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India booked themselves a place in the ICC u19 Cricket World Cup final by eliminating the hosts, South Africa, in a nail-biting semi-final in Benoni on Tuesday, in which the advantage constantly shifted between the two teams.

After early successes by the South African bowlers, the Indian captain, Uday Saharan, put in a man of the match-winning performance to oust the home team and give his side an opportunity to defend the title they won in the West Indies in 2022.

It is, in fact, a fifth consecutive final for India, and it is the ninth time that they have made the title-decider in the 15 u19 Cricket World Cups that have been played since 1988.

In Tuesday’s showdown, India won the toss and opted to field first. The five-time champions had batted first in every other game they had played at the tournament and won every time, with their superb bowling attack doing a good job of defending the challenging totals posted by their batsmen in Bloemfontein during the group stages.

SA u19 opener Lhuan-dré Pretorius continued his outstanding form, making his highest score of the event and breaching the half-century mark for a third match in succession. He took it to the Indian bowlers and made 76 from 102 balls, which included six fours and three sixes, before Musheer Khan palmed a phenomenal catch to remove the South African dangerman.

Richard Seletswane had joined Pretorius at the crease with the total on 46/2. Together, they weathered some early pressure from the Indian spinners and constructed a vital 72-run partnership.

After Pretorius was dismissed, it was up to Seletswane to carry the South African innings. He showed great patience and maturity in his 100-ball knock, scoring 64 runs, with four fours and two sixes, which manoeuvred his team into a position from which they could boost the run rate in the final overs.

Further contributions from Oliver Whitehead (22) and his captain, Juan James (24), helped South Africa to 220/7 in the 48th over before Tristan Luus (23*) and Riley Norton (7*) added the finishing touches.

Luus, who came into the squad as a late replacement for Esosa Aihevba, showed real intent, smashing two sixes and a four to race to 23 off of 12 deliveries, which helped South Africa become the first team to score more than 200 runs against the Indians.

They finished on 244/7 from their 50 overs to set the defending champions a challenge, and the South African quicks wasted no time in getting stuck into the feared Indian batsmen when they came out to bat.

Kwena Maphaka, who had already claimed three five-fours in the tournament, continued to assert himself as a force for the South African team, striking with the first delivery of the innings to send Adarsh Singh back to the sheds.

After three more wickets in quick succession, courtesy of Luus, the pacy two-pronged South African attack had the visitors rattled at 32/4 after the first 12 overs.

Musheer Khan, who entered the contest as the tournament’s top run scorer, was caught by James at second slip, having added only four runs to his tally.

The Indian captain Uday Saharan and Sachin Dhas (96), however, put up stubborn resistance to absorb the South Africans’ body blows and wrestle control away from the tails-up hosts.

The duo patiently picked off singles, before growing in confidence and striking up a massive 171-run partnership in 30.5 overs.

Maphaka finally made the breakthrough for his side in the 43rd over, when he was reintroduced to the attack, denying the big-hitting Dhas a century, before taking his third wicket with the final delivery of his spell.

With only 17 balls left in the game and with a tenuous 18 runs to protect, Dewan Marais picked up a seventh wicket for SA with a brilliant bit of fielding, with his direct hit on the stumps at the non-striker’s end getting rid of Murugan Abhishek without scoring.

Raj Limbani added to the tension by smacking the first delivery he faced over the boundary for six to get his side to within six runs of victory, with two overs remaining.

More excellent fielding, with the combination of Oliver Whitehead and Nqobani Mokoena producing a run out, prevented the Indian captain from seeing his team across the line. However, when Saharan departed, Naman Tiwari needed to score only one run to secure a thrilling two-wicket victory for India.

Though it was heartbreaking for the South Africans – and they will rue the 27 extras they conceded; India allowed only 11 – the young Proteas put up a valiant fight on home soil and showed signs that the future of South African cricket is bright.

The likes of Maphaka, Stolk, Pretorius, Marais and Luus, to name but a few, demonstrated their immense potential throughout the event when challenged by the best of the rest of the world.

On Thursday, Australia faces Pakistan to determine who will challenge India for the title of u19 World Cup winners on Sunday, 11 February.

Summarised Scorecard

South Africa u19 244/7 (Lhuan-dré Pretorius 76, Richard Seletswane 64, Juan James 24, Tristan Luus 23*, Oliver Whitehead 22; Raj Limbani 3/60, Musheer Khan 2/43); India u19 248/8 (Sachin Dhas 96, Uday Saharan 81, Extras 27; Kwena Maphaka 3/32). India won by two wickets.

Hoërskool Fichardtpark het met trots hul eerste netbalspan vir die 2024-seisoen bekendgestel.

Onder leiding van die bekwame Protea-netbalster, Karla Pretorius, wat die rol van netbalhoof in 2023 aanvaar het, spog die span met vyf matrieks, drie talentvolle graad 11-leerders en twee belowende graad 10-spelers.

