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Gauteng’s opening batsman, Ryan Rickelton (112*), produced an outstanding performance on the third day of the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Week with his unbeaten century against KwaZulu-Natal Inland at St. Alban’s College’s Oval in Pretoria.

He was given a second chance early in his innings via a dropped catch and made KwaZulu-Natal Inland pay for the mistake. He struck ten fours and two sixes in his innings. Rickelton and his captain, Marques Ackerman (42), shared a 93-run partnership over the third wicket. KwaZulu-Natal Inland’s captain, Jarryd Edy (80), helped his side to 220 runs in their innings with his half-century.

Hosts, Northerns’ captain Willie Ludick (75) and Henco Vorstman (51*) almost got their side from a difficult situation at 91/7 to almost securing a memorable victory over Western Province. They shared a 105-run partnership over the eighth wicket before Ludick was caught by Emmanuel Seberame of the penultimate over from Dayyaan Galiem.

Northerns needed 15 runs of nine deliveries after their captain’s departure but fell six runs short. Western Province’s Matthew Christensen (80) continued his excellent form with the bat in hand at the tournament.

Free State managed to be victorious in their nail-biter by defending a total of 103 runs against KwaZulu-Natal. The Free Staters defeated KwaZulu-Natal by six runs. The losing side lost their final three wickets for only a solitary run.

Seam bowler, Marno van Greuning (2/9), got the final wicket as he trapped Keegan Foss (10) leg before wicket. Van Greuning bowled very well as he bowled 8.2 overs conceding only just more than a run an over. Spin bowler, Sean Whitehead (3/13), got rid of Jesse Smit (1) and Bradley Wheal (0) in the previous over to get his side to the edge of victory. Whitehead and the other spin bowler, Lyle Heilbron (2/17), both bowled nine economical overs which kept the pressure on KwaZulu-Natal’s batsmen. Free State’s opening batsman, Koot Pienaar (41), also deserves a mention after continuing his good form with the bat.

The best bowling performance of the day belonged to North West’s off-spinner, Lesego Senokwane, who picked up six wickets for 36 runs in his side’s seven-wicket victory over Limpopo.

Boland managed to beat Eastern Province with two wickets with spin bowler, Luke Philander (4/23), making the most valuable contribution.

Fixtures for today:

Western Province vs. Boland (St. Alban’s College)
Gauteng vs. North West (Tuks Oval)
Northerns vs. Eastern Province (Pretoria Boys’ High – Hofmeyr)
KwaZulu-Natal Inland vs. Namibia (Groenkloof)
Free State vs. Easterns (Irene Villagers)
KwaZulu-Natal vs. Border (Mamelodi)
South Western Districts vs. Mpumalanga (Sinoville)
Griqualand West vs. Limpopo (TUT)

Summarised Scorecards:

KwaZulu-Natal Inland 220/8 (Jarryd Edy 80, Gavin Morris 34; Linaldo Phillips 2/11); Gauteng 222/3 (Ryan Rickelton 112*, Marques Ackerman 42). Gauteng won by seven wickets.

Western Province 210 (Matthew Christensen 80, Kyle Verreynne 30; Dean Foxcroft 4/38, Stefan Klopper 3/41); Northerns 204/8 (Willie Ludick 75, Henco Vorstman 51*; Emmanual Sebareme 3/31). Western Province won by six runs.

Eastern Province 163 (Extras 29, Matthew Breetzke 28; Luke Philander 4/23); Boland 164/8 (Isma-eel Gafieldien 49, Mark Adrianatos 26). Boland won by two wickets.

Free State 103 (Koot Pienaar 41; Mlungi Gcado 3/11); KwaZulu-Natal 97 (Jerome Bossr 28; Sean Whitehead 3/13, Marno van Greuning 2/9). Free State won by six runs.

South Western Districts 141 (Jean Heunis 48; Michau du Preez 3/21); Namibia 142/1 (Zane Green 52*, SJ Loftie-Eaton 47*). Namibia won by nine wickets.

Limpopo 128 (Tlangi Mushwana 31; Lesego Senokwane 6/36); North West 129/3 (Tshepang Motjale 38, Tommie le Roux 31, Ruan Pretorius 30). North West won by seven wickets.

