Author: froberholzer

On Saturday evening, after the conclusion of the 2025 Khaya Majola Week, won by the Central Gauteng Lions, the six sides for the National Cubs Week were announced. 

The week will commence on 3 January and will conclude on 8 January, in Stellenbosch, in the Winelands of the Western Cape.

Western Legends

FG Botha (St Andrew’s Schools, Free State), Naudé Botha (St Andrew’s School, Free State), Aiden Dodd (Grey College, Free State), Christian Kind (Grey College, Free State), Otto Krause (Grey College, Free State), Cullen Kakora (St Andrew’s School, Free State), Eduard Dreyer (Wesvalia, North West), Prince Marumagae (Matlosana Hub, North West), Olefa Padi (Potchefstroom Volkskool, North West), Olebogeng Scott (Ikageng Hub, North West), Caiden Seleka (Potchefstroom Gimnasium, North West), Faizaan Kajee (St Patricks’s Christian Boys College, Northern Cape). Management: Brady Barends, AJ van Wyk.

Northern Champions

Xavier Coetzee (Hans Moore, Easterns), Jaden Govender (Marais Viljoen, Easterns), Kamogelo Matlala (Elandspark School, Easterns), Moeketsi Beya (Dudaza Hub, Easterns), Rivoningo Chauke (Ben Vorster, Limpopo), Jalen Mannikam (Sutherland High School, Titans), Riley Miller (Waterkloof, Titans), Tshepang Laka (Prestige College, Titans), Vihan Pretorius (Affies, Titans), Mohammed Rasool (Cornwall Hill College, Titans), Reuben van Zyl (Grafontein, Titans), Xander Venter (Garsfontein, Titans), Nico Loggenberg (Affies, Titans). Management: Pieter Cronje, Ephraim Nyawo.

Central Gladiators

Kyle Butler (St David’s Marist, Lions), Wade McQuinn (King Edward VII School, Lions), Munib Ayob (Jeppe, Lions), Christian Sabela (King Edward VII School, Lions), Nkosana Sibiya (St John’s College, Lions), Cole Francis (St John’s College, Lions), Tasheen Hanslo (St Stithians College, Lions), Morteza Mannack (St David’s Marist, Lions), Alec Loveland (St John’s College, Lions), Troy Gordon (King Edward VII School, Lions), Ombesa Matsha (St Stithians College, Lions), Kamogelo Phiri (St David’s Marist, Lions), Bafana Mthunzi (Queens High School, Lions). Management: Bonngani Mtini, Ahmed Nawab.

Southern Superstars

Unathi Magaloza (Khayelitsha Hub, Western Province), Hlumelo Mgweba (Rondebosch Boys’ High, Western Province), Sibahle Sigabi (Gugulethu Hub, Western Province), Taywin Adams (Klein Nederburg Secondary School, Western Province), Shirwin Plaatjies (Bridgton Hub, South Western Districts), Waco Bassick (Diocesan College, Western Province), Qaeed Shaik (Wynberg Boys’ High, Western Province), Michail Tarentaal (Wynberg Boys’ High, Western Province), Gideon du Toit (Paarl Boys’ High, Western Province), Luca Plekker (Paul Roos, Boland), Francois Prins (Boland Landbou, Boland), Daniel Cooke (Rondebosch Boys’ High, Western Province), Timothy Short (Rondebosch Boys’ High, Western Province). Management: Graham October, Esmund van Wyk.

Easterns Warriors

Igathi Mafanga (Border, Dale College), Daveric Peterson (HTS Daniel Pienaar, Eastern Province), Lisekho Zinyane (Graeme College, Eastern Province), Jordan Damons (Graeme College, Eastern Province), Luphelo Mdyesha (Graeme College, Eastern Province), Corbin Tidbury (Graeme College, Eastern Province), Dawid Vermaak (Hoërskool Nico Malan, Eastern Province), Cayden Wilson (Pearson, Eastern Province), Sulaymaan Gangat (Pearson, Eastern Province), William Beamish (St Andrew’s College, Eastern Province), Samuel Scheckter (St Andrew’s College, Eastern Province), Rhys Wiblin (St Andrew’s College, Eastern Province), Randy Syce (Woodrige College, Eastern Province). Management: Burton de Wet, Mangaliso Moshele.

Coastal Conquerors

Litha Gonya (Kearsney College, KZN Coastal), Bonga Maphanga (Durban High School, KZN Coastal), Roxton Payne (University of Stellenbosch, KZN Coastal), Shiraz Perumal (Clifton, KZN Coastal), Semal Pillay (Dolphins Seniors, KZN Coastal), Seth Simpson (Westville Boys’ High, KZN Coastal), Joshua van Biljon (Durban High School, KZN Coastal), Kyle White (Northwood, KZN Coastal), Dayalan Boyce (Westville Boys’ High, KZN Coastal), Sphamandla Dzanibe (Maritzburg College, KZN Inland), Ben Hockly (Hilton College, KZN Inland), Rowen Raja (St Charles College, KZN Inland), Thandolwethu Zuma (Michaelhouse, KZN Inland). Management: Khalpha Cele, Sam Mofokeng.

Die 2026 skolerugby seisoen sal steeds vir die Johan du Plessis, beter bekend as “Duppie” in die Suid Afrikaanse skolerugby kringe, langs die veld as breier he.

Du Plessis sal na bewering by Die Hoërskool Menlopark aansluit waar hy as agterlyn afrigter betrokke sal wees. Du Plessis se paaie het ‘n paar weke gelede met dié van Hoërskool Garsfontein geskei.

Du Plessis was vir 16 jaar bretrokke by die Bere, ook sy alma mater, waarvan hy vir 11 jaar by die Bere se eerstespan diens gedoen het. Sy bedanking het as ‘n groot skok vir baie in die Garsie gemeenskap gekom.

Tydens dié 16 jaar, kon Du Plessis ‘n verstommende vyf keer die Noordvaal titel saam met sy span omhoog hou. Vroeër in 2025 het hy ook die eerste afrigter in die nuwe millenium geword om die Noordvaal reeks vir ‘n derde agtereenvolgende keer as breier in te palm. Sover bekend is Du Plessis ook die eerste eksterne skole-afrigter wat die troffee vir drie agtereenvolgende kere omhoog kon hou.

Die ander twee titels, alvorens dié, was saam met Tjaart van der Walt, in 2015 en 2016, wat tans die septor by Helpmekaar Kollege in Johannesburg swaai. Van der Walt is self een van die suksesvolste breiers in die Noordvaal. Dit was ook vanjaar dié twee wat in die Noordvaal se eindstryd ontmoet het.

Du Plessis se afrigtingspad het by Laerskool Louis Leipoldt in Centurion begin. In dié tyd was hy ook by Centurion Rugbyklub se Jeugklub betrokke. Sy eerste Hoërskole-rugby rol het gekom toe hy ses jaar later deur Hoërskool Centurion genader is om die o.14 span, en later, in 2004 en 2005, ook die eerstespan, wat die Stadsbeker verwower het, te brei. Die Garsie-pos het kort daarna gevolg.

Dit is alom bekend dat Du Plessis nie net ‘n uitstekende afrigter is nie, maar ook ‘n gawe het om met mense te werk, skynbaar weens sy beroep as ingenieur in die korporatiewe omgewing, waar hy met mense in spanverband werk. Die ervaringe wat hier opgedoen is, is iets wat ook deel van sy afrigtingfilosofie vorm.

Sý nuwe begin by die Parkies is beslis een wat fyn dopgehou sal word, maar ook ‘n reuse aanwins vir ‘n groep met genoeg talent om behoorlike opslae in die 2026 seisoen te maak.

The Central Gauteng Lions capped off a successful five days by completing a double over The Titans on the final day of the CSA u16 Boys National Week, in Paarl, in the Western Cape.

When they previously met, rain played a role in the outcome, and The Lions won on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern Method. This time it didn’t interfere.

Sunday’s showdown at Boland Landbou was not a high-scoring affair, with The Lions being dismissed for a middling 167.

