Kearsney College’s picturesque AH Smith Oval. Photo: Brad Morgan.
While the first term of 2025 is yet to get underway, the schools’ cricket season in KwaZulu-Natal will make its bow on Monday, 6 January, with Kearsney College hosting the annual iHlobo Festival in Botha’s Hill.
The event brings together eight 1st XIs, including two from Zimbabwe.
The hosts, Kearsney are joined by fellow KZN schools, Clifton College, Durban High School (DHS), and Maritzburg College.
St Alban’s College, from Pretoria, and Uplands College, from White River, Mpumalanga, complete the South African sides, while St John’s College, of Harare, and Falcon College, from Esigodini, are the Zimbabwean representatives.
The event takes place over four days, with the first three featuring 50-overs-a-side matches, and T20 games scheduled for the final day, Thursday, 9 January.
Arguably, the highlight of the opening day will be a showdown between traditional rivals, Maritzburg College and DHS, while Clifton versus Kearsney on Tuesday should reveal something about where the hosts find themselves heading into 2025, with Ross Coetzee (SA Schools) and Sandiswa Yeni (SA Colts) among the players that have matriculated. The Clifton line-up remains largely unchanged.
The Zimbabwean teams add some spice to the festival, and St John’s, who will be up against all of KZN’s big guns a little later in the season at the Clifton T20 Tournament, are a team to keep an eye on. Last year, at their own St John’s Rams T20, they withstood the challenges of Clifton, Kearsney, and Maritzburg College to claim the title.
All of the DHS matches will be played at DHS, with Kearsney hosting the remainder of the fixtures.
FIXTURES
Monday, 6 January, 50 over
Kearsney vs St John’s, AH Smith
Uplands vs Falcon, Matterson
Clifton vs St Alban’s, Osler
DHS vs Maritzburg College, DHS
Tuesday, 7 January, 50 over
Maritzburg College vs St Alban’s, AH Smith
Kearsney vs Clifton, Matterson
Uplands vs St John’s, Osler
DHS vs Falcon, DHS
Wednesday, 8 January, 50 overs
Clifton vs Falcon, AH Smith
Maritzburg College vs Uplands, Matterson
Kearsney vs St Alban’s, Osler
DHS vs St John’s, DHS
Thursday, 9 January, T20
Kearsney vs Falcon, AH Smith
Clifton vs Uplands, Matterson
Maritzburg College vs St John’s Osler
DHS vs St Alban’s, DHS
Kwena Maphaka bowling during the ICC u19 Men’s World Cup 2024 match between South Africa and England at JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom on 23 January in Potchefstroom, South Africa. Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images.
After a record-breaking 2024, the young fast bowling prospect from St Stithians College, Kwena Maphaka, is set to break yet another South African record.
Maphaka will make his test debut in the second test of South Africa’s two-match series against Pakistan at Newlands on 3 January. When he does, he will become the Proteas’ youngest-ever debutant in all three international formats.
Maphaka replaces the veteran swing bowler Dane Paterson, who enjoyed great success at SuperSport Park in Centurion where he picked up a second consecutive five-wicket test haul in South Africa’s first test win.
Maphaka’s test debut arrives a mere three weeks after he made his ODI debut at the same venue against the Pakistanis on 19 December.
During an impressive 2024, Maphaka, in his grade 12 year, also made his T20 debut against the West Indies in September, which made him the youngest debutant for his country in the shorter format, too.
The young fast-bowling prodigy’s test debut will establish another record for the Proteas. At the age of 18 years and 271 days, he will break Paul “Gogga” Adams‘ record as South Africa’s youngest test player, at 69 days younger than the left-arm chinaman spinner when he debuted in 1995 at the age of 18 years and 340 days.
Some other changes have been made to coach Shukri Conrad‘s line-up, including a return for the Proteas’ most successful spin bowler of all time, Keshav Maharaj. He replaces seamer Corbin Bosch, who made a superb debut in the test at SuperSport Park.
Opener Toni de Zorzi misses out due to a left thigh strain. In his absence, Ryan Rickelton moves up the order to open the batting alongside Aiden Markram. All-rounder Wiaan Mulder will be tested by a promotion to third in the batting order. It will be his first outing in the test side since he suffered a broken finger against Sri Lanka in November.
The Proteas have already qualified for the World Test Championship Final at Lords in England later this year, but their opponent in the final has not yet been decided. They will, however, be focused on claiming a seventh successive test victory, following a narrow two-wicket win in the first test. Another victory would be a welcome result after Pakistan scored a 3-0 whitewash in the ODI Series.
South Africa playing XI: Aiden Makram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma (Captain), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Kwena Maphaka.
Newlands Stadium – Cape Town – The SA Colts side after their first victorious outing against the SA Schools side in eight years. Photo: Gallo – Ashley Vlotman.
There was a sense of déjà vu when the South African Schools and South African Schools Colts sides met at Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday in the last match of the school season for 2024.
Just like in 2018, when Proteas’ teammates, Tristan Stubbs (SA Schools), Gerald Coetzee (SA Schools), and Marco Jansen (SA Schools Colts), met at one of the most scenic cricketing venues in the world, the SA Colts came out on top.
After being sent in to bat first by the SA Schools’ captain, Beni Hansen, Adnaan Lagadien got his side off to a flyer with a quickfire 20 before he lost his off-stump to the bowling of Khaya Majola bowler and player of the tournament, Raeeq Daniels.
Left-arm offspinner, Enathi Kitshini (2/12), did the same shortly after, bowling opener Sabelo Mabanga, for the first of his two wickets.