Easterns 138 (David Zweni 32; Thabang Sqoko 4/23); Mpumalanga 139/6 (Benjamin van Niekerk 57, Matthew Nepgen 31). Mpumalanga won by four wickets.

Griqualand West 181 (Reuben Visagie 58, Roché Rossouw 37; Sithembile Langa 3/28, Winray Christoffels 2/13); Border 182/6 (Bathandwa Isaac 49, Mcedisi Malika 36; Matthew Rohlandt 2/19). Border won by four wickets.

Steven Hobson of Kingswood College captained the Eastern Province side at the annual Coca-Cola Cricket Week in Boksburg in 1996.

Khaya Majola Week Players: Steven Hobson (1996), Justin Smith (1996), Richard Fincham (EP B – 1996), Owen Poultney (EP B – 1996), Richard Wilding (EP B – 1996), Llewellyn Collett (EP B – 1998-99), Hugh Oxwnham (EP B – 1998, EP 1999), M Charlton (EP B – 1999), Clifford Savage (2008).

Khaya Majola Week Players: Grant Puttergill (EP B – 1996), Aldin Smith (EP B – 1996), M McKinnon (EP B – 1999), Colin Ingram (2002-03), Riki Wessels (2002-03),

The hosts of the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Week Northerns’ national u19 player, Janneman Malan (79*), produced the most outstanding performance of the second day of the tournament in Pretoria. He struck his half-century against Western Province from only 61 deliveries which included eight fours and three sixes before lighting and later on rain halted play.

The day’s matches were scheduled to be played in the time-cricket format, but due to rain in the morning, the matches were reduced to Twenty/20 games. The encounter between Namibia and South Western Districts however got underway before they got the message and they played a time-cricket match. Tomorrow’s matches will be played in the 50 over format, replacing the initial scheduled T20 matches.

Malan, who faced 31 deliveries on the first day without scoring a run, was in a devastating mood as he also didn’t spare his fellow national u19-players, Dayyaan Galiem. He struck two of his three sixes off Galiem’s bowling and scored 30 runs off the 16 deliveries he faced from Galiem.

The only match which produced a result was between North West and South Western Districts. North West came out on top with 26 runs according to the Duckworth/Lewis method. North West reached 144/5 in their allotted overs thanks to Ruan Haasbroek (48) and Vian Maritz (22). Limpopo slipped to 12/2 with legbreak bowler, Alex Meyer (2/6) causing all the damage. The losing side faced two more deliveries than the five overs they needed to face to make the game constitute as a match.

Boland’s Shaun de Necker (75) produced the other outstanding performance with the bat in hand of the second day with his half-century against Eastern Province. He faced 66 deliveries of which he dispatched seven past the boundary rope. Four of these boundaries were maximums.

Kwazulu-Natal fast bowler, Jesse Smit (4/12), boasted with the best bowling figures of the day as his team restricted the Free State to 86/8. Fritz de Beer (31) was the only Free State batsman who managed to stem the tide.

Fixtures for tomorrow (Limited Overs):

Western Province vs. Northerns (Tuks Oval)
Gauteng vs. KwaZulu-Natal Inland (St. Alban’s College Oval)
Eastern Province vs. Boland (Pretoria Boys’ High – Hofmeyr)
KwaZulu-Natal vs. Free State (Affies)
Mpumalanga vs. Easterns (Menlopark)
Namibia vs. South Western Districts (Pretoria Boys’ High – Abernethy)
Border vs. Griqualand West (St. Albans – Baloyi)
North West vs. Limpopo (Pretoria Boys’ High – Dorey)

Summarised Scorecards:

KwaZulu-Natal Inland 80/3 in 12 overs (Sohail Mahmoud 34; Nicholas Scholtz 2/17); Gauteng did not bat. No result.

Northerns 142/4 in 19.1 overs (Janneman Malan 79*, Willie Ludick 32; Junaid Dawood 2/21); Western Province did not bat. No result.

Boland 124/4 in 18 overs (Shaun de Necker 75, Heinrich Odendaal 31; Stephan Tait 2/16); Eastern Province did not bat. No result.

