Starlights, previously known as Terblanche XI, are a South African women's cricket team that compete in the

Women's T20 Super League The Women's T20 Super League is a women's domestic Twenty20 cricket tournament organised by Cricket South Africa. The tournament began in September 2019, with four teams taking part; these teams were renamed for a second competition in December ...

. The team has no geographical base, instead being made up of some of the best players from across

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

. They are captained by

Dane van Niekerk Dané van Niekerk ( , ; born 14 May 1993) is a South African cricketer born in Pretoria and educated at Hoërskool Centurion. A right-handed Batting (cricket), batter and leg spin, leg break Bowler (cricket), bowler, she played for South Africa ...

and coached by Claire Terblanche. They have won one T20 Super League, the 2019–20 edition.

History

Starlights were first formed in 2019 to compete in the

, a tournament designed to provide more competitive cricket to the best players in South Africa. For the

first edition The bibliographical definition of an edition is all copies of a book printed from substantially the same setting of type, including all minor typographical variants. First edition According to the definition of ''edition'' above, a book pr ...

of the tournament, the side was named after its coach, Claire Terblanche, becoming Terblanche XI. They were captained by

Laura Wolvaardt Laura Wolvaardt (born 26 April 1999) is a South African cricketer who currently plays for Western Province, Adelaide Strikers, Gujarat Giants, Manchester Originals and South Africa. She plays as a right-handed opening batter. She has previo ...

. Terblanche XI finished bottom of the inaugural tournament, losing all three of their matches. However, Wolvaardt was the leading run-scorer in the tournament, with 188 runs including 110 made against M van der Merwe XI, and Terblanche XI bowler

Masabata Klaas Masabata Marie Klaas (alternatively Mazabatha Klaas; born 3 February 1991) is a South African cricketer who plays as a right-arm medium bowler. She made her debut for South Africa in 2010. Career In March 2018, Klaas was one of 14 players to b ...

was the leading wicket-taker in the tournament, with 6 wickets. For the following edition of the tournament, which took place two months later in December 2019, the side was named Starlights. Terblanche was retained as coach, with

Chloe Tryon Chloe-Lesleigh Tryon (born 25 January 1994) is a South African cricketer. She has appeared for South Africa in all formats of the game. Career On her debut for South Africa, a Twenty20 International against West Indies in the 2010 Women's Worl ...

being named as captain of the side. The side went on to win the tournament, winning two of their matches and edging out their competitors on Net Run Rate. The third edition of the tournament took place in December 2020. Tryon and Terblanche were retained as captain and coach of the side, respectively, as well as selecting

stars

Lizelle Lee Lizelle Lee (born 2 April 1992) is a South African cricketer who played for the South Africa women's national cricket team from 2013 to 2022. She has played for Western Storm and Surrey Stars in the Women's Cricket Super League, as well as Melb ...

, Masabata Klaas and

Andrie Steyn Andrie Steyn (born 23 November 1996) is a South African cricketer who has played 33 One Day Internationals and five Twenty20 International for South Africa since 2014. In March 2018, she was one of fourteen players to be awarded a national contra ...

in the draft that took place prior to the competition. Starlights went on to finish 3rd in the tournament, winning one out of three of their matches, a 2 run victory over eventual winners

Coronations A coronation ceremony marks the formal investiture of a monarch with regal power using a crown. In addition to the crowning, this ceremony may include the presentation of other items of regalia, and other rituals such as the taking of special ...

. Klaas was the second leading wicket-taker in the tournament, with 6 wickets, including taking 3/25 in the side's one victory. The tournament returned for its fourth edition in December 2022, with Starlights gaining a new captain in

. The side finished top of the tournament standings, although with five matches abandoned due to rain, no overall winner was crowned.

Seasons

Women's T20 Super League

Honours

: ** Winners (1): 2019–20

References

{{Cricket in South Africa Women's T20 Super League Women's cricket teams in South Africa