The Colts’ captain, Lethabo Phahlamohlaka, quickly settled in at the crease, however, and combined nicely with Pranav Raichetti as the pair compiled a sensible and constructive 50-run partnership.
It came to an end when Maritzburg College‘s star legspinner, Chad Mason, provided a timely breakthrough by picking up the scalp of Raichetti after he tried to accelerate the run rate towards the back end of the innings.
Phahlamohloka kept up his rapid strike rate, which was well north of 100, with a couple of entertaining shots before he tried to be a little too cheeky, which led to him being caught off the bowling of Nqobani Mokoena. The Cornwall College man fell just four runs short of a half-century, out for 46. His knock, though, boosted the Colts to a competitive 145/8 after their 20 overs.
Daniels captured two more wickets in the final over to finish with a memorable return of 3/15.
The SA Schools innings got off to a rollicking start, with St David’s Marist Inanda‘s Jason Rowles blasting 14 off the first over. However, he and his opening partner, Christian Kind, were soon sent packing, which put the SA Schools side under pressure.
Armaan Manack and Dekalo Leketa fought back with a solid 54-run partnership, but, Steve Stolk, who had already removed the dangerous Ross Coetzee, struck again to send Manack on his way for 48, the top score of the day.
Stolk, then, landed another massive blow for the Colts, claiming the scalp of Hansen for a duck in the same over. He finished with a crucial haul of 3/19 from his four-over spell.
With the writing on the wall, Leketa kept fighting but he became one of three victims of Sandiswa Yeni, who had Leketa caught by Dayalan Boyce for 28.
Boyce supported his fellow quick, Yeni, well, knocking over 2/21 to help steer the Colts towards a memorable victory. Yeni finished with an outstanding 3/15 to match Raeeq Daniels’ effort for the SA Schools’ side.
Summarised scorecard
SA Colts 145/8 (Lethabo Phahlamohlaka 47, Pranav Raichetti 36, Adnaan Lagadien 20; Raeeq Daniels 3/15, Enathi Kitshini 2/12, Nqobani Mokoena 2/37); SA Schools 120/10 (Armaan Manack 48, Dakalo Leketa 28; Steve Stolk 3/19, Sandiswa Yeni 3/15, Dayalan Boyce 2/21).
Beni Hansen of Western Province, the man of the match in the final against the Central Gauteng Lions Boys at Rondebosch Boys’ High on day five of the Khaya Majola Week on 20 December 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa. Photo: Roger Sedres/Gallo Images.
CAPE TOWN. – For the third year in a row, the South African Schools‘ cricket team will be led by a learner from Wynberg Boys’ High.
Beni Hansen, after leading Western Province to the Khaya Majola Cricket Week title, will captain the national schools’ side for a second successive year.
He’s the first player since 1994 to achieve the feat, following in the footsteps of Mark Rushmere (Woodridge College), who was selected as captain in 1982 and 1983. Lee Barnard (King Edward VII) was handed the leadership role in 1974 and 1975, while Hylton Ackerman (Dale College) skippered the side in 1965 and 1966.
St David’s Marist Inanda has the most representatives in this year’s SA Schools side with two players in Armaan Manack and Jason Rowles.
Of the five SA Schools players from 2023 who were in action in Cape Town, only Hansen made the team again. Richard Seletswane (Central Gauteng Lions), Parth Patel (Easterns), Ntando Soni (Dolphins), and Jorich van Schalkwyk (Titans) all missed out on selection this time around.
None of that quartet was selected for the SA Colts either. This is a clear message from the convenor of selectors, Patrick Moroney, and his fellow selectors that players have to perform during the tournament to make one of the squads.
Free State’s Dakalo Leketa knows what it feels like to miss out, but his journey had a happy ending. He made the SA Colts‘ team in 2022, then failed to earn selection for either the Colts or SA Schools in 2023. This time around, he made the SA Schools team.
Seletswane, meanwhile, was eyeing a fourth SA Schools cap after being selected for the squad in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
Only five players have been selected for the SA Schools side four or more times. Dassie Biggs (Eastern Province, 1963, 1963 England, 1964, 1965), Norman “Smokey” Featherstone (Transvaal, 1966, 1967, 1967 England, 1968), Barry Richards (Natal, 1962, 1963, 1963 England, 1964) and Neil Rosendorff (Free State, 1962, 1963, 1963 England, 1964).
Hylton Ackerman tops the list with six SA Schools caps in 1962, 1963, 1963 England, 1964, 1965, and 1966.
Since unification, no player has been honoured with more than three selections for the SA Schools’ side. Besides Seletswane, four other players have achieved the rare feat since 1994. They are Zwelibanzi Homani (Eastern Province, 1999-01), Tulani Ngxoweni (Border, 94-96), Jacques Rudolph (Northerns, 1997-99) and Wayne Parnell (Eastern Province, 2005-07).
The SA Colts side will be captained by Lethabo Phahlamohlaka of Cornwall Hill College in Centurion.
The SA Schools and SA Colts sides will face each other in a T20 clash at Newlands on Saturday.
Awards for the Platinum and Gold sections were presented on Friday evening, with Ross Coetzee (Dolphins), Kearsney College‘s prolific captain, winning the Platinum Best Batter Award after scoring 229 runs at an average of 57.3, with a strike rate of 60.3. Bowlers dominated the week, but Coetzee stood tall.
The winner of the Platinum Best Bowler Award was Raeeq Daniels (Western Province), who made the most of playing a number of matches on his home ground at Rondebosch Boys’ High. His best return was 5/25, and he finished the week with 14 wickets at an average of only 9.1 per wicket while conceding just 2.9 runs per over. Daniels was also honoured as the Player of the Tournament.