Free State 86/8 (Fritz de Beer 31; Jesse Smit 4/12); KwaZulu-Natal 4/1 in 0.5 overs. No result.

Border 151/4 (Bathandwa Isaac 64*, Yamkela Oliphant 33; Pule Mokwena 2/19); Griqualand West did not bat. No result.

North West 144/5 (Ruan Haasbroek 48, Vian Maritz 22; JP Prinsloo 3/25); Limpopo 12/2 in 5.2 overs (Alex Meyer 2/6). North West won by 26 runs (Duckworth/Lewis method)

Mpumalanga 81/3 in 13 overs (Daniel Griesel 36*; Calvin Ntombela 2/16); Easterns did not bat. No result.

Namibia first innings 213/9 decl. (Joshuan Julius 68, Zane Green 57; Jaco van Rensburg 3/64); South Western Districts 66/4 (Jean Heunis 22*; JJ Smit 2/18). Match drawn.

Boland: Con de Lange (Worcester Gimnasium), Wilhelm Esterhuizen (Worcester Gimnasium), Martin van der Merwe (Hugenote), Cornelius van der Merwe (Porterville), Christie Schreuder (Porterville), Wayne Jantjies (New Orleans), Ultalyn Ernstzen (Klein Nederburg), Charlton Manuel (Bergrivier), Wallace Albertyn (Paul Roos Gimnasium), Christopher de Lange (Paul Roos Gimnasium), Henco Bornmann (Paarl Boys’ High), Lynal Jansen (Paulus Joubert), Willem du Toit (Paul Roos Gimnasium). 

Border A: Guy Harper (Queen’s College), Warwick Hinkel (Hudson Park), Bevan Bennet (Selborne College), Zelton Bruiners (Queen’s College), Thandisizwe Bula (Queen’s College), Dylan Cloete (Selborne College), Lionel Dearlove (Hudson Park), Donovan Lentz (Dale College), Ian Postman (Selborne College), Darryn Randall (Selborne College), Ronnie Siwani (Queen’s College), Blaine Wilkens (Selborne College), Monde Zondeki (Dale College). 

Easterns: Eric Weirich (Nelspruit HS), Tiens Lange (Oosterlig), Brendon Reddy (Springs Secondary), Richard Kubeka (Nigel HS), Douglas Griebenhouw (Lowveld High), Godfrey Mbangeni (Nigel HS), Andrew Poriazis (CBC Boksburg), Linda Sibali (CBC Boksburg), Nicol Grobler (Nelspruit HS), Brett Smith (CBC Boksburg), Pravesh Dharman (Willowmore High), Werner Venter (Kemptonpark). 

Eastern Province: Grant Marais (Grey High School), Umar Abrahams (Grey High School), Chad Baxter (St. Andrew’s College), Johan Botha (Grey High School), Lazola Dipha (Grey High School), Zwelibanzi Homani (Grey High School), Hilton Keaton (Graeme College), Simon McGillewie (Grey High School), Unathi Nquma (Phakamisa High), Hugh Oxenham (Kingswood College), Dewald Senekal (Daniël Pienaar THS), Jan Stadder (Daniël Pienaar THS), Michael Williams (Grey High School). 

Free State: Lionel Walker (Grey College), Corné Linde (Grey College), Dillon du Preez (Louis Botha), Lerock Ingram (AHS Kroonstad), Guillaume Zietsman (Grey College), Grant Steyl (St. Andrews), Ryan McLaren (Grey College), Emmanuel Lekhanya (Brebner), Christoff Bothma (Grey College), Reece Briesies (Grey College), Eugene Nogabe (Kagisho High), Graham Botha (Grey College), Sipho Sibande (Welkom High). 

Khaya Majola Week Players: Schalk Burger (2001), Johan du Plessis (2001), Pieter Swanepoel (2001), Gysbert van Zyl (2004),Dawid van Zyl (2004), Marnus Hugo (2004), Lee-Irven Alexander (2005), Pieter du Plessis (2005), Imran Nackerdien (2008), Hein Adonis (2008).

PRETORIA. – The first day of the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Week belonged to the off-spinners with Stefan Klopper (Northerns) and Matthew Rohlandt (Griqualand West), both picking up five-wicket hauls in overcast conditions which usually give more assistance to the seam bowlers.

