Author: froberholzer

North West will head to Bloemfontein for the Khaya Majola Week, which kicks off on 16 December in the City of Roses, not only with a new outlook but also with an almost entirely new team and management.

Duané Bredenkamp is the new head coach of the squad, which features only one returning player, all-rounder Caiden Seleka, who is the younger brother of North West Dragons‘ leg-spinner, Caleb Seleka.

Seleka is joined in the squad by four of his Potchefstroom Gimnasium counterparts, which makes Gimmies the school with the most representatives in the provincial line-up.

That achievement should come as no surprise because Potch Gim dominated both the North West 50-over and Switch Schools SA20 – Volume Two competitions, winning both.

Alongside Seleka, Christivan Coetzer would’ve most likely been one the first names written down on the selectors’ team sheets. He’s enjoyed a dream year and his appearance at the Khaya Majola Week is likely to be the first of two years in the North West u19 side because he is in Grade 11.

Coetzer has put together a spectacular year, accumulating seven centuries, which includes a 150 in a Schools SA20 outing. Those achievements make him a player to watch in Bloemfontein.

Henré Cronje, Tlhoni Thabatha, who is also a gifted rugby player, and Jahndré Coetzee are the other Gimmies’ players in the squad.

Potchefstroom Volkskool owns the second-most players in the 14-player line-up. The talented Louis van Wyk, also the Volkies‘ captain, cracked the nod, along with Temba Sontjane and the promising spin bowler, Olefa Padi.

Olebogang Scott, from the Ikageng Hub, which borders Potchefstroom, is the ninth player from the North West city to be selected

Hoërskool Rustenburg stalwart, Callie Fryer, cracked the nod, too. He’s an exciting prospect, who, at just 16 years of age, represented SA u19 against England at the beginning of the year. His Rusties‘ teammate, Marnus de Witt, joins Fryer in the side.

Hoërskool Wesvalia‘s Eduard Dreyer follows in his older brother, Marneau Dreyer‘s footsteps. It’s been a fantastic 2025 for the younger Dreyer, who also represented the province at the Craven Week in Middelburg during the July holidays.

While Dreyer is the sole representative from his side, Ophile Rangwaga, from the Impala Hub, and Prince Marumagae, from the Matlosana Hub, are also the lone players selected from their teams.

Pablo Molebatsi, Rangwaga’s teammate at Ikageng, is part of a three-man non-travelling reserve list. He was part of the team in 2024 but missed out this time around.

The other non-travelling reserves are Johandré Jacobs (Potchefstroom Gimnasium) and Ethan Walker (Wesvalia).

NORTH WEST SQUAD

Christivan Coetzer (Potchefstroom Gimnasium), Olebogang Scott (Ikageng Hub), Eduard Dreyer (Wesvalia), Louis van Wyk (Potchefstroom Volkskool), Caiden Seleka (Potchefstroom Gimnasium), Temba Sontjane (Potchefstroom Volkskool), Prince Marumagae (Matlosana Hub), Callie Fryer (Hoërskool Rustenburg), Omphile Rangwaga (Impala Hub), Jahndré Coetzee (Potchefstroom Gimnasium), Olefa Padi (Potchefstroom Volkskool), Tlhoni Thabatha (Potchefstroom Gimnasium), Henré Cronje (Potchefstroom Gimnasium), Marnus de Witt (Hoërskool Rustenburg)

Management 

Head Coach – Duané Bredenkamp
Assistant Coach – Corné April
Team Manager – Oupa Mongale

Another Titans’ trophy has found its way into the Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool (Affies) cabinet to add to an already impressive season.

Earlier in the season, Affies dethroned Hoërskool Waterkloof as the Titan’s Platinum League champions, ending a five-year run at the top for Klofies.

On Monday evening, at Cornwall Hill College, Affies took down another Titans’ giant, beating Hoërskool Garsfontein, to become the Switch Schools SA20 – Volume Two Titans’ champion.

Relive all the Titans Switch Schools SA20 action on SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com)

Affies vs Cornwall Hill College

In the semi-finals, they dealt with Cornwall Hill, beating the home team by four wickets.

To no one’s surprise, Vihan Pretorius was in the middle of the action in both Affies’ outings. He put his all-round abilities on show against Cornwall Hill, providing strong support to the main contributor with the ball, Nico Loggenberg, by claiming an economical 2/20 from his four overs.

Loggenberg’s 2/18 in four was the latest in a string of strong performances from him throughout the season, and it helped to limit the hosts to only 121/7 from their 20 overs.

Zander Davel was Cornwall’s leading batsman, cracking 69 from 53 deliveries, while all around him his teammates struggled.