Affies‘ Divan de Villiers was named the Platinum Best All-Rounder after scoring 162 runs at an average of 54, with a strike rate of 82.2, while also taking eight wickets.
In the Gold section, Selborne College‘s Tré Gilbert was recognised as the Best Batter after tallying 152 runs at 50.7, with a strike rate of 73.8.
Paul Matlala received two awards as the Best Gold Bowler and Best Gold All-Rounder. He captured 13 wickets in only 34.5 overs at a miserly average of 7.8 and he also scored 88 runs at 29.3.
Matala, who is from Elands Park School, made history by becoming the first player from a special needs school to be selected for the South African Schools’ side.
The teams are:
SA Schools: Beni Hansen (Wynberg Boys’ High, Western Province – Captain), Ross Coetzee (Kearsney College, Dolphins), Christian Kind (Grey College, Free State), Jason Rowles (St David’s Marist, Central Gauteng Lions), Armaan Manack (St David’s Marist, Central Gauteng Lions), Divan de Villiers (Affies, Titans), Dakalo Leketa (St Andrew’s School, Free State), Raeeq Daniels (Rondebosch Boys’ High, Western Province), Enathi Kitshini (Thembalethu Hub, Garden Route Badgers), Chad Mason (Maritzburg College, Tuskers), Nqobani Mokoena (Northwood, Dolphins), Paul Matlala (Elands Park School, CSA Invitational XI).
SA Colts: Lethabo Phahlamohlaka (Cornwall Hill College, Titans – Captain), Sabelo Mabanga (Actonville Hub, Easterns), Adnaan Lagadien (Bishops, Western Province), Pranav Raichetti (St Stithians College, Central Gauteng Lions), Steve Stolk (Menlopark, Titans), Kashief Joseph (Bishops, Western Province), Charl Prinsloo (Hoërskool Centurion, Titans), Timothy Short (Rondebosch Boys’ High, Western Province), Cayden Wilson (Pearson, Eastern Province), Dayalan Boyce (Westville Boys’ High, CSA Invitational XI), Ryall Julies (Paarl RPC, CSA Invitational XI), Sandiswa Yeni (Kearsney College, Dolphins).
STELLENBOSCH, SOUTH AFRICA – JANAURY 08: Divan De Villiers of Northern Champions during the match between Northern Champions and Western Legends on day 4 of the 2024 CSA Cubs Week at Tassies Oval on January 08, 2024 in Stellenbosch, South Africa. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images)
Cricket South Africa’s annual Cubs Week in Stellenbosch will have some extra flavour in 2025.
The United States of America as well as Nambia’s u19 sides will also partake in next year’s tournament.
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – DECEMBER 20: Benjamin Hansen and winning team of WP poses with the trophy during the match between Western Province Boys vs Central Gauteng Lions Boys at RBHS Cricket A on day 5 of the Khaya Majola Week on December 20, 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Roger Sedres/Gallo Images)
CAPE TOWN. – The hosts, Western Province, dethroned the Central Gauteng Lions as the champions of the annual Khaya Majola Cricket Week on Friday.
WP defeated the Lions by five wickets in the final of the tournament played at Rondebosch Boys’ High. The champions’ captain, Beni Hansen (50) led his team to victory with a crucial half-century.
Hansen also won the coin toss, which was critical, as during the week no team that batted first managed to bag a victory at Rondebosch Boys’ High.
The Central Gauteng Lions tallied 175 runs before being bowled out, with Morteza Manack (56) and Tiaan Goosen (53) recording half-centuries. WP’s Mbulelo Dube (4/38) was the pick of the bowlers for the soon-to-be newly crowned champions.
Since 2010, Gauteng has been involved in the main match or the final of the Khaya Majola Week nine times, which makes them, beyond question, the most successful province of the era.
The foundation for Western Province’s victory was laid with a 73-run partnership for the third wicket between Hansen and Daniel Bosman (46).
Ross Coetzee (96), of the Dolphins, just missed out on a century as he helped his side to 255/5 against Boland. It was only the second instance of a team going past 250 runs during the week.
That innings made Coetzee the top run-scorer of the tournament with 229 runs. With Nqobani Mokoena picking up the tenth five-wicket haul of the week (5/22), the Dolphins cruised to a big 153-run win.
In the previous three Khaya Majola Weeks in Cape Town, the battle between bat and ball was even, with 19 centuries being scored and 18 five-wicket hauls being captured in the 2002, 2011, and 2018 editions of the provincial competition.
There will be no changes to the two divisions next year. Eastern Province and the Free State both came out on top in their promotion/relegation encounters against the Garden Route Badgers and North West respectively.
Free State’s Naudé Botha (106*) recorded only the second century of the tournament. He faced 150 deliveries and struck 10 boundaries, of which one was a maximum.
Botha shared a 124-run partnership with Ruben Maree (61) for the third wicket as Free State beat North West by 38 runs.
Eastern Province’s Cayden Wilson produced a good all-round performance to help his side to a 22-run victory over the Badgers.
He scored 21 runs with the bat as Kian Cambier (50) and Esa Gangat (32) led the scoring for the side. Wilson, then, picked up four wickets for only 17 runs to keep the Badgers at bay.
The youngsters of the CSA Invitational XI impressed once again as they skittled Easterns for a mere 27 runs. Paul Matlala (4/10), Ryall Julies (3/0), and Dayalan Boyce (3/12) finished the tournament in style.
Matlala completed the week with 13 wickets at an average of 7.77 runs per wicket. Boyce was also in devastating form, picking up 10 wickets at 7.4 runs per victim.