Onder Pretorius se leiding is die doel nie bloot sukses nie, maar ook om ‘n positiewe spangees te kweek en ‘n effektiewe netbalprogram te vestig.

Terwyl die span sy visier op die hoogs mededingende Wesgrow Sentrale Skole-sportreeks het, met teenstanders soos Jim Fouché, Sentraal, Goudveld, Voortrekker, Witteberg, Trio en Diamantveld, mik Pretorius na ‘n top-vier-plasing.

Die ambisies hou nie daar op nie, want Pretorius beoog dat die span ook ‘n plek onder die top vier in die stadsliga sal behaal, waar hulle spanne soos Sentraal, Jim Fouché, Oranje en Eunice sal uitdaag.

Etna Pottas, spanbestuurder, sê hul doelwit vir die jaar is om ‘n positiewe omgewing vir spelers te skep sodat elke speler tot haar volle potensiaal kan ontwikkel.

“Sport is daar vir die totale ontwikkeling van die deelnemer. Dit gaan nie bloot oor die wen nie; hoewel wen belangrik is, is dit nie die alfa en omega nie. Kinders ondergaan karaktertoetse en leer meer oor die lewe. Hulle leer om onder druk te funksioneer, om saam te staan (in goeie en slegte tye), en in die proses besef hulle dat die lewe soms onregverdig is en dat jy nie altyd jou sin kry nie.”

Fichardtpark se voorlopige bepalings vir 2024:

• President Steyn Sportdag: 24 Februarie
• Hoërskool Fichardtpark Sportdag: 2 Maart
• Wesgrow-liga t. Goudveld: 12 Maart
• Wesgrow-liga t. Voortrekker: 16 Maart
• Toer na AFFIES: 24 – 27 Maart
• Wesgrow-liga t. Jim Fouché: 6 April
• Wesgrow-liga t. Sentraal: 20 April
• Wesgrow-liga t. Diamantveld: TBC
• Wesgrow-liga t. Witteberg: 13 Julie
• Wesgrow-liga t. Trio: 20 Julie

Die Protea netbalster Karla Pretorius is onlangs as die nuwe hoof van netbal by Hoërskool Fichardtpark aangestel.

Met ‘n roemryke loopbaan en ‘n rekord van uitsonderlike prestasies, bring Pretorius ‘n magdom ervaring en kundigheid na die rol.

Danksy haar verdedigingsvernuf, word Pretorius alom bestempel as een van die wêreld se voorste doelspelers.

Pretorius se prestasies in die netbalwêreld is inderdaad indrukwekkend, en sy is in 2019 as die waardevolste speler by die Wêreldbeker aangewys.

Haar netbalreis strek oor verskeie bekende spanne heen, soos Kovsies (2009-2015); Team Bath, Engeland (2011-2016); en Sunshine Coast Lightning in Australië (2016-2023).

Op internasionale vlak het sy sedert 2011 haar impak laat geld vir die Proteas.

Pretorius spog ook met ‘n reeks toekennings, insluitende die Varsitybeker-reeks se Speler van die Jaar (2014, 2015), die Universiteit van die Vrystaat se Sportvrou van die Jaar (2015, 2016) en die Australiese Superliga-MVP (2017) .

Sy was ook erken in die Mail & Guardian se lys van Top-200 Jong Suid-Afrikaners (2017).

Mnr. Herman van der Merwe, hoof van Fichardtpark, praat met groot entoesiasme oor Pretorius se aanstelling. Hy het haar uitgebreide ervaring in afrigtingsmetodologieë en kondisionering uitgelig, en beklemtoon dat haar invloed ver buite die grense van die netbalbaan strek.

“Min netbalspelers spog met soveel ondervinding van die nuutste afrigtingsmetodes en kondisionering. In die tyd wat sy met jongmense deurgebring het, het sy ‘n ongelooflike impak op hulle menswees gehad. Afrigting gaan juis oor heelwat meer as bloot afrigting; die impak op jongmense se lewens, as ‘n mentor, is ook van kardinale belang.”

Pretorius se visie vir Fichies-netbal behels meer as slegs die afrigting van die eerstespan. Sy streef daarna om ‘n netbalkultuur en speelstyl oor al die spanne heen te vestig en ‘n mededingende omgewing te bevorder.

Volgens Pretorius, sien sy geweldig uit na hierdie nuwe fase in haar loopbaan, en vernaam om terug te ploeg met haar kennis en ervaring. Sy wil graag ook haar kennis by die laerskole inploeg.

Met Pretorius aan die stuur, is Fichies-netbal op die drumpel van ‘n merkwaardige reis van groei en prestasie.

Clifton College, in the year of the school’s Centenary, is adding an exciting new event to the KZN schools’ cricket calendar, with the inaugural Clifton T20, set to take place from 16-18 February.