When Affies batted, Oliver Richards and the impressive Mohale Pitso fought valiantly in defence of a modest total, with Richards snapping up 2/17 and Pitso 2/29.

Pretorius, though, top-scored with 28, and further solid contributions from AJ Morkel (27) and Daniel Murray (22) saw their side across the line.

Hoërskool Garsfontein vs Midstream College

In the other semi-final, Charl van Staden powered the Ysbere to a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over Midstream College.

Garsies needed only 14 overs to chase down the victory target of 129 set by Midstream, mostly thanks to the spanking Van Staden handed to the bowlers. His unbeaten match-winning 79 came from only 53 balls and included a whopping 11 fours and two sixes. Righardt Joubert lent good support, chipping in with 24.

Wikus du Preez, meanwhile, shone with the ball, with his four overs costing him only 11 runs and bringing him two wickets.

Reinhardt Niebuhr, with 2/15, and Katlego Lebelo, with 2/25, also played their part in setting up a meeting with Affies in the final.

Affies vs Hoërskool Garsfontein

Unfortunately for Garsfontein, they ran into Vihan Pretorius at his destructive best in the title game. He blasted 51 runs, including six fours and one six, à la Kevin Pietersen, with a reverse hit over the off side.

Daniel Murray, again, made a valuable contribution, weighing in with an unbeaten 26, as Affies tallied 145/6 from their 20 overs.

Nathan Ferreira was the best of the Ysbere’s bowlers, nabbing 2/24 from his four overs.

When Garsfontein batted, Willem Louw, with an undefeated 29, and Wikus du Preez, with 20, produced useful knocks, but Jaden Beukes sliced through the Garsies’ batting line-up, capturing 3/10 in only three overs

Armin Snyman excelled in the middle overs, dialling up the pressure with a tight spell, which brought him 2/15.

In the end, the defending champions were able to muster only 102 all out, leaving Affies the winners by a handsome 43-run margin.

The good news for Garsies’ supporters is that their team will have a second chance to topple Affies when both sides run out in phase two of the regional playoffs, which brings together the top two teams from the Titans, Limpopo and Mpumalanga regions early in 2026.

Summarised scorecards

Semi-finals 

Cornwall Hill College 121/7 (Zander Davel 69; Nico Loggenberg 2/18, Vihan Pretorius 2/20); Affies 122/6 (Vihan Pretorius 28, AJ Morkel 27, Daniel Murray 22; Oliver Richards 2/17, Mohale Pitso 2/29). Affies won by four wickets. 

Midstream College 128/9 (Rikus Cilliers 29, Ryan Strauss 29; Wikus du Preez 2/11, Reinhardt Nieburh 2/15, Katlego Lebelo 2/25); Garsfontein 132/2 (Charl van Staden 79*, Righardt Joubert 24; Wian de Bruin 1/15). Garsfontein won by eight wickets. 

Final 

Affies 145/6 (Vihan Pretorius 51, Daniel Murray 26*, Extras 20; Nathan Ferreira 2/24); Garsfontein 102 (Willem Louw 29*, Wikus du Preez 20; Jaden Beukes 3/10, Armin Snyman 2/15). Affies won by 43 runs. 

Hoërskool Dr Malan, known for producing the legendary international umpire, Marais Erasmus, and Renier van Rensburg, who was recognised by Guinness World Records as the youngest qualified male cricket umpire in the world, produced another noteworthy cricketing moment on their home turf, in Meyerton, on Saturday.

Dokkies beat Hoërskool Kempton Park by 39 runs to book a meeting with Hoërskool Garsfontein in the Fain Noordvaal Series final next Saturday.

A strong bowling display by the six Dokkies’ bowlers laid the foundation for a memorable victory over their highly regarded opponents. Displaying impressive discipline, the hosts’ bowlers gave up only nine extras in 45.2 overs.

Keagan Meyer led the Dr Malan charge with 2/28 from seven overs. He was also one of five batsmen to score in excess of 20 for the hosts, who cobbled together a total of 216/9 from their 50 overs, which proved to be enough. Damian du Plessis top-scored with a focused 37 off 67 balls.

Heinrich Jansen van Rensburg weighed in with 29, but he also played his part with the ball, picking up two wickets, which was a theme of the match from the bowlers. His return was 2/42.

Shaun Nash was exceptional for the visitors. He followed Wian Pieters’ strong 10-over spell, which brought the Kempies‘ bowler 2/36, with figures of 2/18 from six overs. Their solid performances kept the Dr Malan batsmen at bay.