The South African u19-player, Klopper, produced the best bowling figures of the opening day aas he dismissed seven of KwaZulu-Natal’s batsman for 35 runs in his 13.4 overs. The match finished in a draw after Northerns could only manage 84/6 in answer to KwaZulu-Natal’s 171 runs.

Rohlandt, who finished last year’s Cricket South Africa (CSA) National u17 Week as the top bowler, was his side’s only ray of light in a losing battle against Namibia. He picked up five wickets for 49 runs. He grabbed 22 wickets during last year’s National u17 Week.

His performance against Namibia could however not prevent his side from suffering the only outright defeat of the first day. Griqualand West was restricted to a mere 57 runs in their first innings. Their two most experienced players, captain Wazeed Alexander and Rikus Zwart, was back in the change room without a run on the scoreboard for the team. Alexander added a valuable 33 runs in his side’s second innings.

Boland’s Isma-eel Gafieldien (31) showed some unbelievable courage as he opened the batting against Gauteng after having to leave the field to get stitches after a fielding accident. Gafieldien dropped a catch on the boundary in Gauteng’s innings with the wet ball hitting him above his ear. He was out of action for about an hour lying on his back after getting stitched up. He faced arguably the fastest bowler on display at the tournament, the national u19 pace mercent, Brandon Glover.

Another two national u19 players from Gauteng, Grant Roelofsen (55) and Ryan Rickelton (50), shared an opening partnership of 95 runs. Rickelton’s faced 159 deliveries for his half-century before he became Reinhardt Fortuin’s (4/45) first victim when he got dismissed in the 50th over of the match.

Western Province’s wicketkeeper, Kyle Verrynne (100*), recorded the only century of the opening day in his side’s match against Free State. He struck 17 boundaries in his innings of which one was a maximum. His captain, Matthew Christensen (78) and Christopher Graham (40) laid a solid foundation with their opening stand of 108 runs.
Free State’s opening batsman, Koot Pienaar’s (64), half-century played a major role to help his side secure a draw against Western Province. Eastern Province and North West also managed to secure victories on the first against KwaZulu-Natal Inland and Easterns respectively.

Summarised Scorecards (Time Cricket):

Gauteng first innings 224 (Grant Roelofsen 55, Ryan Rickelton 50; Reinhardt Fortuin 4/45); Boland first innings 136/3 (Elliot Moses 37, Isma-eel Gafieldien 31). Match drawn.

KwaZulu-Natal first innings 171 (Jerome Bossr 44, Tafara Mupariwa 43; Stefan Klopper 7/35); Northerns first innings 84/6 (Dean Foxcroft 24, Kabelo Raseleka 23; Jesse Smit 2/10). Match drawn.

Western Province first innings 284/6 decl. (Kyle Verreynne 100*, Matthew Christensen 78, Christopher Graham 40; Marno van Greuning 4/83); Free State first innings 135/4 (Koot Pienaar 64; Yolisa Mona 2/12). Match Drawn.

KwaZulu-Natal Inland first innings 254 (Stephen Reeves 80*, Sohail Mahmoud 53; Stephan Tait 4/48. Tshepiso Ndwandwa 3/53); Eastern Province first innings 121/7 (Brad Haller 52; Lungi Ngidi 2/17). Match drawn.

Easterns first innings 158 (CJ van der Walt 58; Katlego Leokaoke 2/14, Jerome Xaba 2/24); North West first innings 169/7 (Louren Steenkamp 55, Tommie le Roux 36; Xolani Tshabalala 3/24). North West won on first innings.

Namibia first innings 177 (Michau du Preez 67, Zane Green 39; Matthew Rohlandt 5/49, JD van Zyl 2/12); Griqualand West first innings 57 (Reuben Visagie 21; Tiaan Snyman 3/7, JJ Smit 3/16, Danie van Schoor 2/2); Namibia second innings 46/2 decl. (Zane Green 30*; André Share 1/14); Griqualand West second innings 81/5 (Wazeed Alexander 33; Francois Rautenbach 2/7). Namibia won outright by 85 runs.