Zizi Mkhize top-scored with 33, while Lincoln Casias and Zuan Joubert made valuable contributions of 28 and 27 respectively.

The match was ultimately decided by The Lions’ disciplined bowling performance, with Thomas Collins taking the lead and claiming 4/16 in six overs. He was well supported by Preceli Molapisi, who returned 2/25, also from six overs.

Rourke de Lange, of Cornwall Hill College, stood out for The Titans. He captured 4/25 in 10 overs and also chipped in with 20 with the bat. But the day belonged to The Lions, who bowled out their northern neighbours for 134 to win by 33 runs.

The repeat fixture between the Eastern Cape Iinyathi and the SWD Garden Route Badgers, at Swartland High School, resulted in another captivating contest, which produced four of the six half-centuries scored on the day.

Avethandwa Manyongo was the standout batman for the Iinyathi in their 30-run victory – their second over the Badgers – anchoring their innings with a composed 70 from 100 deliveries.

Coming in at seven, Jack Bosazza recorded the second-highest score of the match with an important 58, which helped to lift the Iinyathi to a solid total of 248 all out.

In reply, both Ross Taljaard and Jordan Ross passed fifty for the Badgers. Taljaard was SWD’s top scorer with 57 from 63 balls, while Ross added a patient 52 from 82 deliveries.

The Iinyathi‘s Josh Wilkie, after scoring a triple-century in their opening match, ended the week as the event’s leading scorer, amassing 442 runs at an average of 88.4 across five matches. Jack Bosazza and Avethandwa Manyongo, both finished second on the bowling charts, claiming 12 wickets each, while Manyongo, who also scored 127 runs, was named the All-Rounder of the Week.

Northern Cape‘s Cobus Fourie scored Sunday’s only century to lead his side to their first win of the week on the Dal Josaphat B Field. He struck 105 from 115 balls, with 10 fours and a six, and shared a 115-run fourth wicket stand with Ruben Viljoen, which was the key partnership in Northern Cape’s commanding 193-run victory.

Kei, as had been the case throughout the week, struggled at the crease and were dismissed for just 83.

On the Parys Oval, Ibrahiem Taliep was among the runs once more as Western Province concluded their campaign with a 48-run win over Eastern Province. Taliep top-scored with 82 and Janko Webb, continued his fine form with 55 in WP’s total of 174. Matthew Marshbank led the EP bowling effort with a return of 4/33.

Despite 41 from Connor Parry, the Eastern Province reply failed to fire, and they were sent packing for 125, with Schalk Fourie knocking over 3/17, Abhay Kalan 2/11, and Raihan Khan 2/24.

Corbin Tidbury, who made 25, enjoyed an outstanding all-round week, tallying 158 runs while also picking up 11 wickets, which placed him in the top 10 in both categories.

The Eastern Storm joined the Lions as the only unbeaten sides at the tournament, maintaining their clean record with a comfortable eight-wicket victory over Free State on the Paul Roos Oval.

Duan Maree starred with the ball, capturing 3/12 to restrict Free State to 112 all out. He was well supported by the tournament’s leading wicket-taker, Christiano Moffat, whose 2/25 saw him finish the week with 13 wickets.

After a strong effort in the field, Easterns’ Moeketsi Beya struck eight fours and three sixes in a commanding 66 from 51 balls, which was more than half of his side’s total, to steer the Storm home inside 16 overs. The victory meant that the Storm won the second Division and earned their promotion to run alongside the big teams during the 2026 week.

On the Dal Josaphat A Field, Boland’s Neil Louw and The Tuskers‘ Ben Wilson played similarly effective innings, but the KwaZulu-Natal side won by six wickets. Louw was superb, making 74, but he lacked support. Wilson’s 65, meanwhile, was well backed up by Cody Sander‘s patient 48 from 97 balls, which proved decisive.

For a second day in succession, The North West Dragons were involved in a low-scoring thriller. This time, though, they came out on the wrong end of the result, losing to The Dolphins by one wicket.

AW van der Merwe was again the spearhead of the Dragons’ attack, snapping up 6/25 as he almost defended their total of 85 single-handedly.

The KZN team was in big trouble on 44/8 in the 16th over, but Luc Boyall, who top-scored with 26, and Caleb Naicker, who made 12 not out, combined for 33 runs for the ninth wicket to take the Dolphins to within eight runs of victory. Naicker and Esihle Gasa, then, stuck it out for 22 balls to see their side across the line.

Mpumalanga’s Nijan Swart produced the best figures of the day, grabbing 6/12 in a four-wicket victory over the Limpopo Impalas. He completed an outstanding all-round performance by weighing in with 37, Mpumalanga’s top score, to guide his side to victory with in the 27th over.

Summarised scorecards

Lions 167/10 (Zizi Mkhize 33, Lincoln Casais 28, Zuan Joubert 27, Phemelo Sekopane 22; Rourke De Lange 4/25, Justin Luke Basdeo 2/23); Titans 134/10 (Katlego Lebelo 32, Christian Linde 29; Thomas Collins 4/16, Preceli Molapisi 2/25). Lions won by 33 runs.

Eastern Cape Iinyathi 248/10 (Avethandwa Manyongo 70, Jack Bosazza 58, Extras 34, Josh Edwards 28; Mario Tarentaal 5/30, Johalin Oosthuizen 2/35, Ross Taljaard 2/35); SWD Garden Route Badgers 218/10 (Ross Taljaard 57, Jordan Ross 52, Extras 38, Hanno Swart 25; Avethandwa Manyongo 3/33, Sipho Mjekula 3/35, Mitchell Myerscough 2/23). Eastern Cape Iinyathi won by 30 runs.

Limpopo Impalas 102/10 (Mashalane Seboko Mpontsheng 35, Dirk Nortman 25; Nijan Swart 6/12, Kesha Moore 2/34); Mpumalanga 103/6 (Nijan Swart 37, Frederik Boshoff 21*; Alex Thomson 2/4, Mashalane Seboko Mpontsheng 2/13, Ripfumelo Mabunda 2/34). Mpumalanga won by 4 wickets.

Western Province 174/10 (Ibraheem Taliep 82, Janko Webb 55; Matthew Marshbank 4/33, Oliver Whitaker 3/22); Eastern Province 125/10 (Connor Parry 41, Corbin Tidbury 23; Schalk Fourie 3/17, Abhay Kalan 2/11, Raihan Khan 2/24). Western Province won by 48 runs.

Free State 112/10 (Bergh Vorster 31, Extras 21; Duan Maree 3/12, Xavier van Biljon 2/17, Christiano Moffat 2/25); Eastern Storm 115/2 (Moeketsi Beya 66; Christoph Bronn 1/13). Eastern Storm won by 8 wickets.

Boland 166/10 (Neil Louw 74, De Waal Vivier 37; Relebogile Mokoena 3/33, Obakeng Motsepa 2/12, Ryan Clarke 2/27); Tuskers 170/4 (Ben Wilson 65, Cody Sander 48, Extras 29; Derrick Groenewald 1/27). Tuskers won by 6 wickets.

North West 85/10 (Riekert Kruger 26; Rivan Moodley 3/18, Caleb Naicker 3/29, Muhammed Malek 2/2); Dolphins 89/9 (Luke Boyall 26; AW van der Merwe 6/25). Dolphins won by 1 wicket.

Northern Cape 276/9 (Cobus Fourie 109, Ruben Viljoen 44, Rekaone Seikaneng 33, Nealan Cupido 31; Yamkela Vamva 4/36, Siphumeze Nonwana 3/17); Kei 83/10 (Akhumzi Ntleki 21; Rekaone Seikaneng 3/11, Lefika Matloko 2/21). Northern Cape won by 193 runs.

After rain had a big impact on day three’s matches, Saturday delivered some captivating cricket at the CSA u16 Boys National Week in Paarl, in the Western Cape.