The competition features nine of KZN’s top 10 boys’ schools and St John’s College (Harare). Kearsney College was unable to fit in the event this year, but it has indicated it will play in next year’s Clifton T20.

SuperSport Schools will carry live coverage of the action, while DStv SuperSport Channel 216 will broadcast the semi-finals and final, with commentary, on Sunday, 18 February.

The inclusion of the St John’s team is fitting because the inspiration for the Clifton T20 comes from the wildly popular St John’s Rams T20, of which Clifton has been a part since 2014.

Clifton Director of Cricket, former Dolphins’ fast bowler Brandon Scullard, explained: “We were at the St John’s Rams T20, and we thought if we could replicate something like it in Durban, and use our Centenary year to launch it, that would be pretty epic. Cricket doesn’t have much to play for in terms of trophies in KZN.

“Playing in front of big crowds, with tents… What could be better than creating our own T20 tournament?

“It will give the boys an opportunity to play under pressure and play for something. It’s an opportunity for them to put themselves out there in front of a lot more people than they’re used to.”

Scullard detailed how the competition structure will function: “We’re going to be 10 teams in two groups. The top two after the round robin stages will go into the semi-finals. If you finish third, fourth or fifth, you will play cross-pool positional playoffs.

“The losers of the semi-finals will finish joint-third. Third in each group will play for fifth and sixth, fourth will play for seventh and eighth, and fifth will play for ninth and tenth position.”

Scullard said while the traditional fixtures among KZN schools are important, adding an event in which schools play for a trophy offers up an exciting new challenge and the feedback he has received from his fellow Directors of Cricket has been very positive.

“Everyone is excited. Everyone that I have spoken to is really looking forward to participating in it. I think it was something that KZN was missing. We go to tons of festivals, but even our Saturday fixtures are not league games. If you look at other parts of the country, especially places like Pretoria and Johannesburg, their normal fixtures are leagues and playing for trophies.”

Not that long ago, there was a Cricket South Africa-endorsed national T20 competition, which featured regional competition, followed by a national final between the franchise champions. It was very popular among the schools, but when the sponsors withdrew their support, the competition fell away. Scullard hopes the Clifton T20 will fill that gap in KZN.

Indeed, the new tournament will mirror many aspects of the previous CSA competition. The biggest difference will be the condensed nature of the event.

The aim of the Clifton T20, though, is not to just add the games and play for silverware, it is to inject the feel-good vibe and lively atmosphere of the St John’s Rams T20.

“We want to replicate the atmosphere and feeling of that tournament. We will have live music and MCs. There will be VIP hospitality tents for our corporate sponsors. It’s going to be really cool,” Scullard said.

Sponsors, too, appear to be very excited about the Clifton T20. Honor Magic V2 is a Platinum sponsor, Edgars is a Gold sponsor, while Mercedes-Benz Umhlanga and SANI Car Rental are Silver sponsors.

The official hydration partner is aQuellé, and KFC has agreed to sponsor all lunches on the day of the final.

Something else that is being copied from the St John’s Rams T20 is the coloured cricket kit that each team will wear, and the unveiling of those kits will add an extra element of intrigue.

“We have the pantone colours for all of the schools,” Scullard explained, “so they will be playing in their traditional colours. There will be sponsors’ logos on the kit, on their shirts and sleeves, reflecting the corporate involvement that we have been lucky enough to secure.

“Each school will have different designs, so it won’t necessarily be a plain colour. Our apparel supplier, Custom Apparel, have drawn up some really fun designs for the different teams, and those kits will all be unveiled at our opening ceremony on Thursday, 15 February.

“We’re having an opening function, where there will be a Q and A with the captains, and they will be wearing and unveiling the kit for the first time in front of their peers and their coaches.”

He added: “Not many boys get an opportunity to play white ball cricket. The W100, in which we play, uses pink balls. Not many schools have shade cloth or black sightscreens. The white ball element really does elevate the tournament, and the boys love the coloured clothing.

An aspect of the St John’s Rams T20 that has had South African teams gushing over the years is the phenomenal job that the Zimbabweans have done as hosts, and Clifton is determined to match that standard.

“The Zimbabweans are the most incredible people and the most amazing hosts. Our boys and parents have been lucky enough to experience that when we go to Zimbabwe, so I am sure our parents are going to pull out all the stops to look after the St John’s boys.

Clifton opened its hugely impressive boarding establishment, Centenary House, at the beginning of the school term and Scullard said the school is hoping to incorporate it into the tournament in future: “We are also hoping from next year to host the Zimbabwe and Maritzburg schools in our boarding house. We’d love to have the travelling schools in our boarding establishment.”

The latest addition to the Clifton campus has drawn rave reviews from the school’s boys, he added: “The boys are absolutely loving it. They love being with their mates. They love the set-up. It’s like a hotel. It’s amazing.”

The goal for 2025 is to expand the field to 12 teams, featuring the top 10 KZN boys’ schools, as well as Harare’s St John’s and St George’s College.