Ethan Kotze, with 2/38, and Francois Marais, with 2/48, also made inroads into the hosts’ batting.

Despite a useful innings from Kempton Park’s mainstay with the willow, Sheldon Kruger, the visitors struggled to break the shackles imposed on them by the Dr Malan bowlers. Kruger made 46 before becoming Jansen van Rensburg’s first victim. Stian de Villiers became the second shortly after for one.

Dewald Erasmus, a consistent performer for Dokkies with both bat and ball, knocked over 2/29, which followed a three-wicket haul in Dr Malan’s convincing quarterfinal win over Merensky Landbou.

The visitors’ innings came to a disappointing end with consecutive run outs, orchestrated by AJ Els and Jansen van Rensburg, who was in the thick of the action throughout the fixture.

Unfortunately for the Kempies, they had only 177 runs on the scoreboard and that meant their season was over.

Summarised scorecard 

Dr Malan 216/9 (Damian du Plessis 37, Heinrich Jansen van Rensburg 29, Jacques Nel 25, Ruben Muller 24, Keagan Meyer 23, Extras 23; Shaun Nash 2/18, Wian Pieters 2/36, Ethan Kotze 2/38, Francois Marais 2/48); Hoërskool Kempton Park 177 (Sheldon Kruger 46, Wian Pieters 28, Stian van Breda 22*; Keagan Meyer 2/28, Dewald Erasmus 2/29, Heinrich Jansen van Rensburg 2/42). Dr Malan won by 39 runs. 

Hoërskool Garsfontein executed a spectacular run chase, speeding to a five-wicket win over Potchefstroom Gimnasium on Saturday with 64 balls to spare after the visitors had posted a sterling 305 all out.

The Ysbere‘s home ground victory secured them a place in the Fain Noordvaal title game next Saturday.

It sets them up for a shot at claiming the title for the first since 2018 when they defeated Hoërskool Waterkloof in the final.

They’ll be up against Hoërskool Dr Malan, of Meyerton, who won by 39 runs against Hoërskool Kempton Park in the other semi-final.

Gimmies would’ve certainly been the happier of the sides when the change of innings arrived, having made 305 all out, with their last wicket going down off the second-last ball of the innings.

Ulrich Botha, who opened the batting with Christivan Coetzer, was the main protagonist in the visitors’ batting story. He laid the platform for the visitors’ big total by scoring a century. Coetzer, though, was the aggressor in a 70-run first-wicket partnership, smashing six fours and three sixes in his 53, which came from only 34 deliveries.

Henré Cronje, who was a star performer in Potch Gim’s emphatic 107-run win over Hoërskool Middelburg in the quarterfinals, also shared in a big partnership with Botha.

Cronje contributed 52 runs to their 96-run partnership for the fourth wicket, while Botha played the role that fits him like a glove, anchoring Gim’s innings. His superb 109 came from a patient 129 deliveries, and it was the glue that held the Gimmies’ innings together.

The visitors appeared to be on course for an even larger total than 305, but Jared Carr prevented matters from getting out of hand with a memorable spell of bowling.

Although expensive – his 9.5 overs cost him 90 runs – he removed seven batsmen and led the way as the visitors lost their last six wickets for the addition of only 52 runs. In the context of a high-scoring contest, it was a massively important contribution.

Needing to bat at better than a run a ball for their full 50 overs, getting off to a good start was vital for Garsies, and Reuben van Zyl made sure they did. He launched a blitzkrieg on the Potch Gimnasium bowlers, clubbing 70 runs from just 36 balls, striking 13 of them for four and another two for six.

Even after his departure, the Ysbere never looked like losing. Charl van Staden, with 63, delivered the second half-century of the home side’s innings, while Wikus du Preez played his part, weighing in with 44.

Riaan Boshoff, with 41 not out, also produced a decisive innings. He and his captain, Xander Venter, who was unbeaten on 55, partnered for an unbroken partnership of 96 runs to see Garsfontein over the line.

Despite the home team’s hard-hitting charge to victory, Damian Kruger impressed with the ball, capturing 4/39, and sparked a bit of a flutter in the hearts of Garsfontein supporters when they lost three wickets for just 12 runs.

Summarised scorecard 

Potchefstroom Gimmnasium 305 (Ulrich Botha 109, Christivan Coetzer 53, Henré Cronje 52, Caiden Seleka 28; Jared Carr 7/90); Garsfontein 306/5 (Reuben van Zyl 70, Charl van Staden 63, Xander Venter 55*, Wikus du Preez 44, Riaan Boshoff 41*; Damian Kruger 4/39). Garsfontein won by five wickets.