Across the eight matches played, five five-wicket hauls were claimed, two centuries were scored, and six batsmen raised their bats in celebration of half-centuries. It was, arguably, the best day’s cricket of the week thus far.

No one enjoyed a better day with the ball than the Eastern Storm‘s Christiano Moffat. His nine overs against the SWD Garden Route Badgers at the Welbedacht Cricket Ground was match-defining.

Moffat knocked back 6/14, which led to the Badgers being bowled out for 99 runs and the Storm winning by an emphatic 173 runs.

He was fortunate to have plenty of runs to defend, thanks to the batting prowess of Anthony Stockigt and Rieshaeel Hashim.

Stockigt was exceptional after arriving at the crease under severe pressure following the fall of two early wickets, which soon became three, leaving Easterns in trouble on 19/3 in the 13th over. He counter-attacked superbly, scoring 108 from just 95 deliveries, which included 14 fours and four sixes.

Hashim, in at seven, also took the attack to SWD, racing to 70 from 55 balls, with five fours and three sixes. He and Stockigt added 142 runs for the seventh wicket.

Ibrahiem Taliep topped the batting charts with a pivotal performance in Western Province‘s narrow 20-run victory over a spirited Dolphins side at Dal Josaphat A Field.

The WP opener anchored their innings, facing 131 deliveries for an impressive 110. He, also, featured in two significant partnerships, firstly adding 101 for the second wicket with Janko Webb, who contributed 61, before combining with Schalk Fourie, who made 56, in a 119-run third-wicket stand.

Muhammed Malek responded with an impressive opener’s innings for the Dolphins, compiling a patient 93. He and Jamie Hasselbach, who made 76, laid a solid foundation for the Dolphins, with a 165-run partnership for the third wicket.

However, Abhay Khan, who was the sixth bowler introduced into the Western Province attack, broke the deadlock and captured 3/49, which led to the KZN side losing their last eight wickets for 53 runs.

Fifteen-year-old Divan Linde played a decisive role in the Titans‘ victory over the hosts, Boland, at Boland Landbou. The side from the Jacaranda City struggled to build partnerships, but Linde played as if he was batting on a different surface, striking nine fours and a six in his 92 from 119 balls.

His Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool (Affies) teammate, Nico Loggenberg, followed up with a devastating bowling display, snaring 5/23 to lead The Titans to a convincing 78-run victory. With the five-for, Loggenberg took his tally to 11 wickets for the tournament, the third-best overall.

Corbin Tidbury showed he is far more than a batsman. After starring with the bat on Friday, when he made 96 against The Dolphins, he led the way for Eastern Province with the ball, claiming 5/18 in eight tidy overs to crush Free State‘s chase of a modest 175. They were all out for 82 after 34.3 overs.

Benjamin Kazandjis was another to register a five-wicket haul and spearheaded Mpumalanga‘s big 154-run victory over Kei. Mpumalanga had only 206 runs to defend, but Kazandjis ripped through Kei’s upper and lower order, snapping up 5/25 in six overs as Kei was dismissed for just 52 in 13.3 overs.

The Limpopo Impalas showed character in a 49-run win over the Northern Cape. Rulo van der Merwe‘s excellent 5/27 helped to restrict the Impalas to 142 all out, but Ripfumelo Mabunda responded with 4/15 as Northern Cape collapsed to 93 all out.

The Eastern Cape Iinyathi nearly produced a spectacular turnaround while defending only 64 against the North West Dragons.

It was a bowler-dominated contest on the Pen Basson Field, where 18 wickets fell for only 130 runs, but AW van der Merwe, with 4/24 from nine overs, saw the Dragons over the line by two wickets in a low-scoring thriller. The Dragons’ win was the only one scored by a team batting second on Saturday.

The Lions enjoyed an easier victory on the Paul Roos Oval, where they cruised to a 128-run win over The Tuskers.

Both Zuan Joubert and Zizi Mkhize scored 61 in The Lions’ 246/8. Mkhize was also among the wickets, picking up 2/19, as the Lions bowled out The Tuskers for only 118 in reply.

Summarised scorecards

Eastern Province 174 (Kits Mcconnachie 31, Extras 28, Sibabalwe Deliwe 28, Corbin Tidbury 24, Matthew Marshbank 24; Ryle Beckmann 3/25, Juan Maree 3/38, Schalk van Rensburg 2/28); Free State 82 (Peter Le Roux 26; Corbin Tidbury 5/18, Ilungile Arosi 2/5). Eastern Province won by 92 runs.

Western Province 260/7 (Ibraheem Taliep 110, Janko Webb 61, Schalk Fourie 56; Josh Mills 2/33, Esihle Gasa 2/45); Dolphins 240 (Muhammed Malek 93, Jamie Hasselbach 76, Extras 24; Abhay Kalan 3/49, Schalk Fourie 2/22, Raihan Khan 2/24). Western Province won by 20 runs.

Lions 246/8 (Zuan Joubert 61, Zizi Mkhize 61, Extras 30, Urav Mukhija 26, Sohail Seonath 25, Goolam Hoosain Ahmed 21; Aphile Nzama 2/8, Rex Wardlaw 2/15, Obakeng Motsepa 2/48); Tuskers 118 (Rex Wardlaw 22, Akhil Bharath 21; Nqaba Matunda 3/28, Zizi Mkhize 2/19, Zaakir Hanslo 2/33). Lions won by 128 runs.

Eastern Storm 272/8 (Anthony Stockigt 108, Rieshaeel Hashim 70, Duan Maree 35, Extras 25; Ross Taljaard 2/25); SWD Garden Route Badgers 99 (Keaton Lambaatjeen 31, Idan Balzun 23; Christiano Moffat 6/14, Duan Maree 3/16). Eastern Storm won by 173 runs.

Limpopo Impalas 142 (Kulani Vutivi Mnisi 26, Talenta Ndhlovu 23, Extras 22; Rulo van der Merwe 5/27, Nealan Cupido 2/29); Northern Cape 93 (Rulo van der Merwe 24, Extras 22; Ripfumelo Mabunda 4/15, Mashalane Seboko Mpontsheng 2/15, Dumisani Manyama 2/26). Limpopo Impalas won by 49 runs.

Mpumalanga 206 (Frederik Boshoff 46, Aiden van Zyl 27, Husain Patel 23*, Benjamin Kazandjis 21, Luan Swart 21, Extras 31; Sibahle Bango 3/41); Kei 52 (Thabiso Siwonxo 16; Benjamin Kazandjis 5/25, Frederik Boshoff 2/23, Bantubonke Manikela 2/4). Mpumalanga won by 154 runs.

Titans 203 (Christian Linde 92, Extras 30, Jesse Eckard 21; James Holm 2/32, Ave Nkantini 2/21, Dion Slabber 2/50); Boland 125 (Daniel Francke 31, Abriam Jacobs 26, Aiden Titus 25; Nico Loggenberg 5/23, Justin Luke Basdeo 2/34). Titans won by 78 runs.

Eastern Cape Iinyathi 64 (Sipho Mjekula 17; AW van der Merwe 4/24, Adriaan van Niekerk 2/14, Ruhann Steenkamp 2/19); North West 66/8 (Umar Gangat 19; Avethandwa Manyongo 3/25, Sipho Mjekula 2/0, Mthoko Mbambo 2/15). North West won by two wickets.

Friday threw up a day of derbies at the CSA u16 Boys National Week in Paarl, in the Western Cape. Unfortunately, rain impacted the outcomes of six of the eight fixtures.

The hosts, Boland, and the Central Gauteng Lions emerged on the right side of their results, with Boland defeating their “big brother”, Western Province, by 26 runs, while The Lions toppled The Titans in the Jukskei Derby, winning by 26 runs according to the Duckworth–Lewis–Stern (DLS) method.

Aiden Titus led the way for Boland in in challenging batting conditions on the Pen Basson Cricket Field.

The hosts got off to a solid start, with their opening batsmen laying a solid foundation by putting on 72 for the first wicket, with Abriam Jacobs making 48 and Neil Louw 30. Titus capitalised. Coming in after the dismissal of Jacobs, he delivered his side’s top score of 56 from 63 deliveries.