The speedy Julies was also on fire as he removed seven batsmen from the crease while conceding only 56 runs.
Summarised Scorecards (Limited Overs)
Central Gauteng Lions 175/10 (Morteza Manack 56, Tiaan Goosen 53, Richard Seletswane 22; Mbulelo Dube 4/38, Timothy Short 2/30, Raeeq Daniels 2/33); Western Province 176/5 (Beni Hansen 50, Daniel Bosman 46, Noah Heath 27*, Kashief Joseph 21; Cole Francis 3/44, Jason Rowles 2/26). Western Province won by five wickets.
Dolphins 255/5 (Ross Coetzee 96, Mfana Shange 62, Max Robertson 26, Nqobani Mokoena 22, Nicandro Kistna 21; Taywin Adams 2/50); Boland 102 (Christiaan Wege 22, Chad Ayford 21; Nqobani Mokoena 5/22, Bayanda Majola 2/30). Dolphins won by 153 runs.
Tuskers 72/10 (Charles Swart 39; Mohammad Borabat 2/4, Marcus Bakker 2/11, Charl Prinsloo 2/15, Divan de Villiers 2/17); Titans 78/3 (Steve Stolk 57*; Rowan Rajah 2/17). Titans won by seven wickets.
Eastern Province 139/10 (Kian Cambier 50, Esa Gangat 32, Cayden Wilson 21; Enathi Kitshini 3/18, Liviwe Bawuli 3/18); Garden Route Badgers 117/10 (Enathi Kitshini 31, Keano Coerecius 24; Cayden Wilson 4/17, Likhona Gcora 2/16, Hamza Khan 2/23). Eastern Province won by 22 runs.
Free State 228/6 (Naudé Botha 106*, Ruben Maree 61, Dale Williams 30; Barend de Klerk 3/38); North West 190/10 (Luan Vermeulen 43, Barend de Klerk 37, Stephan Janse van Rensburg 35, Muhammed Bulbulia 31; Dakalo Leketa 3/37, Cullen Kakora 2/24, Kamohelo Mokoena 2/31). Free State won by 38 runs.
Easterns 27/10 (Jacques Havenga 10; Paul Matlala 4/10, Ryall Julies 3/0, Dayalan Boyce 3/12); CSA Invitational XI 32/2 (Joe MacRobert 22*; Tiaan Kuhn 1/12). CSA Invitational won by eight wickets.
Northern Cape 161/10 (Nathan Baird 31, Danie van der Merwe 25, Extras 23; Ntshuxeko Sebata 3/13, Hanno van Zyl 2/13, Morema Kamogelo 2/25); Limpopo Impalas 162/9 (Hanno van Zyl 36, Lukas van der Merwe 27, Philip Weterman 26, Extras 23; Tebogo Mgobo 4/42, Nathan Baird 2/26, Simon Liversage 2/30). Limpopo Impalas won by one wicket.
Mpumalanga 102/10 (Nathan Duncan 26, Sibonelo Skhosana 21; Chad Clark-Evans 5/46, Canton Hartnick 3/19); Eastern Cape Iinyahti 105/4 (Waeden Plaatjies 37, Tré Gilbert 28; Curtleigh Koetzee 3/19). Eastern Cape Iinyahti won by six wickets.
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – DECEMBER 19: Esa Gangat of Eastern Province is bowled out during the match between Tuskers Boys U19 and Eastern Province Boys U19 at WPCC – Wally Wilson Oval on day 4 of the Khaya Majola Week on December 19, 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Roger Sedres/Gallo Images)
The Western Province will face the defending champions, the Central Gauteng Lions, in the final of the annual Khaya Majola Cricket Week (for u19 players) in Cape Town on Friday.
Central Gauteng Lions snuck into the semi-finals through the back door after securing their first victory of the tournament on the third day. On Thursday, Pranav Raichetti (106*) scored the first century of the week to help his team secure an eight-wicket win over the Dolphins in their semi-final.
Raichetti faced 112 deliveries, hitting 16 boundaries. He and opening batsman Jason Rowles (75) shared a 143-run partnership for the second wicket.
The Dolphins’ captain, Ross Coetzee (63), has also had a good tournament with the bat so far. Rowles (2/36) and Cole Francis (3/26) boasted the best bowling figures.
WP had little trouble defeating their neighbours by five wickets in their semifinal. Boland was bowled out for just 104 thanks to a five-wicket haul by Raeeq Daniels (5/25).
Christiaan Wege (32) was the only visiting batsman who offered any resistance.
The hosts’ Kashief Joseph (45) and Adnaan Lagadien (24) made the most significant contributions with the bat for their team.
The Tuskers, after being bowled out for just 79 against Eastern Province, might have thought they were destined for a promotion/relegation playoff. However, the team’s spinner, Chad Mason (5/35), led them to a 12-run victory with his second five-wicket haul of the week.
Eastern Province will face the Garden Route Badgers to determine which team will compete in the Platinum division next year. In the other promotion/relegation match, the Free State will fight against North West to retain their place in the Platinum division.
The Titans defeated the Free State by 100 runs in their clash. The team from Pretoria posted 211/5 in their allotted 50 overs, thanks to solid contributions from Wian Ruthven (52), Divan de Villiers (48*), and Lethabo Phahlamohlaka (43).
The Free State replied with only 111 runs, with Christian Kind (42) offering the most resistance.
The Garden Route Badgers defeated Cricket South Africa’s invitational team by five wickets. The winning team’s spinner, Enathi Kitshini, first took three wickets for just 20 runs with his bowling before scoring 28 runs with the bat. His teammate Camron Avontuur (76) was the standout performer with the bat.
