide more competitive cricket to the best players in South Africa. For the first edition of the tournament, the side was named after its coach, Francois van der Merwe, becoming F van der Merwe XI. They were captained by Nadine de Klerk.[2] F van der Merwe XI won one of their three matches in the first tournament, therefore finishing third overall.[3]
For the following edition of the tournament, which took place two months later in December 2019, the side was named Thistles. de Klerk and van der Merwe were retained as captain and coach, respectively.[4] The side lost all three of their matches, finishing bottom of the table.[5]
The third edition of the tournament took place in December 2020. Angelique Taai became coach of the side, and picked Tumi Sekhukhune as captain in the draft that took place prior to the competition, as well as picking fellow South Africa stars Shabnim Ismail and Trisha Chetty.[1] Duchesses won two of their three matches in the tournament, and finished second, just edged out by winners Coronations on Net Run Rate.[6] Thistles bowler Nobulumko Baneti was the leading wicket-taker in the tournament, with 7 wickets including a best of 4/18, taken in the side's 36 run victory over Duchesses.[7][8]
Players[]
Current squad[]
Based on squad for the 2020–21 season. Players in bold have international caps.[1]
| Name | Nationality | Birth date | Batting style | Bowling style | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batters | |||||
| Anneke Bosch |  South Africa |
17 August 1993 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| Courtney Gouden | South Africa |
Unknown | Left-handed | Unknown | |
| Eliz-Mari Marx | South Africa |
Unknown | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| All-rounders | |||||
| Alexandra Candler | South Africa |
Unknown | Right-handed | Unknown | |
| Shabnim Ismail | South Africa |
5 October 1988 | Left-handed | Right-arm fast-medium | |
| Nonkhululeko Thabethe | South Africa |
1 September 1992 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| Wicket-keepers | |||||
| Trisha Chetty | South Africa |
26 June 1988 | Right-handed | – | |
| Bowlers | |||||
| Nobulumko Baneti | South Africa |
5 January 1999 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| Moseline Daniels | South Africa |
5 February 1990 | Left-handed | Left-arm medium | |
| Jade de Figueiredo | South Africa |
10 March 1990 | Right-handed | Slow left-arm orthodox | |
| Khayakazi Mathe | South Africa |
22 May 1999 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| Nadia Mbokotwana | South Africa |
7 May 1999 | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | |
| Tumi Sekhukhune | South Africa |
21 November 1998 | Left-handed | Right-arm medium | Captain |
Seasons[]
Women's T20 Super League[]
| Season | League standings | Notes | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | L | T | A/C | Pts | Pos | ||
| 2019 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3rd | |
| 2019–20 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4th | |
| 2020–21 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2nd | |
Honours[]
- Women's T20 Super League:
- Winners (0):
- Best finish: Runners-up (2020–21)
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "WSL 3.0: All you need to Know - Women's Super League – Teams , Fixtures and Player Squads". CricketWorld. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
- ^ "CSA launches inaugural Women's T20 Super League". Cricket South Africa. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- ^ "Women's T20 Super League 2019/20". CricketArchive. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- ^ "CSA launches Women's Super League". Cricket South Africa. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- ^ "Women's Super League 2019/20". CricketArchive. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- ^ "Women's T20 Super League 2020/21". CricketArchive. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- ^ "Bowling in Women's T20 Super League 2020/21 (Ordered by Wickets)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- ^ "Duchesses v Thistles". CricketArchive. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- Women's T20 Super League
- Women's cricket teams in South Africa