Boland, though, lost the momentum that they had built up early on through the regular loss of wickets and were bowled out for 202 after 42.1 overs.

Louw, though, was not yet done with making an important contribution. He captured 3/19 with the ball, which proved pivotal to his side’s success. Despite determined knocks of 58 from Janko Webb and 41 from Raa’id Davids, Western Province came up short, bowled out for 176 in the 39th over.

At Boland Landbou, the Lions were cruising on 93/1 after 27 overs, needing only 179 for victory, when the rain intervened. Opening batter Sohail Seonath tallied a patient 41, while Zizi Mkhize scored freely for his 33 at nearly a run a ball, and their 58-run stand effectively sealed the win.

Ethan Ferguson was the Lions’ standout bowler, claiming 4/20 in just four overs, remarkably as the ninth bowler used.

Although not a traditional derby, the clash between the Eastern Storm and the North West Dragons at Dal Josaphat A Field was a significant second-division contest. Both sides had shown strong form through the first two days of the National Week, but the Storm triumphed on Friday. They won by 22 runs on the DLS Method.

Set 197 to win after Ulrich Botha‘s 94 had helped the Dragons to 196 all out, the Storm were well positioned to chase down North West’s total when the rain intervened. At that stage, they were on 120/2 after 33 overs, with Treasure Dube unbeaten on 41 and Sohil Jugnath on 31. Their partnership had produced 67 runs in 14.4 overs.

On the Paul Roos Oval, Corbin Tidbury, of Eastern Province, came even closer to scoring a century than Botha, hitting 11 fours in a 114-ball stay that brought him 96 runs before he was dismissed by Jamie Hasselbach, who picked up 2/42.

His superb innings in tough day-three conditions in Paarl secured his side a commanding 103-run DLS victory over The Dolphins, who stumbled to 81/9 before the heavens opened.

Limpopo claimed their first win of the week at Swartland High School with a resounding 170-run DLS triumph over Kei.

Their opening pair, Masilo Moremi and Peet Snyman, combined for an imposing 169-run stand. Moremi stroked a classy 81, while Snyman added 71 from 86 balls, which set the Impalas up to score 284/9 in their 50 overs. Then, they restricted Kei to 89/8.

The Eastern Cape Iinyathi, meanwhile, won their third game on the trot, cruising to a 73-run win on the DLS method over the SWD Garden Route Badgers at the Welbedacht Cricket Ground.

Josh Wilkie and Avethandwa Manyongo scored 45 each in the Iinyathi’s 263 all out. Jack Bosazza, then, knocked over 4/27 as the Badgers finished on 119/6 after 29.4 overs.

Juan Maree scored 64 and Peter le Roux 49 and the pair combined for a 99-run fourth-wicket partnership on the Parys Oval, but the Free State had only two other batsmen just make it into double figures, while the rest were dismissed for single digits, which led to them mustering only 170 all out against The Tuskers.

Sange Qangule led the Tuskers’ attack, claiming 4/33 from 10 overs, while his Hilton College teammate, Obakeng Motsepa needed only five balls to pick up 2/2.

In reply, opener Cody Sander came good for KZN side, striking 73 not out from 69 balls, with four sixes and six fours, which helped The Tuskers to score at a healthy 6.6 runs per over. When the rain intervened, The Tuskers were on 152/3 after 23 overs, which left them the winners by 81 runs on the DLS method.

A strong bowling performance took Mpumalanga to a seven-wicket win over Northern Cape on the Dal Josaphat B Field. Frederick Boshoff took 3/24, Kesha Moore 3/34, and Nijan Swart 2/27 as Northern Cape stumbled to 111 all out after 34.5 overs. Vaylen Lombaard batted well, making 44, but he received little support.

Swart, then, followed up his good bowling performance with the top score in Mpumalanga’s successful run chase. He made 44 and Luan Sibrits 32 as they joined forces for an unbroken 76-run stand, which took their side to an emphatic win after using up only 26.1 of the 50 overs at their disposal.

Summarised scorecards

Boland 202/10 (Aiden Titus 56, Abriam Jacobs 48, Neil Louw 30; Esihle Mazinyane 3/30, Abhay Kalan 2/19, Ethan De Heer Kloots 2/49, Harbin Smith 2/49); Western Province 176/10 (Janko Webb 58, Raa’id Davids 41; Neil Louw 3/19, Noah Appollis 2/35, James Holm 2/49). Boland won by 26 runs.

Titans 178/10 (Christian Linde 43, Rourke de Lange 38, Ethan Williams 23; Ethan Ferguson 4/20, Zizi Mkhize 3/30); Lions 93/1 (Sohail Seonath 41*, Zizi Mkhize 33; Katlego Lebelo 1/22). Lions won by 29 runs (DLS method).

North West 196/10 (Ulrich Botha 94, Riekert Kruger 22; William van den Berg 2/43, Gideon Lange 2/52); Eastern Storm 120/2 (Treasure Dube 41*, Sohil Jugnath 31*, Nailen Carter 24; AW van der Merwe 2/22). Eastern Storm won by 22 runs (DLS method).

Northern Cape 111/10 (Vaylen Lombaard 44; Frederik Boshoff 3/24, Kesha Moore 3/34, Nijan Swart 2/27); Mpumalanga 112/3 (Nijan Swart 44*, Luan Siebrits 32*, Extras 21; Ntebogang Mathabane 2/20). Mpumalanga won by 7 wickets.

Free State 170/10 (Juan Maree 64, Peter Le Roux 49; Sange Qangule 4/33, Obakeng Motsepa 2/2); Tuskers 152/3 (Cody Sander 73*, Akhil Bharath 33; Christoph Bronn 3/35). Tuskers won by 81 runs (DLS method).

Limpopo Impalas 284/10 (Masilo Moremi 81, Peet Snyman 71; Kuhle Dlathu 2/15, Somila Sgagayi 2/38); Kei 89/8 (Thabiso Siwonxo 40; Mashalane Seboko Mpontsheng 2/17, Dumisani Manyama 2/18, Alex Thomson 2/31). Limpopo Impalas won by 170 runs (DLS method).

Eastern Province 201/10 (Corbin Tidbury 96, Connor Parry 30; Jamie Hasselbach 2/42, Esihle Gasa 2/13); Dolphins 81/9 (Jamie Hasselbach 22, Luke Boyall 20; Corbin Tidbury 2/11, Matthew Marshbank 2/22). Eastern Province won by 103 runs (DLS method).

Eastern Cape Iinyathi 263/10 (Josh Wilkie 45, Avethandwa Manyongo 45, Imange Ncubevana 33, Jack Bosazza 39; Johalin Oosthuizen 2/45, Mario Tarentaal 2/26, Jordan Ross 3/19); SWD Garden Route Badgers 119/6 (Idan Balzun 26, Hanno Swart 26, Kuhle Ncamile 20; Jack Bosazza 4/27). Eastern Cape Iinyathi won by 73 runs (DLS method).

On Friday, the final day of the CSA Girls u16 National Week in Gqeberha, the sides lined up for two rounds of T20 cricket, as they had done on Thursday. The morning session followed a familiar pattern, with the bowlers enjoying the better of their battles with the batters.

Only three of the 16 teams – the Eastern Storm, the Eastern Cape Iinyathi, and The Titans – were able to post more than 100 runs in their 20 overs.

On Woodridge College‘s Rushmere Oval, Nadine Wells was to the fore again, anchoring the Storm’s innings and helping them to 116/5 against The Titans.

She batted patiently, aware that she held the key to her side’s success. Wells faced 52 balls and accumulated 37 runs before being run out by the Titans‘ Blessing Gumbo. A late cameo of 22 not out from Bruzaan Goosen also provided Easterns with a much-need boost.

Despite a fighting knock from Milan Jordaan, who was unbeaten on 56 from 53 balls – the best batting performance of the morning – The Titans came up 10 runs short, while they lost five wickets along the way.