North West successfully defended a modest total of 109 runs by bowling out Easterns for just 87 runs.
Marneau Dreyer (3/10), Barend de Klerk (2/28), and Tumelo Makume (2/16) inflicted the most damage for the winning team. Eastern’s Sabelo Mabanga (3/16) and Parth Patel (3/19) also produced commendable bowling figures.
Summarised Scorecards (Limited Overs):
Boland 104 (Christiaan Wege 32; Raeeq Daniels 5/25, Timothy Short 2/23); Western Province 106/5 (Kashief Jospeh 45, Adnaan Lagadien 24; Taywin Adams 2/25, Callum Appollis 2/47). Western Province won by five wickets.
Dolphins 218/8 (Ross Coetzee 63, Max Robertson 29, Ntando Soni 25; Cole Francis 3/26, Jason Rowles 2/36, Corné Botha 2/59); Central Gauteng Lions 219/2 (Pranav Raichetti 106*, Jason Rowles 75; Armaan Manack 23; Shahzaad Perumal 1/23). Central Gauteng Lions won by eight wickets.
Tuskers 79 (Extras 19; Cayden Wilson 4/15, Jadwyn Cona 3/25); Eastern Province 67 (Cayden Wilson 18; Chad Mason 5/35, Marcel Wellmann 3/8). Tuskers won by 12 runs.
Titans 211/5 (Wian Ruthven 52, Divan de Villiers 48*, Lethabo Phahlamohlaka 43, Steve Stolk 27; Free State 111 (Christian Kind 42; Nayleo Sanna 3/32, Mohammed Borobat 2/11, Sahil Ahmad 2/13). Titans won by 100 runs.
CSA Invitational XI 146 (Vihan Pretorius 31, Zuko Pontshi 24; Enathi Kitshini 3/20, Trent Huisamen 2/15, Stefan May 2/40); Garden Route Badgers 150/5 (Camron Avontuur 76, Enathi Kitshini 28; Adam Cannata 2/32). Garden Route Badgers won by five wickets.
North West 109 (Tumelo Makume 36; Sabelo Mabanga 3/16, Parth Patel 3/19, Tshegofatso Nthara 3/25); Easterns 87 (Sabelo Mabanga 37; Marneau Dreyer 3/10, Barend de Klerk 2/28, Tumelo Makume 2/16). North West won by 22 runs.
Eastern Cape Iinyathi 102 (Tré Gilbert 28; Nicolas Oerlemans 3/28, Morema Kamogelo 2/4, Mahlodi Sekuba 2/31); Limpopo Impalas 103/5 (Enock Marima 41*, Nicolas Oerlemans 29; Lithemba Nomoyi 3/24). Limpopo Impalas won by five wickets.
Northern Cape 163 (Junaid Jacobs 49, Extras 31; Sibonelo Skhosana 3/23, Alonzo Blakenberg 2/22); Mpumalanga 122 (Extras 20; Nathan Baird 4/38, Simon Liversage 2/23). Northern Cape won by 41 runs.
Charl Prinsloo of the Titans during the match between the Dolphins and the Titans at Curro Durbanville High School on day 3 of the Khaya Majola Week on 18 December 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa. Photo by Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images.
The defending champions of the Khaya Majola Cricket Week (for u19 players), the Central Gauteng Lions, had to wait until the third day of the tournament to taste victory, but a bonus-point win over the Tuskers secured them a spot in the semi-finals.
Gauteng won by six wickets, reaching the victory target in only 32.3 overs, which earned the team that crucial bonus point.
The Tuskers, like Gauteng, ended with five league points, but since Gauteng won the direct contest between the teams, they claimed a spot in the semi-finals. On Thursday, the defending champs will tackle the Dolphins for a place in the final.
Armaan Manack (44), Tiaan Goosen (30*), and Jason Rowles (29) played a significant role with the bat in the Lions’ successful run chase.
Corné Botha, who captured 3/10 in 10 miserly overs, also deserves praise. He led a tidy Gauteng attack, which restricted the Tuskers to 130/8 in their 50 overs.
The hosts, Western Province, are the only unbeaten team remaining in the Platinum Division after they recorded a six-wicket win over Free State at the Bellville Cricket Club.
The Free Staters were dismissed for 138, with Raeeq Daniels (3/19), Kyle van Santen (2/19), and Divan Linde (2/24) preventing their opponents from putting together meaningful partnerships. Dakalo Leketa (38*), who is usually one of the Free State’s key bowlers, led the run-scoring to continue his good form with the bat this week.
Noah Heath (45*) and Adnaan Lagadien (45) impressed with the bat for the winning team as they claimed victory with well over 10 overs to spare.
WP will face their neighbour, Boland, in the other semi-final after Boland handed Eastern Province a six-wicket loss.
That victory also secured the Bolanders a bonus point and pulled them level with the Titans in the standings. However, Boland’s victory over the Titans on day one of the week meant they progressed to the semi-finals at the expense of the Titans.
The Wine Farmers‘ Christiaan Wege (5/24) shone with the ball in their win over EP. Stefan Conradie (66*), whose aggressive 54-ball knock included five fours and four sixes, also played a key role with his unbeaten half-century.
The Titans, meanwhile, achieved a convincing 64-run victory over the Dolphins in Durbanville, but it wasn’t enough to take them through to the semi-finals.
Marcus Bakker (51) and Charl Prinsloo (41) starred for the Titans in their innings of 192. The Titans’ SA u19 opening batsman Steve Stolk, then, shone with the ball, claiming the first three wickets in the Dolphins’ innings, on his way to a four-wicket haul (4/33).