Continuous rain in Pretoria and the surrounding areas has placed a question mark over the Fain Noordvaal semi-finals, which are set to be played on Saturday in the Jacaranda City and Meyerton.

The Ysbere, of Hoërskool Garsfontein, will host Potchefstroom Gimnasium after beating Hoërskool Waterkloof by four wickets in their quarterfinal clash last week.

Potch Gimnasium, meanwhile, put together an excellent performance against Hoërskool Middelburg to progress to the final four.

Hoërskool Kempton Park, a dark horse to go all the way, comfortably ended Hoërskool Monument‘s journey, and Hoërskool Dr Malan enjoyed the most comfortable victory of the round, knocking out Merensky Landbou Akademie by eight wickets in Meyerton.

Gimmies, Kempies, and Dokkies have both their 1st XIs and u15 sides in the penultimate round of the series.

If rain prevents play on Saturday, the teams will be required to complete their fixtures as soon as possible during the following week. The final is scheduled for Saturday, 8 November.

The Ysbere have been in outstanding form. Not only did they win the Wildeklawer Diamantveld Tournament, but they also knocked out the winner of the Wildeklawer T20, the Klofies, thanks to a massive contribution from Wikus du Preez with both bat and ball. His all-round performance – 4/26 and 58 – as well as Jared Carr‘s 3/36, showcased the depth and talent that coach Elmar Dorey has empowered over the past two seasons.

Garsies also have three centurions in their lineup, including run machine, Reuben van Zyl, which will make it a very tough ask for the Gimmies to beat the Ysbere, who will start as the favourite on their home turf.

Potch Gim, though, is talented and has a well-balanced unit. They showed just how good they could be in a one-sided victory over Grey College in September.

The all-round capabilities of Caiden Seleka and the hero of their quarterfinal win, Henré Cronjé, will join forces with opening batsman, Christivan Coetzer, and they’ll spearhead a formidable challenge from the visitors.

In Meyerton, Dr Malan will have their work cut out against Kempton Park. It’s no secret that the Kempies, also, feature a strong and well-balanced team. Sheldon Kruger and Shaun Nash are well-established performers with the willow, while, on the bowling front, Stian van Breda stole the spotlight with a match-winning 6/25 against Monument. His new ball partnership with Khaya Majola fast bowler, Kristian du Plessis, poses a significant threat to the Dokkies’ batting lineup.

The home side’s Dewald Erasmus has, however, shown that he’s an impressively aggressive opening batsman. His unbeaten 97 from just 68 deliveries against the Plasies sounded a loud warning about his ability to up the run scoring rate when it’s needed, and he is also a useful bowler.

His opening partner, Jacques Nel, if he delivers alongside Erasmus, will ensure that Kempies are stretched. Also, the fact that they’re playing at home – and they shone on their home pitch in the quarterfinals – makes them a redoubtable opponent.

FIXTURES

09:00 – Garsfontein vs Potchefstroom Gimnasium
09:00 – Hoërskool Kempton Park vs Dr Malan

An experienced Limpopo Impala side has been named to take the field during the 2025 Khaya Majola Week, which starts on 15 December in Bloemfontein.

The squad of 13 players features five players who represented the side in 2024 in Cape Town.

Noteworthy returnees include Hoërskool Piet Potgieter‘s star batsman, Muhammed Muaaz, and left-arm off-spinner Timothy Baker from Merensky Landbou Akademie.

Baker was one of the Limpopo Super League’s leading wicket-takers for a second year running, boasting 15 wickets in six matches, while Muaaz was sixth on the leading run-scoring charts with 169 runs at an average of 42.3. Baker and Muaaz also faced each other in the final, which the Plasies won convincingly.

Mahlodi Sekuba of Mohodi Hub, located just outside Polokwane, also returns. This year, however, Sekuba is the only representative from the Hub. The same applies to Ntshuxeko Sebata from Giyani Hub. Bradley Sekoto is joined by Phalaborwa Hub team member Benji Mathebula.

Merensky captain, Luka Heinlein, and Rayaan Malji, Piet Potgieter’s second representative, both graduated from last year’s u17 side as Limpopo’s two dangerous all-rounders. Their stats speak for themselves.

Malji, a key member of Piet Potgieter on the road to the Super League Final, scored 173 runs at an average of 43.3, the fourth most throughout the league, while also snaffling 14 wickets. Heinlein snapped up 19 wickets at an astonishing economy rate of 2.7 to the over, making him the leading wicket-taker, just ahead of Baker, while he scored 134 runs in five innings.

Jannes van Zyl follows in the footsteps of Lucas van der Merwe, who was Hoërskool Nylstroom‘s only representative last year. Van Zyl also graduated from the u17 side, while he also represented the province at the CSA u16 National Week a year before.

