Dane van Niekerk’s Super League bow ended in success, as her Loughborough Lightnings side defeated Shabnim Ismail’s Yorkshire Diamonds.
Van Niekerk didn’t have the best of times with that bat, but she certainly made up for it with the ball, conceding just 13 runs from her four overs and taking a wicket, as the Lightnings won by 43 runs.
Van Niekerk and Ismail are part of an elite bunch of Saffas missing South Africa’s tour of Ireland due to their commitments to the inaugural Super League, and the pair were the first in action. Ismail literally was the first in action, as she opened the bowling for the Diamonds.
It won’t go down as her best performance, posting figures of 1-27 as the Lightenings put together 128-9. Van Niekerk, opening the batting, only lasted four deliveries, but New Zealander Sophie Devine was on top form, scoring 52 off 38 balls.
Devine then followed that up with two wickets as the Diamonds were skittled for 85. Proteas Women skipper Van Niekerk weighed in with a wicket with her leg-spin in the comprehensive victory.
Photo: Daniel Smith/Getty Images