There was also a perfect hat-trick by Paul Matlala (3/21) for the Cricket South Africa (CSA) Invitation Team in their contest against Northern Cape.
He dismissed Malan Lubbe (9) and Monnapule Jansen (0) with the last two deliveries of the tenth over, having both caught behind the stumps by Joe MacRobert. Then, with the first delivery of the 12th over, Matlala rearranged Luqman Gool‘s (0) stumps.
The CSA Invitation Team also remains unbeaten after a one-sided 216-run victory.
Ruben Groenewald (96) came the closest to scoring a century this week, despite batting only seventh in the Invitation Team’s line-up. He is the son of the former Blue Bulls’ scrumhalf, Coenraad Groenewald.
Easterns‘ Cayden Ramage (6/17) wrecked Mpumalanga’s innings with his seam bowling, helping to limit them to a lowly 65 all out.
Summarised Scorecards (Limited Overs)
Tuskers 130/8 (Siposethu Ngcobo 29, Kwanele Nqayi 24; Corné Botha 3/10, Cole Francis 2/30); Central Gauteng Lions 131/4 (Armaan Manack 44, Tiaan Goosen 30*, Jason Rowles 29; Chad Mason 2/24). Central Gauteng Lions won by six wickets.
Free State 138 (Dakalo Leketa 38*, Khanyisile Nondwangu 25; Raeeq Daniels 3/19, Kyle van Santen 2/19, Divan Linde 2/24); Western Province 139/4 (Noah Heath 45*, Adnaan Lagadien 45, Kashief Joseph 22; Kamohelo Mokoena 2/12, Darion Rabie 2/27). Western Province won by six wickets.
Eastern Province 115 (Xander Elkington 31, Kian Cambier 29; Christiaan Wege 5/24); Boland 117/4 (Stefan Conradie 66*; Esa Gangat 3/21). Boland won by six wickets.
Titans 192 (Marcus Bakker 51, Charl Prinsloo 41, Wian Ruthven 26; Nqobani Mokoena 3/57, Sandiswa Yeni 2/8); Dolphins 128 (Ross Coetzee 31, Nqobani Mokoena 22; Steve Stolk 4/33, Marcus Bakker 2/14). Titans won by 64 runs.
CSA Invitational XI 290/8 (Ruben Groenewald 96, Matthew Florence 49, Paul Matlala 40, Joe MacRobert 31; Danie van der Merwe 3/59, Malan Lubbe 2/37, Raul Williams 2/61); Northern Cape 74 (Junaid Jacobs 19, Danie van der Merwe 19; Dayalan Boyce 3/10, Paul Matlala 3/21, Vihan Pretorius 2/0, Luke Kleinsmith 2/21). CSA Invitational XI won by 216 runs.
Eastern Cape Iinyathi 95 (Tré Gilbert 46; Onalerona Senokwane 3/17, Barend de Klerk 2/19, Tumelo Makume 2/20); North West 96/5 (Stephan Janse van Rensburg 34, Marneau Dreyer 24*; Lithemba Nomoyi 2/20, Tré Gilbert 2/34). North West won by five wickets.
Mpumalanga 65 (Vaughn van Zyl 16; Cayden Ramage 6/17, Tiaan Kuhn 2/7); Easterns 71/6 (Sabelo Mabanga 23; Sibonelo Skhosana 3/10, Vaughn van Zyl 2/20). Easterns won by four wickets.
Limpopo Impalas 146 (Lukas van der Merwe 57; Enathi Kitshini 4/32, Corné Kennedy 3/19); Garden Route Badgers 147/3 (Keano Coerecius 49, Camron Avontuur 42, Extras 30; Mahlodi Sekuba 2/20). Garden Route Badgers won by seven wickets.
Cullen Kakora of Free State Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images.
CAPE TOWN – After two days of play at the annual Khaya Majola Cricket Week, only two unbeaten teams are left in the Platinum Division.
They are the hosts, Western Province, and the Dolphins. WP staged a backs-to-the-wall fightback to score a hard-fought 21-run victory over the defending champions, Gauteng, on the Jacques Kallis Oval.
The home team was restricted to just 140 runs, thanks to brilliant bowling by seam bowler Ruan Strauss (6/22).
On a day that undoubtedly belonged to the bowlers, WP’s Divan Linde (5/27) responded well and snared a five-wicket haul with his spin bowling to lead his team to a treasured win.
Gauteng had appeared on course for a comfortable victory, reaching 97/1 in the 31st over, before Paul James (3/12) and Linde caused chaos for the visitors. The defending champs crumbled, losing their last nine wickets for only 22 runs.
With the Lions suffering successive losses, it seems likely that a new Khaya Majola Week champion will be crowned.
The reason the door remains slightly ajar for Gauteng is that the Tuskers defeated Free State by 47 runs in their clash. The KZN side owed plenty to Chad Mason, who dismissed seven of Free State’s batsmen for just 27 runs with his leg spin.
His excellent return was the fifth-best bowling performance in the tournament since 1994. At first, Free State seemed to be on their way to a solid total when Christian Kind (55) and Naudé Botha (59) put on 93 for the opening wicket. In the end, though, they were limited to just 162.
The Dolphins retained their unbeaten status, thanks to a five-wicket win over Boland. It was the batting of Mfana Shange (26*) and Nqobani Mokoena (21*) that carried their team past the victory target. A fifty by Max Robertson (55) had earlier laid the foundation for his side’s successful run chase.