Both Zimbabwean schools feature in the annual Independent Schools Cricket Festival (ISCF), which is hosted by St Alban’s College, and the timing of the Clifton T20 is ideal for them. It occurs during half-term for the Zimbabweans, and a week before the ISCF.

The annual National Aquatics Festival, which is being hosted by Durban’s Maris Stella this year, gets underway on Friday, 9 February, and culminates in the final of the water polo tournament on Saturday at 12:00.

Three venues, Maris Stella, the Kings Park Pool, and Durban High School (DHS) will host 10 of the best girls’ water polo teams from around South Africa.

St Stithians College have their sights set on a successful defence of the title they won last year, when St Mary’s Waverley hosted the event.

Coach Etienne Le Roux’s charges are expected to progress beyond the pool stages, but they’re drawn in a tough pool side alongside four KZN schools: St Mary’s DSG Kloof, Durban Girls’ High School, Durban Girls’ College and Danville Park Girls’ High.

The second pool is also stacked with some long-time powers, which will mean a place at the upper end of the playoffs is far from guaranteed.

Last year’s runners-up, Clarendon High School will be challenged by Pretoria High School for Girls, and the always tough St Mary’s Waverley. Local interest comes in the form of the hosts, Maris Stella, and Our Lady of Fatima Dominican Convent School.

Recently, at the Brian Baker Tournament in Makhanda, Clarendon defeated St Stithians. They made it to the semi-finals but were then beaten 8-13 by Reddam House Constantia. After going down 7-14 to Roedean in their last playoff contest, they finished in a very credible fourth place.

The hosts, on the other hand, snatched fifth place at the National Aquatics Festival in 2023, but they will enter this year’s event with high hopes of an even more impressive showing, playing in front of their home crowd.

Pretoria High will have their sights set on an improved performance over their 2023 campaign, which was lacklustre and resulted in them finishing at the bottom of the standings.

The festival also includes a swimming gala and a diving competition.

Our Lady of Fatima captured the honours in the gala last year, scoring 409 points to edge out St Mary’s Waverley, who finished in second place, on 406 points, with St Stithians taking third on 387 points.

Saints claimed the overall title in diving, with their u15, u16 and senior divers putting up 181 points.

The gala features 10 schools renowned for their swimming excellence, while seven top schools will compete in the diving competition.

The National Aquatics Festival will be broadcast live on SuperSport Schools.

Swimming Gala Participants

Clarendon High School
C&N Sekondêre Meisieskool Oranje
Durban Girls’ College
Durban Girls’ High School
Eunice High School
Our Lady of Fatima Dominican Convent School
Pretoria High School for Girls
St Mary’s DSG Kloof
St Mary’s Waverley
St Stithians College

Diving Participants

Brescia House School
Maris Stella
Roedean School
St Andrew’s School for Girls
St Mary’s DSG Kloof
St Mary’s Waverley
St Stithians College

Water Polo Fixtures

Pool A
St Stithians College, St Mary’s DSG Kloof, Durban Girls’ High School, Durban Girls’ College, Danville Park Girls’ High.

Pool B
Clarendon High School, Pretoria High School for Girls, St Mary’s Waverley, Maris Stella, Our Lady of Fatima Dominican Convent School.

Fixtures: Day 1

Friday, 9 February – North Pool

14:00 – St Stithians College vs St Mary’s DSG Kloof; 14:40 – Durban Girls’ High vs Danville; 15:20 – St Mary’s DSG Kloof vs Durban Girls’ College; 16:00 – St Stithians vs Danville; 16:40 – Durban Girls’ High vs Durban Girls’ College; 17:20 – St Mary’s DSG Kloof vs Danville; 18:00 – St Stithians College vs Durban Girls’ College; 18:40 – St Mary’s DSG Kloof vs Durban Girls’ High.

South Pool

14:00 – St Mary’s Waverley vs Maris Stella; 14:40 – Clarendon High School vs Pretoria High; 15:20 – Fatima vs St Mary’s Waverley; 16:00 – Pretoria High vs Maris Stella; 16:40 – Clarendon High School vs Fatima; 17:20 – Pretoria High vs St Mary’s Waverley; 18:00 – Fatima vs Maris Stella; 18:40 – Clarendon High School vs St Mary’s Waverley.

Day 2

Saturday, 10 February @ Durban High School

07:00 – Durban Girls’ College vs Danville; 07:40 – St Stithians College vs Durban Girls’ High; 08:30 – 3^rd Pool A vs 2^nd Pool B; 09:10 – 2^nd Pool A vs 3^rd Pool B; 09:50 – 1^st Pool A vs Winner 21; 10:30 – 1^st Pool B vs Winner 22; 11:25 – Loser 25 vs Loser 26; 12:05 – Winner 25 vs Winner 26.