South Western Districts first innings 185/6 decl. (Jean Heunis 50, Arno Bouwer 43); Border first innings 153/5 (Tim Niemand 57*, Abongile Ntondini 43*; Mihlali Gcanga 2/23). Match drawn.

Limpopo first innings 205/9 decl. (Johan Louw 53, Lourens Potgieter 44; Matthew Nepgen 3/44, Ashley Methula 2/18); Mpumalanga first innings 186/8 (Benjamin van Niekerk 79; JP Prinsloo 3/27). Match drawn.

The Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Week returns to Pretoria after ten years and as we look back at the previous tournament hosted in the capital it is evident that the tournament is the springboard for cricket players with the aspiration to make a career out of the game.

Five future Proteas and one future Black Cap made their mark at the 2004 edition of the tournament. Dean Elgar (Free State), Rusty Theron (Border), Richard Levi (Western Province), Kyle Abbott (KwaZulu-Natal) and Mthokozisi Shezi (KwaZulu-Natal Inland) were all stars for their respective province. The hosts’ fast bowler, Neil Wagner, also played for New Zealand to make the total international graduates from the 2004 tournament a dozen.

Levi was the top batsman at the tournament in 2004. He scored 286 runs at an average of 71.5 runs per innings which included a century (122*) against Mpumalanga. Three other players, the SA Schools captain Francois le Clus (140 –Northerns vs. Kei), Neil de Bruin (103 – Griquas vs. Kei) and Gladwin Ponela (101 – Northerns vs. Kei) managed to record centuries.

The tournament however belonged to the bowlers in 2004 with no less than seven players managing to record five-wicket hauls. The record for the best bowling figures at the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Week also belonged to Simon Minnaar of Western Province after this tournament. His bowling figures of 7/26 against Mpumalanga was the record until 2012 in Potchefstroom when Daryn Dupavillon (KwaZulu-Natal Inland) removed seven of North West’s batsman for a mere 18 runs to make the record his.

One of the top bowlers at the 2004 edition was Scott Spedding who made his international rugby debut for France against Fiji earlier this year. Spedding grabbed 13 wickets during the tournament for Gauteng. Henk Holtzhausen of Limpopo was the leading wicket-taker with 14 wickets. Both of them didn’t manage to make the national representative sides that year.

2004 was also the last time that Free State managed to be the “unofficial champions” of the tournament by winning the main match of the final day against Eastern Province by two wickets. The Free State side which was captained by Pite van Biljon included players like Elgar, Griffon Nieuwoudt, Lefa Mosena and CJ de Villiers who all have successful first-class careers. The team was coached by former Free State player, Phillip Radley, and current SA Schools selector, Rafeek Ismail.

Other first-class players who made their mark in 2004 were Craig Alexander (Western Province), Christiaan Jonker (North West), Ethan O’Reilly, Jon-Jon Smuts (both Eastern Province), Jean Symes, Richard das Neves (both Gauteng) and Shaun von Berg (Northerns).

No less than nine players Marques Ackerman, Ryan Rickelton, Grant Roelofsen, Brandon Glover (all Gauteng), Matthew Christensen (Western Province), Stefan Klopper, Janneman Malan (both Northerns), Lwandisa Zuma (KwaZulu-Natal Inland) and Kabelo Sekhukhune (Easterns) will attend this year’s tournament whom also toured England earlier this year with the national u19-side. A further two players, Lungisani Ngidi (KwaZulu-Natal Inland) and Dayyaan Galiem (Western Province) also have experience at the international u19-level for South Africa.

Christensen and Galiem are the only two players who made last year’s South African Schools’ team who will make the trip to Pretoria. Five players who made the SA Colts side at the conclusion of last year’s tournament – Daniël Griessel (Mpumalanga), Sohail Mahmood (Kwazulu-Natal Inland), Rivaldo Moonsamy (Northerns), Jay Stevens (Western Province) and Sithembele Langa (Border) will attempt to go one better this year.

Northerns’ Dean Foxcroft was named Cricket South Africa’s u15 Player of the Year for his performances during last year’s national u15-week. Western Province’s Murray Commins is the son of former Protea-player, John Commins.