The Titans, beaten on the opening day, got on track on Tuesday with a win, thanks to a solid all-round performance by Charl Prinsloo. He scored an unbeaten 33 runs with the bat and then picked up 2/17 to lead his side’s bowling effort.
North West‘s left-arm spinner Nathan Rossouw (5/18) also performed well, helping his team skittle Northern Cape for just 70 runs.
The Cricket South Africa Invitation Team remains unbeaten in the Gold Division. The Invitation side’s Ombesa Matsha (66) and Zuko Pontshi (57*) shared a partnership of 101 runs for the second wicket as they comfortably chased down 190 to score a seven-wicket victory over the Eastern Cape Iinyathi.
Easterns also bagged a second win on the trot, cruising to a seven-wicket victory over Limpopo in another Gold Division game. The winning team’s Aldré Huysers (84) and Jacques Havenga (50*) were at the forefront of their success, with a 100-run partnership for the third wicket.
Summarised Scorecards (Limited Overs)
Western Province 140/10 (Adnaan Lagadien 33, Paul James 26, Kashief Joseph 25, Divan Linde 24; Ruan Strauss 6/22, Sipho Potsane 2/16); Central Gauteng Lions 119/10 (Armaan Manack 44, Pranav Raichetti 37; Divan Linde 5/27, Paul James 3/12). Western Province won by 21 runs.
Tuskers 209/9 (Daniel Nadasan 38, Cian Fortmann 34, Ben Hockley 28, Siposethu Ngcobo 23, Extras 21; Darion Rabie 2/25, Meyer Pretorius 2/41, Hendru de Wet 2/47); Free State 162/10 (Naudé Botha 59, Christian Kind 55, Extras 23; Chad Mason 7/27). Tuskers won by 47 runs.
Boland 130/10 (Johan Wege 49, Christiaan Wege 24, Extras 20; Ntando Soni 3/17, Sandiswa Yeni 2/27); Dolphins 131/5 (Max Robertson 55, Mfana Shange 26*, Nqobani Mokoena 21*; Taywin Adams 2/36). Dolphins won by five wickets.
Titans 235/9 (Steve Stolk 41, Divan de Villiers 38, Charl Prinsloo 33*, Mohammad Rasool 30, Tshepang Laka 25, Extras 24, Jorich van Schalkwyk 23; Dawid Vermaak 2/24, Kian Cambier 2/26, Cayden Wilson 2/42); Eastern Province 201/10 (Xander Elkington 54, Hamza Khan 36, Kian Cambier 29, Indiphile Tshisa 28; Charl Prinsloo 2/17, Mohammad Rasool 2/20, Divan de Villiers 2/46). Titans won by 34 runs.
Eastern Cape Iinyathi 189/10 (Chulumanco Macozoma 59, Tré Gilbert 50, Jacques van der Merwe 23; Vihan Pretorius 3/19, Paul Matlala 3/32, Ryall Julies 2/20); CSA Invitational XI 190/3 (Ombesa Matsha 66, Zuko Pontshi 57*, Extras 26; Aaron Senekal 1/17). CSA Invitational XI won by seven wickets.
Northern Cape 70/10 (Benjamin Potgieter 33; Nathan Rossouw 5/18, Barend de Klerk 3/21); North West 73/5 (Caiden Seleka 25; Danie van der Merwe 3/19). North West won by five wickets.
Highlands Park celebrated winning the 2005 title at the inaugural IberCup South Africa on Monday, 16 December 2024. Photo: IberCup.
After five days of action in the inaugural IberCup South Africa, the champions of the different age groups were crowned on Monday at the University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) AW Muller Stadium.
Many of South Africa’s top teams were joined by global household names, like Paris Saint-Germain F.C, PSV Eindhoven, and Benfica.
Paris Saint-Germain – 2010 age group champions
In the highly anticipated 2010 age division final, PSG halted high-flying Kaizer Chiefs, beating them 2-0 in the final in front of a packed venue.
Valentin Houdou, the goalkeeper coach for PSG, expressed his gratitude following the match, thanking South Africa for welcoming the French club. “We are very happy for the team (PSG) to come here for the first time, and we hope to come back quickly for the second time,” he said.
Houdou also reflected on PSG’s win over Chiefs in the title decider. “The game against Kaizer Chiefs was very difficult for us because we lost to them in the group stages,” he said, “but the final was a little bit different. Maybe our players were motivated and fresher.”
While joyfully celebrating PSG’s IberCup South Africa win, he also expressed the hope that the event would continue to grow and said he looked forward to the 2025 edition of the tournament. Houdou said it was good to also have The Netherlands’ PSV and Portugal’s Benfica participating, and he hoped to see even more international clubs added in the coming years.
It was a frustrating day for Kaizer Chiefs, who had three sides lose finals, with the 2011 age group team also going down 2-3 to SuperSport United, while Warriors scored a narrow 1-0 win over the Amakhosi in the 2008 age group final.
The winner of the 2009 competition at the 2024 IberCup South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns. Photo: IberCup.
Mamelodi Sundowns – 2009 age group champions
After Mamelodi Sundowns clinched the 2009 boys’ division title with a hard-fought 1-0 Pretoria derby victory over Tuks, their coach Surprise Moriri said he was excited for his boys. He also said their title-winning success belongs to them and not the coaching staff.
“I just want to say congratulations to them. I know they have been working hard, and they really wanted to make sure that we played well, so they deserve this moment,” he said.
Moriri also praised his colleague, Sundowns’ u15 coach Selekedi Mogale, who guided his team to the GDL title. Moriri said Mogale achieved outstanding results with the team and he wished to extend his congratulations to him for the outstanding work he had done.