Another valuable all-rounder, Stephan Swanepoel, is Hoërskool Pietersburg‘s sole representative. Swanepoel’s main role will likely be with the willow, although his off-spin may come in handy, especially in the Bloemfontein conditions.

Hoërskool Ben Vorster boasts the most representatives, with three players from the Black Caps getting the nod. Rivonigo Chauke‘s inclusion comes as no surprise. The Ben Vorster fast bowler has already made significant strides representing the CSA Hub Invitational XI at both the Oppenheimer Michaelmas Week and the Wildeklawer T20 in Pretoria earlier this year. He was also invited to the Titans Talent Identification Camp, or “TAP Camp”.

Chauke is accompanied by his captain, Njabulo Maseko, who, like numerous others in the side, graduated from the u17 side, and Ruben Pohl. Pohl’s inclusion means that he completes the double, having also featured at the Craven Week in Middelburg in July, while still only in Grade 11.

The squad 

Jannes van Zyl (Nylstroom), Njabulo Maseko (Ben Vorster), Rayaan Malji (Piet Potgieter), Stephan Swanepoel (Hoërskool Pietersburg), Mahlodi Sekuba (Mohodi Hub), Muhammed Muaaz (Piet Potgieter), Benji Mathebula (Phalaborwa Hub), Luka Heinlein (Merensky), Timothy Baker (Merensky), Bradley Rickotso (Phalaborwa Hub), Ntshuxeko Sebata (Giyani Hub), Rivoningo Chauke (Ben Vorster), Ruben Pohl (Ben Vorster).

Die jaarlikse ontmoeting tussen Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool en Grey-kollege se “Stayers”, oftewel o.17-spanne, het Saterdag in Pretoria oudergewoonte vir ‘n naelbyt-affêre gesorg.

Dié kragmeting, met die matrieks afwesig weens die eindeksamen, word gesien as ‘n gulde geleentheid om die volgende generasie talent die nodige blootstelling te gee alvorens hulle die 2026-seisoen moet aanpak.

Albei spanne beskik egter reeds oor ‘n groot gros jongelinge wat die afgelope jaar of twee deel uitgemaak het van hul onderskeie eerste spanne.

Belowende nuwe name soos Christian Kind, Vihan Pretorius, Zian Labuschagne en Daniel Hattingh het mekaar die afgelope naweek dus die stryd aangesê in Affies se sege met vier paaltjies oor hul tradisionele  aartsvyande.

Dit was juis Pretorius en Labuschagne wat voor in die koor was om vir die tuisspan die oorhand te bewerkstellig. Pretorius was, soos deur die loop van 2025, ‘n uitblinker met die nuwe bal en sy vyf beurte het twee paaltjies vir slegs 18 lopies opgelewer, wat die skroewe styf gedraai het.

Labuschagne was self ‘n doring met die bal. Hoewel effens duurder, het sy volle kwota van 10 beurte ook twee paaltjies laat kantel vir 63 lopies, waarvan een dié was van die groot vis, Aiden Dodd, in slegs die tweede beurt. Dit het vir Grey op 4/2, en onder hewige druk, geplaas.

Die herstelwerk is deur Daniel Hattingh (23) en Peter Le Roux gedoen. Le Roux se beurt is uiteindelik beëindig deur ‘n stukkie netjiese veldwerk deur Nico Loggenberg, maar nie voordat hy ‘n geduldige 66 lopies van 115 aflewerings kon aanteken nie.

River Scott en Bergh Vorster het verdere herstelwerk verrig, met Scott (47) wat sy span se tweede hoogste telling aangeteken het, terwyl Vorster se bydra van 38, nie uit nie, gehelp het om die Bloemfonteiners tot 227/8 in die toegelate 50 beurte te neem.

Die Affie-kolfbeurt het op dieselfde trant begin met die besoekers wat self reeds twee vroeë paaltjies kwyt was, te danke aan Bernard Saaiman (2/55). AJ Morkel het egter deur die druk gekolf en vroeë weerstand gebied, met sy 31 lopies wat die grondslag vir die jaagtog gelê het. Paaltjiewagter, Daniel Murray, was ook weer goed op dreef, met sy uitstekende voetwerk en energie in die kolfkampie wat 43 lopies aan hom besorg het.

Uiteindelik was dit weer Labuschagne wat homself midde in die aksie bevind het. Murray se vertrek het vir hom en Jacques Swart byeengebring in die middel. Labuschagne het die aanvallende rol gespeel, om van slegs 67 balle vyf viere en twee sesse te mokker vir ‘n onoorwonne 65, albei is ook steeds o.16, iets wat net bewys hoe blink die toekoms by die Pretoria reus is.