On the Knight Field, Elysia Fourie was the Central Gauteng Lions‘ batting hero in a nail-biting four-run win over The Dolphins.

The Lions’ top order faltered on a difficult wicket, which made Fourie’s 30 worth far more than the number suggests. She accounted for almost 37 percent of Gauteng’s 82/8.

Noxolo Biyela shone for The Dolphins, claiming 4/15, but she and her fellow opener, Kendra Kreinacke, were sent packing for ducks as The Lions made a strong start in defence of their low total. Alyssa Edwards removed both and returned 2/13 from four overs, while her ball partner, Bonolo Phalane, dialled up the pressure with her miserly 2/4 from four.

The Iinyathi 101/8 posted on the Summerwood Oval, then followed that up with a good bowling performance to record a comfortable 26-run win over The Tuskers.

Josimina Minnie led the way, snapping up 3/10 in three overs. She was well supported by Azomila Silera, who nabbed 2/7, and Laiken James, who picked 2/9, and the KZN Inland team was held to just 75/9 from their 20 overs.

At HTS Daniel Pienaar, the Limpopo Impalas shocked a high-flying Boland outfit, snatching a pulsating five-run victory.

The win was the result of a match-defining spell by Pontsho Mopayi, who has starred for them throughout the week. She entered the attack when Boland was well set, on 62/2 after 10 overs, in their pursuit of 98 for victory. Mopayi, though, shifted the momentum by capturing 4/20 to lead South Africa’s northernmost province to a win over its southernmost province.

The best bowling performance of the morning, however, belonged to Kei‘s Amila Butshala, who stole the limelight with an inspired spell against the Northern Cape, also at HTS Daniel Pienaar. In four overs, she knocked over 5/5, which played a defining role in Kei cruising to a 24-run victory despite defending a sub-standard total of 93.

The most comfortable win of the morning went the way of North West, who won by eight wickets against Eastern Province (EP). Reabetswe Dithipe claimed 3/9 and Gogontle Padi 3/11 as the Dragons dismissed EP for 71.

On Woodridge’s Monahan Oval, Western Province picked up a five-wicket win over Free State. Amohelang Aau scored 33 for the central province, but they were limited to just 93/7 from their 20 overs.

It took a while for Province’s reply to get there, but they won with 10 balls to spare, led by 23 from Sasha Lee-Valentine.

Mpumalanga claimed a hard-fought three-wicket win over the SWD Garden Route Badgers at Westering. Sent in to bat, the Badgers clawed their way to 73 all out in 17.4 overs. Dineo Mlimo led Mpumalanga’s bowling effort, removing three batters for 12 runs from four overs.

Number three batter, Hayley Havenga, then, struck four fours in her 27 from 25 balls to set Mpumalanga on course for victory, which they achieved in the 15th over of their innings. Millicent Steenberg, with 3/8, and Jeze Campher, with 3/27, did their best to hold off Mpumalanga, but their efforts weren’t quite enough.

Summarised scorecards

Lions 82/8 (Elysia Fourie 30; Noxolo Biyela 4/15, Anelisa Mhlongo 2/8, Lungile Ngcobo 2/17); Dolphins 73/10 (Yamkela Shange 21, Lungile Ngcobo 11; Bonolo Phalane 2/4, Alyssa Edwards 2/13, Puledi Sebone 2/9, Karabo Matlaila 2/18). Lions won by 4 runs.

Free State 93/7 (Amohelang Aau 33; Miya Lalor 2/10, Morgan Simpson 2/23); Western Province XI 96/5 (Shasha Lee-Valentine 23, Hannah Constable 18, Miya Lalor 15; Lize van den Bergh 2/18). Western Province XI won by 5 wickets.

Eastern Storm 116/5 (Nadine Wells 37, Bruzaan Goosen 22; Thandeka Mngomezulu 2/15); Titans 106/5 (Milan Jordaan 56, Mohau Phasha 16; Thandeka Mngomezulu 2/15). Eastern Storm won by 10 runs.

Limpopo Impalas 97/9 (Palesa Mathebula 25, Nicole Terblanche 21; Lize de Waal 3/13, Chemeka Williams 2/12, Lemicke Daniels 2/14); Boland 92/10 (Meesha-lee Meyer 22, Teshlynn Petersen 12; Pontsho Refilwe Mopayi 4/20, Chantel Makamedi 2/9). Limpopo Impalas won by 5 runs.

Kei 93/10 (Siphosethu Gogozayo 22, Onele Madikizela 16; Brianna Arthur 4/13, Roeline Louw 2/20); Northern Cape 69 (Brianna Arthur 17; Amila Butshula 5/5, Inam Majambe 2/14). Kei won by 24 runs.

SWD Garden Route Badgers 73/10 (Wandumtha Kondlo 15, Millicent Steenberg 12; Dineo Mlimo 3/12, Snothando Nkosi 2/8); Mpumalanga 74/7 (Hayley Havenga 27; Jeze Campher 3/27, Millicent Steenberg 3/8). Mpumalanga won by 3 wickets.

Eastern Cape Iinyathi 101/8 (Mbali Mayoyo 21, Laiken James 18, Alitha Fotay 17; Lesogo Motsepa 2/21); Tuskers 75/9 (Xanalise van Dyk 24, Siphokazi Shezi 12; Josimina Minnie 3/10, Azomila Silera 2/7, Laiken James 2/9). Eastern Cape Iinyathi won by 26 runs.

Eastern Province 71/10 (Quinn Foreman 14, Madison Louw 10; Gogontle Padi 3/11, Reabetswe Dithipe 3/9, Luthando Mafoko 1/4); North West 72/2 (Jessica Joshua 19, Luane van Wyk 15*, Diarabilwe Ngubeni 15*; Morgan de Souza 1/18). North West won by 8 wickets.

The second session of Thursday’s T20 action at the CSA Girls u16 National Week in Gqeberha, in the Eastern Cape, delivered even bigger standout performances than had been produced in the morning, with Western Province‘s Morgan Simpson stealing the show.

Simpson captured 6/12 in four overs to bowl her side to a 32-run victory over the Central Gauteng Lions on Woodridge College‘s Rushmere Oval.

It was a desperately needed and timely match-winning spell after Western Province had made only 107/8 in their 20 overs.

Simpson thrice took two wickets in an over, which led to the Lions being dismissed for a disappointing 75.

Thandeka Mngomezulu, while not matching Simpson’s figures, produced a pivotal performance in the Eastern Storm‘s tightly contested nine-run victory over the North West Dragons.

With her side defending just 70, she delivered four overs of outstanding control, snaring 4/10. Nadine Wells, continuing her impressive form, provided crucial support with a superb 3/1 from 2.4 overs to land the knockout blow.

All-rounders Jeze Campher and Lize de Waal, showcased their class once again in their teams’ respective victories.

Campher, a standout for the SWD Garden Route Badgers throughout the week, registered her second half-century of the tournament, making exactly 50, before exploiting the conditions at HTS Daniel Pienaar to snap up 3/7. Her commanding display secured a dominant 69-run win over The Tuskers.

After four matches, Campher has scored 171 runs and taken 10 wickets.

On the adjacent field at HTS Daniel Pienaar, De Waal dismantled the Northern Cape batting, picking up 3/10 in her four overs. That left Boland with a modest victory target of 104. They reached it with ease, thanks to De Waal’s aggressive batting.

Coming in at three, she powered her way to 54 from just 29 deliveries, striking 11 fours, to power Boland to a nine-wicket win inside of 12 overs.

At the Westering Oval, Mpumalanga‘s Hayley Havenga and Snothando Nkosi delivered superb performances in a thumping win over the Eastern Cape Iinyathi.

Nkosi struck first with the second-best spell of the session, knocking over 5/20 in four overs, which led to the Iinyathi being restricted to 79/7.