@ Maris Stella

07:00 – Pretoria High vs Fatima; 07:40 – Clarendon High School vs Maris Stella; 08:40 – 4^th Pool A vs 5^th Pool B; 09:20 – 5^th Pool A vs 4^th Pool B; 10:00 – Loser 23 vs Loser 24; 10:40 – Winner 23 vs Winner 24; 11:20 – Loser 21 vs Loser 22.

Josh Anderson, of Trinityhouse Randpark Ridge, had at least 357 reasons to have a broad grin on his face when he came off the cricket field on Saturday.

Anderson went ballistic on the fields of St John’s College in an u14 fixture against the Houghton school’s u14B team, smashing an unbelievable, unbeaten 357 runs. And he retired with 11 overs of his team’s 50 overs still remaining!

The opening batsman, who idolises South Africa’s own Mr. 360, AB de Villiers, and talented English batsman Jos Butler, has been playing the game since the tender age of six.

“He’s had a passion for the game since day one. If you look at his schedule, it’s just cricket, cricket and some more cricket,” said Brian Anderson, the father of Trinityhouse’s hero.

“He doesn’t take a day off. Even on days which are supposed to be his rest days, you will find him playing indoor cricket.”

Josh faced only 162 deliveries in his innings, smashing a whopping 65 boundaries, of which 23 touched ground for the first time on the other side of the boundary rope. He also smashed 42 fours in his memorable innings.

Anderson represented the Gauteng Lions at u13 level in 2023, captaining the side. He also represented South Africa in Indoor Cricket last year, touring to Dubai to face the best from around the world.

On Saturday, he was the aggressor in nearly all of Trinity’s partnerships. The most notable one was his partnership for the fifth wicket with Cameron Hayter (11) in which he contributed 126 of the 137 runs scored by the pair.

“It was a controlled innings, nothing expansive. He batted really well,” said Thabane Moyo, Anderson’s coach.

“I spoke to him after the first couple of overs and he told me he’s feeling good. He was relentless on anything short, making full use of his pull and cut shots. That is also where most of his runs came from.

“He struggled a bit against spin, so he patiently waited for the seamers to come back on. That is when he really let loose.”

Anderson gave St John’s only one chance, but he was dropped just before he had reached his century, after which he rubbed salt into his opponents’ wounds.

Hoërskool Dinamika het Saterdag sy derde agtereenvolgende sege in Afdeling C van die Finsbury-reeks ingepalm.

Die span van Alberton is na die eerste drie rondes die enigste onoorwonne span, nadat hulle met ‘n naelskraapse sege van een paaltjie teen Hoërskool Middelburg koning gekraai het.

Kaptein, Dean van Onselen, se terugkeer na die span blyk Dinamika se resep vir sukses te wees. Van Onselen was verlede jaar vir ‘n geruime tyd buite aksie met ‘n ernstige besering.

Hy is vanjaar sommer vroeg-vroeg reeds stewig op dreef. Die voorslagkolwer se vyftigtal Saterdag was sy derde agtereenvolgende een in soveel rondes.

Mark van den Berg het die voortou geneem met die bal. Die aanvangsbouler het, saam met sy vennoot Jayden Smith (2/9), amok gesaai onder die Middie-kolwers. Hulle is goed bygestaan deur Nathan Visagie (2/15) en Tyrone Whateley (2/16).

Gavin Genis (53) het die kollig in die Middies se kolforde gesteel. Sy vyftigtal, tesame met bydraes deur Lohan Botha (29) en Shuan Taljard (25), het die span van Mpumalanga uit die moeilikheid tot ‘n totaal van 156 gestuur.

Daarna was Middelburg se boulers aan die beurt. Eduan Strydom (3/37) het van voor gelei om sy span enduit in die wedloop te hou. Goeie ondersteuning deur Hendre Nel (2/32) en Gavin Genis (2/36) het Dinamika hard laat spook. Dit was egter nie genoeg nie en Dinamika kon die telling in die 43ste beurt verbysteek.

Hoër Volkskool Heidelberg het hulself goed van hulle taak gekwyt deur Hoërskool Merensky met 38 lopies te klop. Dave Pelzer was weer op sy stukke met die kolf en het gekapitaliseer op enige swak bal om ‘n onoorwonne 82 lopies tot sy span se totaal te voeg.

Die aanvangsvennootskap tussen Matthew Wentzel (63) en Marko Hartkoph (50) het vooraf die platform vir Pelzer gelê. Die twee het puik gekombineer vir ‘n gesamentlike 85 lopies voor Xander Schoeman (1/62) Hartkoph terug pawiljoen toe gestuur het.

Luka Heinlein was weer met mening op dreef vir die Plasies. Sy boulsyfers van drie paaltjies vir 42 lopies was die Tzaneeners se beste op die dag. Die draaier, Rinaldo Bornman (2/30), het hom goed bygestaan.