Swart was geduldig en het die beurt aanmekaar gehou. Hy het 51 lopies behaal en was saam met Labuschagne onoorwonne toe die teiken bereik is. Hul vennootskap van 112 lopies het die deurslag gegee, hoewel Daniel Hayidakis, Grey se beste bouler op die dag, moedig probeer het. Hayidakis is aan die einde van sy 10 beurte met syfers van 2/37 beloon.

Beknopte telkaart 

Grey-kollege 227/8 (Peter le Roux 66, River Scott 47, Bergh Vorster 38*, Daniel Hattingh 23, Divan Bezuidenhout 23; Vihan Pretorius 2/18, Zian Labuschagne 2/63); Affies 229/6 (Zian Labuschagne 65*, Jacques Swart 51*, Daniel Murray 43, AJ Morkel 31; Daniel Hayidakis 2/37, Bernard Saaiman 2/55). Affies wen met vier paaltjies.

Big players are expected to step up when the occasion demands it, and that is exactly what Reuben van Zyl did on Saturday in Hoërskool Garsfontein‘s four-wicket victory over Hoërskool Waterkloof in the quarter-final round of the Fain Noordvaal Series.

Van Zyl delivered a match-winning knock of 58 runs, a bona fide masterclass against the Klofie spinners, as the Ysbere advanced to the semi-finals. It was, however, Wikus du Preez‘s all-round performance that stole the show on the day.

Du Preez’s heroics kicked off with the ball, after the visiting Waterkloof had won the toss and elected to bat first. The Waterkloof top order, led by Wian du Plessis (34), got off to a good start. However, the wickets continued to fall just as partnerships started to develop, largely due to Du Preez’s right-arm medium bowling.

Du Preez’s 4/26 in just 7.2 overs proved to be the biggest pebble in the visitors’ shoe. Jared Carr, as reliable as ever, supported well with his 10 overs going for an economical 36 runs, while Nathan Ferreira chipped in with 2/31. The collective effort saw Waterkloof reach only 188 before the last wicket fell.

Come his turn with the bat, Du Preez delivered alongside Van Zyl. He was the cornerstone of a nail-biting run chase with a patient 45 from 109 deliveries, also playing his part in the 114-run opening stand.

The innings went without a hitch until a piece of one-handed brilliance by Darius Maritz in the field sent Charl van Staden (33) packing. Du Preez followed just seven balls later, which sparked a certain amount of panic in the Garsfontein middle order.

Captain Xander Venter, however, pulled the chestnuts out of the fire. Although he only contributed 18 not out, his presence and calmness under pressure eventually saw the Ysbere home in the 38th over.

Potchefstroom Gimnasium were equally impressive in their comprehensive 107-run victory over last year’s runners-up, Hoërskool Middelburg, in Middelburg. Henré Cronje was the knight in shining armour, capitalising on the back of a good batting performance led by the ever-present Caiden Seleka (74) and aggressive Christivan Coetzer (65) at the top of the order. A cameo of 39* by Ruhann Steenkamp also deserves a special mention after it helped Gimmies to a competitive 269/9 in the allotted 50 overs.

Cronje’s spectacular spell with the ball then made it a bridge too far for the Middies. Completing his allotted 10 overs, which cost only 25 runs, Cronje ripped the heart from the home side’s batting lineup with five wickets to add to his economy rate of 2.5 to the over.

Seleka (2/34) and Damian Kruger (2/22) were in on the action again, to ultimately help restrict the chase by Middies to only 162.

Stian van Breda delivered the best bowling performance of the quarter-final round to see Hoërskool Kempton Park soar to a six-wicket victory over Hoërskool Monument. What made it more impressive is that the Kempies’ opening bowler needed only six overs to inflict maximum damage. His 6/25 will long be remembered as one of the great spells for the side from the East Rand.

Monnas’ André van Niekerk stood tall amid the destruction of the batting lineup around him. His run-a-ball 50, however, was his side’s only noteworthy contribution in a disappointing 100 all out.

Sheldon Kruger handled most of the heavy lifting in the home side’s run chase, scoring 44, which enabled his side to reach the target in the 21st over.

Dewald Erasmus of Hoërskool Dr Malan also delivered a top-class performance in the quarter-finals, with the willow, leading the side from Meyerton to a profound eight-wicket victory over Merensky Landbou Akademie, in Meyerton. Erasmus top-scored across the four quarters, boasting a 68-ball 97, just three runs short of what would’ve been a memorable century. As a consolation, though, his innings, which included 11 fours and four sixes, ended unbeaten.