Havenga, then produced the highest individual score of the day. Ruthless on any loose deliveries, she punished the Iinyathi bowlers and rocketed along at two runs a ball, smashing 10 fours in an unbeaten 58 as Mpumalanga chased down the target in just 8.4 overs.

The Titans won by six wickets against Eastern Province (EP), with Mieke Reynolds steering the successful run chase, with 31, after EP had tallied 99/3, which was led by 33 from Quinn Foreman and 22 from Madison Louw.

Wickets fell regularly in the Kei versus Limpopo Impalas‘ clash. Kei had extras to thank for their total of 35 all out, of which only 14 runs came off the bat. Limpopo didn’t bat much better, but they won by three wickets when they reached 36/7.

The Dolphins picked up a convincing 52-run win over the Free State, bowling the Free Staters out for only 48 behind 3/10 from Angelo Mlambo, 2/14 from Anelisa Mhlongo, and 2/1 from Sthembile Dlamini.

Summarised scorecards

Western Province 107/8 (Extras 34, Miya Lalor 20*, Shasha Lee-Valentine 16; Onkarabile Magonare 3/18, Alyssa Edwards 2/18, Karabo Matlaila 2/18); Lions 75/10 (Alyssa Edwards 20*; Morgan Simpson 6/12). Western Province won by 32 runs.

Eastern Storm 70/7 (Bruzaan Goosen 10*, Luthando Mafoko 2/11, Biopelo Phakedi 2/10); North West 61 (Luane Van Wyk 22; Thandeka Mngomezulu 4/10, Nadine Wells 3/1, Seipati Moagi 2/10). Eastern Storm won by 9 runs.

Eastern Province 99/3 (Quinn Foreman 33, Extras 24, Madison Louw 22, Ava Horner 15; Mary-Kate Bothma 2/10); Titans 100/4 (Mieke Reynolds 31, Extras 22, Milan Jordaan 19; Mackenzie Thomas 1/7). Titans won by 6 wickets.

Kei 35/10 (Extras 21; Lunghelo Malungana 2/7, Beyonce Mathebula 2/7, Motlalepule Joan Sebele 2/5); Limpopo Impalas 36/7 (Extras 12; Kwanele Kratshi 3/5, Amila Butshula 2/14). Limpopo Impalas won by 3 wickets

Eastern Cape Iinyathi 79/7 (Extras 28, Mabele Siyavuya 22; Snothando Nkosi 5/20, Danika Gloy 1/5, Omphile Mandi 1/11); Mpumalanga 81/2 (Hayley Havenga 58, Danika Gloy 12; Azomila Silera 1/22). Mpumalanga won by 8 wickets.

SWD Garden Route Badgers 121/6 (Jeze Campher 50, Liandri Kotze 23, Extras 29; Carli Hughes 2/3, Mekayla Jordan 2/21); Tuskers 52/10 (Leandri Grobler 13; Jeze Campher 3/7, Jolene Aguls 2/15). SWD Garden Route Badgers won by 69 runs.

Dolphins 100/7 (Kendra Kreinacke 19, Ziya Mohanlall 17, Lungile Ngcobo 18; Thando Nelane 2/13, Lize van den Bergh 2/10); Free State 48/10 (Mia Daacke 22; Angelo Mlambo 3/10, Anelisa Mhlongo 2/14, Sthembile Dlamini 2/1). Dolphins won by 52 runs.

Northern Cape 103/9 (Extras 49, Gladys Lekwene 18; Lize de Waal 3/10, Lemicke Daniels 1/5, Linique Luck 1/11); Boland 104/1 (Lize de Waal 54, Meesha-lee Meyer 27, Extras 21; Tlotlang Monnapula 1/41). Boland won by 9 wickets.

The third day of the CSA Girls U16 National Week in Gqeberha saw the players take the field for two rounds of T20 cricket. The shorter format promised tight contests, and it delivered.

In the morning matches, the Central Gauteng Lions secured one of the biggest wins of the round, beating Free State by seven wickets on the Monahan Oval at Woodridge College, while the Limpopo Impalas recorded the highest team total of the day, 155, in a 72-run win over Northern Cape.

Lucilla Ramosala was the mainstay of the Lions’ victory. Her 44 from just 33 deliveries ensured her side chased down a victory target of 119 inside 14 overs. She received strong support from Biotumelo Chuene, who added a valuable 30 at just under a run a ball.

The Impalas also delivered a well-rounded batting performance. Their march to 155 at HTS Daniel Pienaar was led by Ntsakiso Mukhavela, who patiently compiled 38. Although they did not bowl out the Northern Capetonians, the Limpopo attack combined well to restrict the opposition to 83/5 in their 20 overs.

In contrast, the clash between Easterns and Eastern Province was a thriller, ending in a tense one-wicket victory for Eastern Province.

Morgan de Souza proved decisive, with her superb 4/8 in three overs on Woodridge’s Rushmere Oval playing a big part in restricting Easterns to just 63 all out. However, that proved to be almost enough. The impressive Nadine Wells captured 4/21 in four overs as Easterns came ever so close to successfully defending the low total.

Jeze Campher, of the SWD Garden Route Badgers, delivered her second outstanding performance in as many days to steer her side to a 19-run triumph over the Eastern Cape Iinyathi at Summerwood.

A crucial, unbeaten 33 helped her team out of early trouble and on to 82/5 from their 20 overs. Then, she turned the screws on the Iinyathi reply, keeping their batters in check while snaring 2/6 in four overs. At the end of their 20 overs, the Iinyathi had reached 63/7.

Diarabilwe Ngubeni produced a nearly-identical all-round display. The only difference between her performance and Campher’s was a single extra run conceded in her four overs, but she also claimed another wicket, returning 3/7 and an unbeaten 33 in the North West Dragons’ three-wicket victory over the Titans at Woodridge’s Knight Field.

Western Province‘s Miya Lalor continued her outstanding form, scoring 46 and taking 2/9 in a 20-run win over The Dolphins on Archibald Field, at Woodridge, while Mpumalanga edged out The Dolphins’ neighbours, The Tuskers, by two wickets at Daniel Pienaar. Zelné Hattingh was, once again, to the fore for Mpumalanga, top scoring with 22.

At Westering, Isabela Mouton knocked back 4/3 as Kei tallied 63/9, and Lize de Waal, with 28, and Chemeka Williams, with 19, shared an unbroken fifth-wicket partnership of 41 to see Boland to a five-wicket win over Kei. They had been in big trouble early, on 4/4 in the fourth over of their reply.

Summarised Scorecards

SWD Garden Route Badgers 82/5 (Jeze Campher 33*, Iminathi Mofana 11; Nayanna Johnson 2/6, Sanda Fikisi 1/12); Eastern Cape Iinyathi 63/7 (Zoe Knoetze 11; Jeze Campher 2/6, Chinique Claasen 1/3). SWD Garden Route Badgers won by 19 runs.

Titans 80/8 (Jessica Fourie 28; Diarabilwe Ngubeni 3/7, Reabetswe Dithipe 2/10, Gogontle Padi 2/18); North West 81/7 (Diarabilwe Ngubeni 33*, Gogontle Padi 25; Mieke Reynolds 2/10, Palesa Mofokeng 2/10). North West won by three wickets.

Tuskers 111/7 (Ezamajiya Gwala 25, Siphokazi Shezi 17; Snothando Nkosi 3/14, Omphile Mandi 2/13, Dineo Mlimo 1/21); Mpumalanga 113/8 (Zelne Hattingh 22, Zoey Barnard 19; Lesego Motsepa 3/32, Carli Hughes 2/22, Siphokazi Xaba 1/22). Mpumalanga won by two wickets.

Easterns 63/10 (Bruzaan Goosen 20*; Morgan De Souza 4/8, Asekho Gova 2/4, Unakho Gitywa 2/5); Eastern Province 64/9 (Unakho Gitywa 16, Tana Sinclair 15; Refiloe Majola 4/8, Nadine Wells 4/21). Eastern Province won by one wicket.