Die Plasies se talentvolle JP Botha het die besoekers so hittete tot ‘n onwaarskynlike oorwinning gelei. Botha se verwoestende beurt van 81 lopies, van slegs 69 aflewerings, is egter uiteindelik deur die akkurate boulwerk van Vaughn Steynvaart beëindig.

Kyle Crous (36, 50b) het ‘n waardevolle ondersteuningsrol gespeel, maar beduidende boulskofte deur Gerrit Henken (2/27) en Dave Pelzer (2/30) het verseker dat die Plasies slegs 228 bereik.

Uplands College se Kai Taylor het sy span tot ‘n gemaklike oorwinning van ses paaltjies oor HTS Middelburg gelei. Naylor het vyf Middelburg paaltjies laat kantel vir slegs 15 lopies. Leam van Zyl was ewe indrukwekkend met boulsyfers van vier paaltjies vir 22 lopies.

Net die Middelburgers se kaptein, Toy Engelbrecht, was opgewasse teen die Uplands-aanslag . Hy het meer as die helfte van sy span se totaal aangeteken met sy bydrae van 48 lopies.

Marley Waspe se beurt van 29 lopies was genoeg vir die span van Mpumalanga om HTS Middelburg se teleurstellende telling van 83 in slegs 22 beurte verby te steek.

Beknopte telkaarte:

Hoërskool Middelburg: 156 (Gavin Genis 53, Lohan Botha 29, Shaun Taljaard 25; Mark van der Berg 3/35, Jayden Smith 2/9, Nathan Visagie 2/15, Tyrone Whateley 2/16). Hoërskool Dinamika: 157/9 (Dean van Onselen 55; Eduan Strydom 3/37, Hendre Nel 2/32, Gavin Genis 2/36, Ivan Deale 2/38). Dinamika wen met een paaltjie.

Hoër Volkskool Heidelberg: 262/7 (Dave Pelzer 82*, Matthew Wentzel 63, Marko Hartkoph 50; Luka Heinlein 3/42, Rinaldo Bornman 2/30). Hoërskool Merensky: 228 (JP Botha 81, Kyle Crous 36, Logan Janse van Rensburg 24, Xander Schoeman 23; Gerrit Henken 2/27, Dave Pelzer 2/30). Volkskool Heidelberg wen met 38 lopies.

HTS Middelburg: 83 (Toy Engelbrecht 48; Kai Naylor 5/15, Leam van Zyl 4/22). Uplands College: 85/4 (Marley Waspe 29; Ethan Dreyer 2/17). Uplands College wen met ses paaltjies.

Hoërskool Hans Moore se kaptein, Warren Minnaar, en voorslagkolwer, Xavier Coetzee, se gesamentlike aanslag met die kolf het hul span tot ‘n reuse oorwinning van 221 lopies gestuur oor Potchefstroom Gimnasium, in in vanjaar se Finsbury-reeks.

Minnaar was in ‘n verwoestende bui en het uitstekend gekapitaliseer op die platform wat deur Kenan Shaw (24) en Stephan Vermaak (34) gelê is.

Sy beurt van 91 lopies het vanaf slegs 68 aflewerings gekom. Coetzee het die Hansies se posisie verder verstewig met ‘n ewe indrukwekkende beurt van 85 lopies.

Vir Gimmies was niemand so vernietigend met die bal in hand soos Margeo Joubert nie. Joubert kon aan die einde van die dag met uitmuntende boulsyfers van vier paaltjies vir 36 lopies spog.

In die kolfdepartement het dinge egter skeef geloop vir die Potchefstromers. Adrian Watson, wat verwoed op dreef is in vanjaar se reeks, het nog vier paaltjies op sy kerfstok geplaas, terwyl Vermaak op sy goeie kolfbeurt voortgebou het deur ook by te dra met die bal. Sy twee paaltjies, vir slegs twee lopies, was die spyker in die Gimmie-doodskis.

Die twee se kombinasie van venynige boulwerk en konstante druk het beteken dat Gimmies slegs 78 lopies kon aanteken voordat hulle laaste paaltjie gekantel het.

Hoërskool Eldoraigne het ewe indrukwekkend met die kolf vertoon om Hoërskool Montana met nege paaljies te klop. Die vennootskap van 141 lopies tussen Kyle de Bruin (70, 112b)* en Johan Broekman (65, 78b)* om die tweede paaltjie, was die beslissende faktor tussen die twee spanne.

Die twee voorslagkolwers het op die momentum van die boulers voortgebou. Ruan Boshoff was die Eldo’s se keurbouler. Hy het die Montie-kolwers behoorlik op hul tone gehou, en sy vier paaltjies, vir 33 lopies in nege beurte, het ‘n stewige begin deur die Monties erg in die wiele gery.

