{"id":88243,"date":"2026-01-08T19:30:27","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T17:30:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=88243"},"modified":"2026-01-08T19:30:27","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T17:30:27","slug":"eldoraigne-transvalia-soar-into-kovsie-smash-final","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=88243","title":{"rendered":"Eldoraigne, Transvalia soar into Kovsie Smash Final"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo: Absolute Photos\/Dirkie Groenewald.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It took four days for the first century to be recorded at the 2026 Kovsie Smash<\/strong> in the City of Roses, Bloemfontein.<\/p>\n

With the attention firmly on Thursday afternoon’s semi-finals, Ho\u00ebrskool Sentraal<\/strong>‘s Erik Prinsloo<\/strong> seized the spotlight with a blistering knock.<\/p>\n

He took just 49 deliveries to smash a breathtaking 125, which powered the Bloemfontein outfit to a commanding 125-run victory over Ho\u00ebrskool Lichtenburg<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Prinsloo’s innings formed the backbone of Sentraal<\/strong>‘s imposing total of 253\/7 from their 20 overs, which was the highest team score recorded at the tournament thus far.<\/p>\n

In reply, the Liggies<\/em><\/strong>‘ Johan Duvenhage<\/strong> impressed with a patient 70, which was a notable effort given the demands of the shorter format of the game.<\/p>\n

Heading into Thursday’s matches, three teams retained perfect records. It was, however, the two pre-tournament favourites, Ho\u00ebrskool Eldoraigne<\/strong> and Transvalia<\/strong>, who booked their places in Friday morning’s final.<\/p>\n

The Eldos<\/strong><\/em> brought an end to Ho\u00ebrskool Kalahari<\/strong>‘s unbeaten run with a convincing 68-run victory. Captain Rowan McLaren<\/strong> registered his second half-century of the week, but it was Ruan Steyn<\/strong> who dominated proceedings with a commanding 66, which guided the Centurion-based side to a competitive 186\/6.<\/p>\n

Once again, the Eldoraigne<\/strong> bowling unit delivered collectively. Every bowler played their part with disciplined spells, most notably Vince Lotz<\/strong>, who returned figures of 2\/9. Kalahari<\/strong> was restricted to 118\/9, with Myburgh<\/strong>‘s 26 the lone highlight of the innings.<\/p>\n

Transvalia<\/strong> produced a ruthless display to dismantle the hosts, Ho\u00ebrskool Fichardtpark<\/strong>. The home side struggled from the outset against one of the most effective bowling attacks of the tournament, and Valia <\/strong><\/em>enhanced their reputation with another strong showing in their penultimate match.<\/p>\n

Janco Jacobs<\/strong> was outstanding, claiming three wickets without conceding a run. He was well supported by Declan Steinmann<\/strong>, who returned figures of 2\/8, and Aden Matthee<\/strong>, whose 2\/9 further tightened the vice as Fichardtpark<\/strong> was skittled for only 54. Kriegler Botha<\/strong>‘s unbeaten 23 ensured the run chase was completed with ease.<\/p>\n

A final which pits Transvalia<\/strong>‘s formidable bowling attack against Eldoraigne<\/strong>‘s powerful batting line-up promises a fitting climax to the tournament.<\/p>\n

In other matches, Ho\u00ebrskool Driehoek<\/strong>‘s Christiaan Schoeman<\/strong> struck 80 in his side’s comprehensive 83-run victory over Duineveld<\/strong>, while Ho\u00ebrskool Overvaal<\/strong>‘s Janco de Lange<\/strong> recorded the third-highest individual score of the day, blasting an unbeaten 76 in a losing cause against Potchefstroom Volkskool<\/strong>‘s Stayers.<\/p>\n

Summarised scorecards<\/strong><\/p>\n

Quarterfinals\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Transvalia 160\/3\u00a0<\/strong>(Jeandr\u00e9 Barnard 71*, Declan Steinmann 36*, Divan Knoetze 34; Evan van der Merwe 1\/14); Potchefstroom Volkskool Stayers 119\/7\u00a0<\/strong>(Nolan Roets 39, Christiaan Stoop 21; Declan Steinmann 2\/16).\u00a0Transvalia won by 41 runs.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Eldoraigne 218\/4\u00a0<\/strong>(Vince Lotz 54, Jean du Randt 47*, Ruan Steyn 45, Benyael Morkel 33; Luke Venter 2\/26);\u00a0Oos-Moot 65\/10 <\/strong>(Marnus Broodryk 24; Anhus Myers 3\/5, Niclas Moller 2\/8).\u00a0Eldoraigne won by 153 runs.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ho\u00ebrskool Pietersburg 89\/10 <\/strong>(Stephan Swanepoel 25; Liam Laing 4\/9, Carl Thole 3\/9); Kalahari 90\/0\u00a0<\/strong>(Louhan Noeth 52*, Carl Thole 25*). Kalahari won by 10 wickets.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fichardtpark 140\/6\u00a0<\/strong>(Diederik de Vos 45, Jayden Geldenhuys 36, Davyd Oosthuizen 29*; Luann Le Roux 2\/35); Overvaal 119\/6\u00a0<\/strong>(Janco de Lange 42; Jayden Geldenhuys 3\/13, Henrich Kemp 2\/21).\u00a0Fichardtpark won by 21 runs.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Other results<\/strong><\/p>\n