Kei 63/9 (Siphosethu Gogozayo 13; Isabela Mouton 4/3, Abigail Schuur 2/13); Boland 64/5 (Lize de Waal 28*, Chemeka Williams 19*; Kwanele Kratshi 2/4, Inam Majambe 2/17). Boland won by five wickets.

Free State 118/4 (Thando Nelane 28, Mia Daacke 23, Reneesha Wales 19*; Alyssa Edwards 1/7, Nonhlanhla Danisa 1/22, Samkelisiwe Mthembu 1/19); Lions 119/3 (Lucilla Ramosala 44, Boitumelo Chuene 30, Srilekha Medisetti 22; Thando Nelane 2/22, Zanele Carelzen 1/22). Lions won by seven wickets.

Western Province 89/5 (Miya Lalor 46, Zaurah Titus 11*; Anelisa Mhlongo 2/5, Sthembile Dlamini 2/8); Dolphins 69/9 (Yamkela Shange 13*, Ziya Mohanlall 10; Zita Logenstain 2/5, Miya Lalor 2/9, Avene Pita 2/11, Morgan Simpson 2/8). Western Province won by 20 runs.

Limpopo Impalas 155/6 (Ntsakiso Mukhavela 38, Palesa Mathebula 25, Alicia Mukhandi Masela 23*; Christenique Bosch 1/2, Bokao Ntuane 1/15); Northern Cape 83/5 (Brianna Arthur 35, Mosa Motlhaping 10; Pontsho Refilwe Mopayi 1/2, Palesa Mathebula 1/4). Limpopo Impalas won by 72 runs.

Neither the bat nor the ball dominated on Thursday, the second day of the CSA Boys u16 National Week in Paarl, despite challenging batting conditions.

Four sides successfully defended their totals, while four others won while chasing.

Among the four teams that batted first and won, the Central Gauteng Lions’ 96-run victory over The Dolphins at Boland Landbou stood out.

Zuan Joubert and Sohail Seonath batted patiently, scoring 63 and 57 respectively while also sharing a 57-run partnership for the second wicket as the Lions clawed their way to 198/9 after their 50 overs.

Zaakir Hanslo, then, produced a noteworthy bowling performance, picking up 3/22 after snaring four wickets in a win over Eastern Province on Wednesday.

The St Stithians‘ spinner was the most successful Lions’ bowlers as they knocked over The Dolphins for only 102. He was well supported by Ethan Ferguson, who picked up 2/12, and Thomas Collins, who took 2/3.

Ulrich Botha, of North West, was again among the runs as the Dragons thumped Northern Cape by nine wickets. He struck a second consecutive half-century after A.W van der Merwe had torn through the Northern Cape’s top order, capturing 4/16, which helped to limit them to 140 all out.

Botha played with assurance, facing 62 deliveries while scoring an unbeaten 64, on the Pen Basson Oval, and made the surface appear much easier than it was.

On the Dal Josaphat B Field, Sohil Jugnath delivered a critical innings for Easterns in their pursuit of Mpumalanga‘s 189/9, which was led by Luan Siebrits‘ 53.

He made his way to middle when Easterns were in a spot of bother on 40/3. Undaunted, he took the attack to the bowlers, striking three sixes and seven fours in his 72, which came from only 66 balls. Thanks to his aggressive success, Easterns claimed a five-wicket victory in the 32nd over of their reply.

Thursday’s leading bowlers were Ryan Clarke, of the Tuskers, and Qhamani Veiwer, from the SWD Garden Route Badgers, who shared the joint-best figures of the day, with both returning 5/13.

Clarke showcased his skills with the new ball, unsettling Boland’s top order on the Parys Oval. His five-for, which came from just seven overs, left the hosts reeling on 89/5 in the 20th over before De Waal Vivier dug in for a match-saving 49 not out. In the end, the Bolanders tallied 174 all out.

In a similar manner to the hosts, The Tuskers lost early wickets, going five-down with only 63 runs on the scoreboard. Unlike Boland, they were unable to recover and were bowled out for 132 in the 42nd over.

Veiwer sent down six overs for his 5/13, which set Kei up for a second heavy defeat in as many days at Swartland High School.

Batting first, the Badgers posted a mammoth 414/4, with opening batsman Daniel du Preez becoming the second batsman to go big against the Kei bowlers, following Josh Wilkie’s massive 334 on the opening day.

Du Preez retired on 150 but returned later to add another 24 runs, finishing with a memorable 174 from just 114 balls. His innings included 14 fours and an astonishing 12 sixes. Veiwer’s five-wicket haul then restricted Kei to a mere 86 all out.

After beating The Dolphins in their opener, The Titans added another win, cruising to a 71-run victory over Eastern Province on the Dal Josaphat A Field, in Paarl.

Sixty-six from Justin Basdeo was the key innings in The Titans’ 231/9. Then, Jesse Eckard, Nico Loggenberg, Rourke de Lange, and Bongani Mkwanazi all took two wickets as EP replied with 160 all out.

The Eastern Cape Iinyathi’s game against the Limpopo Impalas at the Welbedacht Cricket Ground lasted only 38.1 overs.

The Impalas mustered just 82 all out as Jack Bosazza nabbed 3/5 and Avethandwa Manyongo 3/19. Facing a modest victory target, the Iinyathi went hard at the opposition bowlers, with Reid Drake setting the tone by blasting three sixes and a four in a quickfire 25 from 12 deliveries. After 14.4 overs, they claimed a seven-wicket win.

On the Paul Roos Oval, Schalk van Rensburg top scored with 61 for Free State, and his St Andrew’s School teammate Grové du Preez made 20, but their next highest score was only eight and the Free Staters finished on 125/9.

In reply, a 64-run opening partnership between Matthew Mills and Ethan De Heer Kloots set Province on the path to victory.

Mills fell for 20, but De Heer Kloots pressed on, hitting seven fours in his innings of 51 from 65 balls. Further twenties from Ibraheem Talip and Raa’id Davids saw the Capetonians to a four-wicket win.

Summarised scorecards

Titans 231/9 (Justin Luke Basdeo 66, Rourke De Lange 39, Extras 28, Dylan Stander 37, Jan-williem Pienaar 21; Corbin Tidbury 3/35, Deanu Bezuidenhout 2/11, Oliver Whitaker 2/51); Eastern Province 160/10 (Connor Holder 45, Kitts Mcconnachie 39, Extras 24; Jesse Eckard 2/22, Nico Loggenberg 2/26, Rourke De Lange 2/27, Bongani Mkwanazi 2/35). Titans won by 71 runs.

SWD Garden Route Badgers 414/4 (Daniel Du Preez 174, Keaton Lambaatjeen 66, Hanno Swart 68, Jordan Ross 37, Extras 35, Sange Mayekiso 21; Akhumzi Ntleki 2/91, Yamkela Vamva 2/59; Extras 35); Kei 86/10 (Siphumeze Nonwana 32, Extras 23; Qhamani Veiwer 5/13, Diego Wessels 3/15, Ross Taljaard 2/19; Extras 23). SWD Garden Route Badgers won by 328 runs.

Limpopo Impalas 82/10 (Peet Snyman 30; Avethandwa Manyongo 3/19, Jack Bosazza 3/5, Rosh Els 2/19). Eastern Cape Iinyathi 84/3 (Reid Drake 25, Mitchell Myerscough 20; Mosefowa Randy 1/5). Eastern Cape Iinyathi won by 7 wickets.

Lions 198/9 (Zuan Joubert 63, Sohail Seonath 57, Zizi Mkhize 25, Urav Mukhija 21; Josh Mills 3/29, Rivan Moodley 3/23, Blake Johnson 2/36). Dolphins 102/10 (Luke Boyall 34; Zaakir Hanslo 3/22, Ethan Ferguson 2/12, Thomas Collins 2/3). Lions won by 96 runs.

Northern Cape 134/10 (Nealan Cupido 35, Cobus Fourie 34, Extras 24; Aw Van Der Merwe 4/16, Moses Kgokong 2/21). North West 140/1 (Ulrich Botha 64, Sihle Duma 40, Lukas Kotze 20; Nealan Cupido 1/26). North West won by 9 wickets.