Luca Bairos was die voorste lopiemaker vir sy span. Die Monties se voorslagkolwer het hard gespook om die Pretorianers se beurt te stabiliseer na Ruhan Oliphant (2/22) se uitstekende openingskof met die bal. Bairos se 29 lopies van 34 aflewerings, gekombineerd met ‘n waardevolle bydrae deur Schalk van Jaarsveld (24), het die Monties tot ‘n telling van 166 aangehelp.

Bairos was ook sy span se enigste bouler van formaat. Hy het van Eldo’s se aanvangskolwer, Ryno Redelinghuys, vir slegs 13 lopies ontslae geraak.

Hoërskool Kemptonpark het hul onoorwonne status behou toe hulle daarin kon slaag om Hoërskool Monument met 67 lopies te verslaan. Marko van Voorst was die Kempies se beste kolwer met 43 lopies. Joshua Shanker (38) en Stian de Villiers (21) het ook goed vertoon onder druk en in taai toestande.

André van Niekerk het vir Monnas die grootste skade met die bal aangerig. Hy kon spog met puik boulsyfers van vier paaltjies vir 37 lopies. Werner Durrheim het goeie ondersteuning gebied met drie paaltjies van sy eie.

Teleurstelling met die kolf het egter weer kop uitgesteek vir die span van Krugersdorp. Die Kempies se voorste bouler in vanjaar se reeks, Martin Williams, het behoorlik onder die Monnas-kolwers gemaai.

Williams het ‘n uitstekende vyftal paaltjies geneem, wat sy span slegs 33 lopies gekos het. Wian Pieters het hom goed bygestaan, deur self drie Monnas kolwers terug pawiljoen toe te stuur .

Slegs Keagan van Wyk kon iets waardevol bydra tot Monnas se teleurstellende telling van 112. Hy het hardnekkig vir sy 25 lopies, vanaf 38 aflewerings, baklei.

Beknopte telkaarte: 

Hans Moore: 298 (Warren Minnaar 91, Xavier Coetzee 83, Stephan Vermaak 34, Kenan Shaw 24; Margeo Joubert 4/30, Henre Cronje 2/53). Potchefstroom Gimnasium: 78 (Divan van Eldi 10; Adrian Watson 4/17, Stephan Vermaak 2/2). Hans Moore wen met 221 lopies.

Hoërskool Montana: 166 (Luca Bairos 29, Schalk van Jaarsveld 24; Ruan Boshoff 4/33, Reinardt Haasbroek 2/13, Ruhan Oliphant 2/22). Hoërskool Eldoraigne: 168/1 (Kyle de Bruin 70*, Johan Broekman 65*; Luca Bairos 1/29). Eldoraigne wen met nege paaltjies.

Hoërskool Kemptonpark: 179 (Marko van Voorst 43*, Joshua Shanker 38, Stian de Villiers 21; André van Niekerk 4/37, Werner Durrheim 3/41). Monument: 112 (Keagan van Wyk 25; Martin Williams 5/33, Wian Pieters 3/25). Kemptonpark wen met 67 lopies.

 

Point guard Reza Creamer is rising to basketball stardom in the Gauteng province and capturing the spotlight by making highlight plays with his ball handling and outstanding shooting skills.

Reza, the son of Kenneth Creamer, the CEO of Creamer Media, was born on 13 May 2009. He started playing with balls before he could walk, his dad told SuperSport Schools.

Reza was a keen footballer from the age of six, playing for school teams and for the Wits University Football Club, he added. However, at the age of eight, Reza fell in love with the game of basketball, and it became his number one sport.

His parents, Kenneth Creamer and Faranaaz Veriava are his biggest supporters: “We are very proud of Reza. He works very hard to constantly improve his basketball skills and it is wonderful to see him achieving his dreams,” they said.

“It is a real journey for our family to learn more about the world of basketball, and we continue to meet many interesting people along the way.”

The love of basketball runs deep in Reza’s family, as he has followed in his brother Adams’s footsteps. Adam – who is four years older – and his friends were part of a group of boys who started basketball at The Ridge School, around 2017, under coach Mbulelo Ntshingana, who currently serves as the Club Manager at the Westcliff Eagles Basketball Club in Johannesburg.

Dad Kenneth said Reza got used to playing with his brother Adam and other older boys.

Reza’s passion can be seen through his fighting spirit and a desire to compete at all times. When he was in grade 3, he became a regular starter in the Ridge School first team, alongside boys who were in grade 7.

That extraordinary achievement was recognised when he received a special certificate for his contribution to the first team at a tender age.

Reza has played for the Westcliff Eagles in several tournaments, such as the Junior NBA, in an older age category. He has also won numerous accolades over the past six years, including the Ridge School First Team Leading Scorer Award and Most Influential Player Award in 2022, and the St John’s College u14A Team Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award in 2023.

“Reza is a very committed young basketball player. He combines his talent with a lot of hard work,” coach Nthsingana said. “I have been coaching him since he was eight years old, and he has great potential to go very far with his basketball career.