Jacques Nel supported Erasmus with an unbeaten 61 (75b), as the pair’s unbeaten 161 partnership for the third wicket saw the Dokkies chase down Merensky’s 196 with ease. The Plasies’ opening batsman, James Durant, was the visitors’ best on the day, scoring 74 (94b). Xander Schoeman, in his last outing for the outfit from Tzaneen, made 41.

Hoërskool Kempton Park now hosts Dr Malan in Kempton Park, while Garsfontein welcomes the dangerous Potchefstroom Gimnasiun in Pretoria for what promises to be two tightly contested semi-finals come Saturday.

Summarised scorecards

Waterkloof 188 (Wian du Plessis 34, Riley Miller 28, Franco Schmidt 22, Rico van der Walt 22; Wikus du Preez 4/26, Jared Carr 3/36, Nathan Ferreira 2/31); Garsfontein 192/6 (Reuben van Zyl 58, Wikus du Preez 45, Charl van Staden 33; AJ de Villiers 2/38, Ricardo Crous 2/38). Garsfontein won by four wickets. 

Potchefstroom Gimnasium 269/9 (Caiden Seleka 74, Christivan Coetzer 65, Ruhann Steenkamp 39*, Extras 38, Henré Cronje 23; Ricardo Ras 2/33, Hendré Nel 2/43, Eduan Strydom 2/47, Herman Potgieter 2/53); Hoërskool Middelburg 162 (Extras 26, Herman Potgieter 21, Lohan Botha 20; Henré Cronje 5/25, Damian Kruger 2/22, Caiden Seleka 2/34). Potchefstroom Gimnasium won by 107 runs. 

Monument 100 (André van Niekerk 50; Stian van Breda 6/25, Shaun Nash 2/21); Hoërskool Kempton Park 102/4 (Sheldon Kruger 44; Lejean Banks 2/30). Hoërskool Kempton Park won by eight wickets. 

Merensky Landbou Akademie 196 (James Durant 74, Xander Venter 41, Extras 24; Dewald Erasmus 3/33, Damian du Plessis 3/35, Hendrich Jansen van Rensburg 3/49); Dr Malan 199/2 (Dewald Erasmus 97*, Jacques Nel 61*; Rinaldo Bornman 2/25). Dr Malan won by eight wickets. 

A local derby in a quarter-final round always stirs the butterflies.  A clash between Hoërskool Garsfontein and Hoërskool Waterkloof makes for even greater excitement.

With the respective leagues across the Noordvaal having concluded, it’s time to decide the best of the best, with the two Pretoria giants clashing for the second time in this year’s 50-over season, in one of the highly anticipated quarter-finals.

The Klofies and the Ysbere advanced to the Fain Noordvaal Series as number one and two from the Titans region, although Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool snared the title, the first team to do so, and thereby dethroned Waterkloof, who claimed the title a record four consecutive times since 2020. Affies does not take part in the Fain Noordvaal Series.

The Klofies and Garsies also won the respective Wildeklawer T20 tournaments just a week ago. Kloof defeated Grey College in Pretoria, while the Ysbere beat Hans Moore at the Wildeklawer Diamantveld T20 tournament in Kimberly.

The Jacaranda City will furthermore be abuzz as four of the union’s Khaya Majola representatives are set to go head-to-head at Hoërskool Garsfontein on Saturday.

The Ysbere, of course, boast the leading run-scorer of the Titans Platinum League, Reuben van Zyl, who racked up a whopping 503 runs in seven matches at an astronomical average of 100.6. His stats include three centuries and a half-century, as he led the pack with more than 200 runs abreast of the second best, who, not so surprisingly, will be his Kloof opposite number, Rico van der Walt. Van der Walt amassed 289 runs in seven matches, scoring one century, in the previous meeting between these two sides, with his 132 helping the Klofies to win by 199 runs.

Darius Maritz and Garsies’ captain, Xander Venter, come up against each other in the bowling department, although Venter might have a say with the bat too, being one of Pretoria’s best all-rounders at schoolboy level. Performances from these four players should excite the Ysbere’s coach, Elmar Dorey, who will accompany the Khaya Majola side as assistant coach.

Merensky Landbou Akademie, victors of the Limpopo Super League, travel to Meyerton to face Hoërskool Dr Malan. The Dokkies turned the tables on Heidelberg Volkskool after a narrow one-wicket defeat in 2024, to snatch this year’s title with a convincing six-wicket victory.