Free State 125/9 (Schalk Van Rensburg 61, Grove Du Preez 20; Abhay Kalan 3/21, Harbin Smith 2/21, Raihan Khan 2/30). Western Province 128/6 (Ethan De Heer Kloots 51, Ibraheem Taliep 22, Matthew Mills 20, Raaid Davids 20; Keamogetjwe Nqoyi 2/23, Christoph Bronn 2/30). Western Province won by 4 wickets.

Boland 174/10 (De Waal Vivier 49, Derrick Groenewald 37, Extras 23, Abriam Jacobs 22, Ave Nkantini 21; Ryan Clarke 5/13, Relebogile Mokoena 2/20). Tuskers 132/10 (Rex Wardlaw 43; James Holm 3/20, De Waal Vivier 2/18, Noah Appollis 2/30). Boland won by 42 runs.

Mpumalanga 189/9 (Luan Siebrits 53, Extras 31, Nijan Swart 20; Duan Maree 2/16, Jake Bevolo 2/31, Christiano Moffat 2/33). Easterns 193/5 (Sohil Jugnath 72, Anthony Stockigt 30, Ashley Khumalo 28, Duan Maree 21; Frederik Boshoff 2/46). Easterns won by 5 wickets.

It was the Jeze Campher show at the Westering Oval, in Gqeberha, on Wednesday, the second day of the CSA U16 Girls Week.

Campher, playing for the SWD Garden Route Badgers in the week for a second year in succession, was the only batter to score a half-century.

Her patient 73 from 93 balls included seven fours and helped the Badgers escape trouble before going on to an emphatic 91-run win over Northern Cape.

Millicent Steenberg, also, made a useful contribution, weighing in with 28 as SWD posted 179 all out.

Campher’s all-round abilities were again to the fore when the Badgers took to the field. She claimed a tidy 3/16 in eight overs, the best return for her side, as Northern Cape replied with 88 all out.

The day, once again, belonged to the bowlers.

Roeline Louw was exceptional for Northern Cape. She opened the bowling alongside Bakao Ntuane, and the pair made significant early inroads. With Louw claiming 5/17 in just 5.3 overs and Ntuane returning 3/29 in five, the Badgers were in serious trouble at 34/6 before Campher took charge.

In the Jukskei derby between the Central Gauteng Lions and the Titans, it was Alyssa Edwards‘ 3/16 that proved decisive as the Lions secured a 29-run victory at Woodridge College‘s Archibald Oval.

Elysia Fourie top scored with 27 in the Lions’ 124 all out. Without many runs to defend, they needed to maintain discipline with the ball, and they did so successfully to dismiss their neighbours for 95.

Day two’s most outstanding bowlers were The Dolphins‘ Anelisa Mhlongo and the talented Miya Lalor, from Western Province

Lalor was at her destructive best with the new ball against Eastern Province. Her six overs at Woodridge’s Rushmere Oval brought her 5/11 and were instrumental in the home side slipping to only 64 all out.

Jessa Hendricks, then, guided the run chase expertly, making an unbeaten 38 to steer Western Province to a comfortable eight-wicket victory.

Mhlongo, however, stole the spotlight with a magnificent 10-over spell on Woodridge’s Knight Field. She conceded only one run per over and also snapped up six wickets as Easterns tumbled to 79 all out.

Had it not been for Nadine Wells, batting at seven, matters could have been far worse for Easterns. She stood firm, however, facing 70 balls, hitting five fours, and finishing with 42 not out.

KZN, then, took 18 overs to overhaul the Easterns’ total, winning by six wickets, after an opening stand of 55 between Kendra Kreinacke, who made 23, and Lethokuhle Mbili, who contributed 21.

Kei impressed with a tight victory over Mpumalanga in a low-scoring thriller at the Summerwood Oval. Amila Butshala led a fired-up bowling attack, claiming 4/7, while Kwanele Kratshi knocked over 3/19 to limit Mpumalanga to 62 all out.

Zelné Hattingh refused to go down without a fight, however. She picked up 3/9 and Dineo Mlimo bagged 2/18, forcing the Kei batters to work hard for their victory. After 16 overs, they made it, with three wickets in hand.

In another low-scoring game, the Limpopo Impalas beat the Eastern Cape Iinyathi by 23 runs at Daniel Pienaar.

Limpopo’s innings of 83 all out was boosted by 34 extras. Then, three cheap wickets each from Lunghelo Malungana, Pontsho Mopayi, and Alicia Masela kept Limpopo to only 60 all out in response.

On Woodridge’s Monahan Field, Free State won by 32 runs against North West, making 102 all out before bowling out their opposition for 70 behind 3/4 in 5.3 overs from Thando Nelane, which destroyed North West’s middle order.

The highest total of the day belonged to Boland. Lize de Waal led the way, missing out on a half-century by only one run as the Capetonians totalled 203 all out. They had no trouble defending that solid total, ripping through the Tuskers’ batting order in only 19 overs and bowling them out for 65.

Linique Luck, with 3/15, Isabela Mouton, with 2/10, and Abigail Schuur, with 2/13, did the damage as Boland won by a whopping 138 runs.

Summarised scorecards

SWD Garden Route Badgers 179/10 (Jeze Campher 73, Extras 64, Millicent Steenberg 28; Roeline Louw 5/17, Bokao Ntuane 3/29); Northern Cape 88/10 (Extras 47, Bokao Ntuane 21; Jeze Campher 3/16, Kim Plaaitjies 3/17, Chinique Claasen 3/22). SWD Garden Route Badgers won by 91 runs.

Mpumalanga 62/10 (Hayley Havenga 15; Amila Butshula 4/7, Kwanele Kratshi 3/19); Kei 64/7 (Extras 21, Siphosethu Gogozayo 12; Zelné Hattingh 3/9, Dineo Mlimo 2/18). Kei won by three wickets. 

Lions 124/10 (Extras 29, Elysia Fourie 27, Nonhlanhla Danisa 20*; Mieke Reynolds 2/4, Mary-Kate Bothma 2/9, Carmen Hugo 2/15); Titans 95/10 (Extras 35, Milan Jordan 19; Alyssa Edwards 3/16, Puledi Sebone 2/22). Lions won by 29 runs. 

Free State 102/10 (Extras 34, Reneesha Wales 20; Gogontle Padi 3/25, Luthando Mafoko 2/14); North West 70/10 (Reabetswe Dithipe 28; Thando Nelane 3/4, Nyakallo Maieane 2/13, Amohelang Nguenha 2/17). Free State won by 32 runs. 

Limpopo Impalas 83/10 (Extras 34, Ivy Manyike 22; Laiken James 3/12, Annabel Roos 2/15); Eastern Cape Iinyathi 60/10 (Mabele Siyayvuya 19; Alicia Masela 3/10, Lunghelo Malungana 3/20, Pontsho Mopayi 3/21). Limpopo Impalas won by 23 runs. 

Easterns 79/10 (Nadine Wells 42; Anelisa Mhlongo 6/11, Ziya Mohanlall 2/24); Dolphins 80/4 (Kendra Kreinacke 23, Extras 22, Lethakuhle Mbili 21; Keira Ferreira 3/16). Dolphins won by six wickets. 

Eastern Province 64/10 (Extras 20, Tana Sinclair 14; Miya Lalor 5/11, Zaurah Titus 2/10, Zita Logenstain 2/20); Western Province 65/2 (Jessa Hendricks 38*; Morgan De Souza 1/8). Western Province won by eight wickets. 

Boland 203/10 (Extras 63, Lize De Waal 49, Dané Hess 21; Siphokazi Xaba 4/25, Rayne Kitching 2/13, Lesego Motsepa 2/32); Tuskers 65/10 (Extras 23, Rahima Pillay 15; Linique Luck 3/15, Isabela Mouton 2/10, Abigail Schuur 2/13). Boland won by 138 runs.