Witteberg 151\/5\u00a0<\/strong>(Janco Botha 74, Xander Fourie 52; Danny Botes 2\/23, Erik Prinsloo 2\/24);\u00a0Sentraal 140\/8\u00a0<\/strong>(Janr\u00e9 Bornman 51, Damian Smith 32, Riwan van der Westhuizen 23; Dumisani Johnsen 2\/16, Lwazi Mosea 2\/19, Xander Fourie 2\/26).\u00a0Witteberg won by 11 runs.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Voortrekker 142\/7\u00a0<\/strong>(Vlag Janse van Rensburg 39, Paul Naud\u00e9 37, Thato Nthebere 22; 2\/13, Cobus Wilken 2\/36); Jim Fouch\u00e9<\/strong> 73\/10 <\/strong>(Jayden Strydom 3\/20, Janno Olivier 2\/8, Vlag Janse van Rensburg 2\/11).\u00a0Voortrekker won by 69 runs.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ho\u00ebrskool Sasolburg 152\/6\u00a0<\/strong>(Stephan Roets 43, Andriaan van der Merwe 32, Jan-Hendrik Espach 32; Waldo van der Westhuizen 2\/38);\u00a0Goudveld 142\/6\u00a0<\/strong>(Edrich du Plessis 42*; Nathan Bower 2\/24).\u00a0Ho\u00ebrskool Sasolburg won by 10 runs.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Merensky 148\/7\u00a0<\/strong>(Waldo Mouton 52*; Divan Dreyer 3\/25, Drikus Meiring 2\/21);\u00a0Driehoek 149\/7\u00a0<\/strong>(Christiaan Schoeman 31, Ian van der Westhuizen 26*; Conrad Venter 3\/22).\u00a0Driehoek won by three wickets.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Semi-finals\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Eldoraigne 186\/6\u00a0<\/strong>(Ruan Steyn 66, Rowan McLaren 50, Jean du Randt 20; Wilrigh Mostert 2\/20);\u00a0Kalahari 118\/9 <\/strong>(Myburgh de Klerk 26, Janko Noeth 24, Wilrigh Mostert 22; Vince Lotz 2\/9, Juandr\u00e9 Badenhorst 2\/15).\u00a0Eldoraigne won by 68 runs.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fichardtpark 54\/10 <\/strong>(Neven Olivier 8; Janco Jacobs 3\/0, Declan Steinmann 2\/8, Aden Matthee 2\/9);\u00a0Transvalia 56\/1\u00a0<\/strong>(Kriegler Botha 23*; Jayden Geldenhuys 1\/21).\u00a0Transvalia won by nine wickets.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Other results<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sentraal 253\/7\u00a0<\/strong>(Erik Prinsloo 125, Daniel Pienaar 30, Damain Smith 29; Miquel Goncalves 3\/35, Jurgen Hesse 2\/43); Ho\u00ebrskool Lichtenburg 128\/3\u00a0<\/strong>(Johan Duvenhage 70*, Dovhan Wiese 20*; Ruardt Kleynhans 1\/9).\u00a0Sentraal won 125 runs.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Potchefstroom Volkskool Stayers 159\/8\u00a0<\/strong>(Damian Pretorius 34, Callum Campbell 26, Christiaan Stoop 20; Ethan Kruger 2\/32, Zander Olivier 2\/41);\u00a0Overvaal 160\/4\u00a0<\/strong>(Janco de Lange 76*, Luann le Roux 25, Zander Olivier 20*; Hanru Combrinck 2\/21, Pierre Joubert 2\/35).\u00a0Overvaal won by six wickets.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ho\u00ebrskool Pietersburg 101\/8\u00a0<\/strong>(Stephan Swanepoel 30, Willem Viljoen 28*; Elmar Theron 3\/10, Henco Erasmus 3\/13);\u00a0Oos-Moot 104\/3\u00a0<\/strong>(Liam du Preez 58*; AJ Galloway 1\/8).\u00a0Oos-Moot won by seven wickets.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Witteberg 151\/5\u00a0<\/strong>(Dumisani Johnsen 53, Xander Fourie 37, Pieter Wessels 22*; WJ van Niekerk 2\/29);\u00a0Trio 152\/7\u00a0<\/strong>(Myburgh 42, Dylan Young 30, Pedri Wilken 30; Dumisani Johnsen 2\/35).\u00a0Trio won by three wickets.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Driehoek 174\/7\u00a0<\/strong>(Christiaan Schoeman 80, Janco Smit 22; Wilmar Myburgh 3\/23, Xander O’Connell 2\/30);\u00a0Duineveld 91\/10 <\/strong>(Du Preez Faber 56; Leanardo Visser 2\/1, Chris Saayman 2\/10, Ian van der Westhuizen 2\/10).\u00a0Driehoek won by 83 runs.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Voortrekker 137\/5\u00a0<\/strong>(Paul Naud\u00e9 42, Jano Olivier 30, Andries Rautenbach 20*; Nathan Bower 2\/25);\u00a0Ho\u00ebrskool Sasolburg 138\/5\u00a0<\/strong>(Jan-Hendrik Espach 56, Liam Singleton 30*; Jordan Buitendag 2\/16).\u00a0Ho\u00ebrskool Sasolburg won by five wickets.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It took four days for the first century to be recorded at the 2026 Kovsie Smash in the City of Roses, Bloemfontein. With the attention firmly on Thursday afternoon’s semi-finals, Ho\u00ebrskool Sentraal‘s Erik Prinsloo seized the spotlight with a blistering knock. He took just 49 deliveries to smash a breathtaking 125, which powered the Bloemfontein […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":88257,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-88243","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88243","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=88243"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88243\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/88257"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=88243"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=88243"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=88243"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}