An enticing encounter awaits between Limpopo’s two leading wicket-takers, Timothy Baker (14) and captain Luka Heinlein (13), who come up against a formidable Luka Pretorius and co. The Dokkies will look to go one better than last year, when they lost to Menlopark in the first playoff round.

The in-form Hoërskool Middelburg welcomes an equally impressive Potchefstroom Gimnasium in a fixture that should go down to the wire. The Middies have now won the Mpumalanga League for two consecutive years, while the Gimmies claimed the North West title mostly thanks to the red-hot bat of Christivan Coetzer. Coetzer has already accumulated an astonishing seven centuries this year, and his batting battle with Herman Portgieter and Eduan Strydom, at the top of the Middies order, might prove the deciding factor by the end of 100 overs.

Hoërskool Kempton Park, who ended Hoërskool Hans Moore‘s Fain Noordvaal title defence in the league stages already, hosts an unpredictable Hoërskool Monument. The Kempies have been exceptional throughout the season, particularly with Sheldon Kruger highlighting the start of the 2025/26 season with a double century, the only one in the Noordvaal thus far, in a friendly against Hoërskool Rustenburg. Monnas, however, are still victors from their beat and possess the all-round abilities of Logan Weetman, who will be a danger with both bat and ball.

Quarter-Final Fixtures – 25 October (Home teams named first): 

Garsfontein vs Waterkloof – Pretoria
Dr Malan vs Merensky Landbou Akademie – Meyerton
Hoërskool Middelburg vs Potchefstroom Gimnasium – Middelburg
Hoërskool Kempton Park vs Monument – Kempton Park

The Titans Platinum League has a new champion for the first time in five years as Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool dethroned the dominant Hoërskool Waterkloof following a scintillating 2025 campaign.

Affies’ defining moment came when they beat the Klofies by 51 runs, at Affies on 20 September. That left them with only one more hurdle to overcome, that of Cornwall Hill College, at home, to stay unbeaten and reign superior in Pretoria.

The chat in the Affies camp would’ve been not to underestimate the side from Cornwall, especially after their impressive displays at the Oppenheimer Michaelmas Week during the holiday in October. Hence, the dominant display, which saw Affies cruise to victory against Cornwall by a comfortable 157 runs.

The day belonged to right-arm seamer Petrus Rautenbach and wicketkeeper-batsman Daniel Murray. Murray was responsible for setting the platform of 244 runs by Affies batting first, with a neat display of running between the wickets and great patience. Facing 102 deliveries, Murray hit 78 runs that included only a solitary six, while he was well supported by his captain Ruben Groenewald (39) and opening batsman Dylan Stander (34).

Cornwall bowled well, sticking to a nagging length that made Affies work for their 244 runs. Neo Makwela was the pick of the eight bowlers used, claiming three wickets for 49 runs in his allotted 10 overs. He was one of only two bowlers who completed their full quota, the other being Kirill Broughton (0/30).

After Keegan van Wyk (30) and Rourke de Lange (25) had set the tone with an opening partnership of 56 runs, things went south and quicklyfollowing their departures. Van Wyk was sent back to the pavilion, caught and bowled by Groenewald (1/11), and the wheels came off completely after the run out of De Lange, orchestrated by Christian Linde.

When Rautenbach’s turn came with the ball, he made full use of it to demolish the Cornwall batting lineup. In just 6.3 overs, he only conceded nine runs at an economy rate of 1.38 per over, while picking up five wickets.

Fellow seamer, Nico Loggenberg, also a stalwart in the Affies bowling lineup throughout the league, supported well with a further two wickets, also for just nine runs in eight overs, as Cornwall collapsed, losing eight wickets for a mere 31 runs, eventually being bundled for just 87 in the 29th over.

The victory also spells the end of Affies’ cricket for the matrics as the giant from Pretoria does not participate in the Fain Noordvaal Series, thus it provided a sweet end to a wonderful 2025 for the elders of the Affies side.

Klofies, who finished second, and Hoërskool Garsfontein, in third place, will advance to the Noordvaal Quarter finals. The two are set to face each other in a second local derby, on Saturday, 25 October, at Garsfontein.

To further add to Affies’ massive 2025 cricketing success, both the u14 and u15 sides managed to win their leagues as well, securing three trophies for the Affies cabinet.

Summarised scorecard

Affies 244 (Daniel Murray 78, Ruben Groenewald 39, Dylan Stander 34, Zian Labuschagne 24; Neo Makwela 3/49); Cornwall Hill College 87 (Keegan van Wyk 30, Rourke de Lange 25; Petrus Rautenbach 5/9, Nico Loggenberg 2/9). Affies won by 157 runs.