“I have run a few training sessions with Reza, and I find him to be very talented,” commented Vincent Ntunja, from the Cape Town Tigers. “He is a highly skilled basketball player for his age and if he continues with his current form, I think he has the ability and discipline to play at the highest levels of the game.”

To add to his accomplishments, Reza attended basketball camps at the renowned IMG Academy in Florida in 2022 and 2023.

As a 14-year-old player, he was a key member of the Westcliff Eagles u19 Team that participated in the Grassroots Hoops Tournament in Cape Town in June 2023.

At the recent American International School Johannesburg Tournament, Reza was selected to play in an older age group for the St John’s College U16 Team, which won the tournament by beating ESCA Wanderers 57-41 in the final. Reza contributed 14 points in the win, including a buzzer-beating three-pointer.

In 2023, he was selected for the u15 Johannesburg Team to play in the OR Tambo Soncinci Tournament. Unfortunately, that clashed with the Inanda Hoops Tournament and he had to give it a skip.

Reza’s dream is to “go as far as I possibly can in the basketball world”.

“I train every day, including shooting practice, ball handling, and fitness and strength training.

“I do my best to balance my schoolwork with my passion for basketball as I think it is important to do my best both academically and on the basketball court,” he said.

Grey College, from Bloemfontein, turned the Jacaranda city into a happy hunting ground on the weekend by picking up two big wins over top Pretoria schools, and they added a win in Johannesburg for good measure.

On Saturday, the side from the Free State came out on top in their first T20 of the day against a strong Pretoria Boys High side.

In a low-scoring affair, they secured a two-wicket victory, thanks to Daniel Hattingh’s 41, which proved to be the deciding factor in the game.

The Grey opening bowlers, Sicelo Matayi (3/2) and Casper Trotskie (3/9), were in red-hot form, claiming six wickets between them up front. River Scott chipped in with two wickets of his own as the Grey attack restricted Boys High to a meagre 103 all out.

Graydon Lubbe was the Pretoria side’s stand-out performer with the bat, top-scoring with a mature 42 runs. His colleagues in the bowling department, Nic Rossouw (2/15) and Tim Tattersall (2/24), with four wickets between them, tried valiantly to stop the visitors. They didn’t have enough runs to play with, however, and the Bloem boys sealed victory in the 19th over.

Later that afternoon, Grey College crossed paths with Jeppe High School for Boys in their second T20 of the day. A similar trend followed, with another low-scoring affair going the way of the men from the Free State.

This time around, Henru de Wet led the Grey bowling attack, capturing 2/14. Sicelo Matayi was among the wickets again, bagging another two, to take his tally to five in the two T20 matches.

Jeppe struggled against the disciplined Grey bowlers, making just 96/6 in their 20 overs, led by Ryan Harcourt-Baldwin’s 20.

When Grey batted, Shreshth Kumar was the pick of the Jeppe bowlers, claiming two of the four wickets to fall at a cost of 28 runs.

However, Ruben Maree’s 24 and Pieter Smit’s 23 from 26 balls saw the Bloemfontein school home with six wickets to spare.

On Sunday, a big test awaited Grey College. Having to face the powerful Hoërskool Waterkloof on home turf certainly flipped a switch for the men from the Free State. Sicelo Matayi (3/25) and Casper Trotskie (3/29) were on song again as they tore through the Klofies’ top order.

A flu-ridden Marcus Bakker battled manfully to top score for Waterkloof with 27 from 28 deliveries. His captain Beukes van den Berg and Jaydon Blom, with 20 runs each, were the only other batsmen to make notable contributions as the home team mustered only 139.

Christian Kind then led Grey’s reply. The opening batsman struck an unbeaten 55 runs from 64 deliveries and, together with Adem Niewoudt (30) and Ruben Maree (26), propelled the visitors to within eight runs of the Waterkloof total before the heavens opened up. That was more than sufficient to secure Grey a comfortable DLS win.

Summarised scorecards

Pretoria Boys High 103 (Graydon Lubbe 42; Sicelo Matayi 3/2, Casper Trotskie 3/9, River Scott 2/35); Grey College 104/8 (Daniel Hattingh 41; Nic Rossouw 2/15, Tim Tattersall 2/24). Grey College won by two wickets.

Jeppe High School for Boys 96/6 (Ryan Harcourt-Baldwin 20; Henru de Wet 2/14, Sicelo Matayi 2/22); Grey College 99/4 (Ruben Maree 24*, Pieter Smit 23; Shreshth Kumar 2/28). Grey College won by six wickets.

Waterkloof 139 (Marcus Bakker 27, Beukes van den Berg 20, Jaydon Blom 20; Sicelo Matayi 3/25, Casper Trotskie 3/29, Darion Rabie 2/19, Daniel Hattingh 2/20); Grey College 131/5 (Christian Kind 55*, Adem Niewoudt 30, Ruben Maree 26; Wian Ruthven 2/17). Grey College won by 48 runs on DLS.