“I want to congratulate him because it’s not all about me. All the other academy coaches have done really well.”
Moriri thanked the organisers of IberCup South Africa for their efforts in hosting this tournament. He said he hoped it would grow even larger and become even more competitive in 2025.
Highlands Park – 2005 age group champions
The “Lions of the North”, Highlands Park FC u19 concluded their year by adding the IberCup title to their list of achievements. The victory followed a successful defence of the GDL title, which was confirmed only on the last day of the season.
Tarrias Sharpley, one of the development coaches at Highlands Park, was delighted after the team edged out Time Tigers 9-8 on penalties, which had taken place following a 1-1 stalemate in regulation time.
“It’s a nice reward for the boys. They deserve this moment after a long season of football,” he said.
“We had a good mixture of boys from 2005 up until 2009 in this squad and they all played like the champions they are. So, it’s a nice incentive for the boys. It was a good tournament. We were able to see how they could cope at a high level.”
Tarrias said one of the main challenges that Highlands Park had to overcome was their late entry into the competition, which meant some of their players had already departed for their homes in other provinces. They also had to contend with an injury during the event.
Clapham High was the convincing winner of the 2006 age group, defeating the RCD Espanyol Academy in the final. Photo: IberCup.
Meanwhile, preparations were further hampered by exams, which meant those boys who were writing were left to concentrate on their school work, with education being the top priority at Highlands Park.
That, though, allowed the club to give some other players an opportunity and they rose to the occasion, which spoke volumes about the good work being done by the coaches at Highlands Park.
‘What we are doing at Highlands Park is a holistic team effort – from management, to coaches, players, to parents. Everybody adds value to what we do, and we just need to continue with it,” Sharpley said.
He admitted, though, that the club is disappointed that its players have not received more attention from the national team despite their title-winning pedigree. Nonetheless, said Sharpley, the coaches maintain confidence in their players and trust them to perform well.
Next, he added, it was time for the club’s players to embrace the moment and enjoy it, take some time to rest and recuperate, and, then, return stronger than ever in 2025.
2008 Girls’ Age Group
University of Pretoria (Tuks) (5) 1-1 (4) JVW
The final, between Tuks and JVW, captivated the spectators as the sides traded blows in a tension-filled clash.
Tuks took the lead in the first half, but JVW equalised towards the end of the second half to force the contest into a penalty shootout. Tuks, then, claimed the IberCup honours, winning it 5-4 from the spot.
SuperSport Schools Plus spoke with rising star Katlego Malebana after the match as she celebrated her team’s win. It’s been a big year for Malebana, which has included leading the national team to victory in the u15 CAF African Schools Football Tournamentin Tanzania and winning the School Star of the Year Award from GSports4Girls. She also helped Mamelodi Sundowns win the Engen Cup Tournament, before joining the Tuks’ first team in the Hollywoodbets Super League.
After Monday’s final, Malebana excitedly recounted Tuks’ efforts and highlighted a crucial 1-1 draw against Mamelodi Sundowns in the group stages that resulted in Sundowns’ elimination from the gold championship. Despite feeling emotional playing against her former club, she stressed that composure won it for Tuks.
“I felt very emotional and I am still feeling emotional even now. We’ve been training so hard, and we’ve been preparing for this moment. I feel very proud of our team and what we have accomplished today”, Malebana said.
It also felt good to claim another title, she added. “It means a lot because I’ve been in different teams and structures throughout the year, coming from Mamelodi Sundowns where football is different compared to Tuks. I had to quickly adjust, so I think winning this cup (IberCup) has motivated me to work even harder.”
In a rare setback for her in 2024, the South African u17 girls’ team, Bantwana, failed to win the Cosafa tournament, which went the way of Zambia. “I want to win everything,” she admitted, “but it’s football. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. Losing is also good, as difficult as it is to accept, but I learn from losing, too.
“So, coming back from Cosafa, I just told myself, let me try to win this cup (IberCup South Africa) and recover my emotions from the Cosafa tournament because I don’t like losing. No one does.
“As an individual and as a team, we have taken lessons from the Cosafa tournament, and I know next time were are going to do better and we will fight hard to go to the World Cup as the u17 national team representing South Africa.”
It’s easy to forget that Malebana is still only 15 years old. She is, after all, one of the country’s standout players. “Sometimes I do feel the pressure, but I keep pushing myself to do better,” she said. “In the Cosafa tournament, I learned so much from my teammates, from the opposition and we all did, so I think that experience gave us a lot of motive to work hard.”
She said she also finds great value with and learns a lot from the Tuks’ first team in the Hollywoodbets Super League. Malebana said she continues to enhance her skills by gaining insights from her fellow Tuks’ squad members.
The SuperSport United team that won the 2011 competition was one of three of the club’s sides that claimed titles. Photo: IberCup.
Boys’ List of Finals
2016 Gold Final
Tshiama Academy A 3-1 Kempton Park FC
Silver Final
Durban Eagles 2-0 Benoni Northerns
2015 Gold Final
SuperSport United 4-2 Tshiama Academy A
Silver Final
Benoni Northerns 2-0 Tuks
2014 Gold Final
SuperSport United 2-1 Highlands Park FC
Silver Final
Central Schools FA 5-3 Rovers FC
2013 Gold Final
SuperSport United 2-0 Highlands Park
Silver Final
Hola Skoko FA 1-0 Mangaung Metro FA
2012 Gold Final
Mamelodi Sundowns 4-1 SuperSport United FC
Silver Final
Total Football Excellence 3-0 Hola Skoko FA
2011 Gold Final
SuperSport United 3-2 Kaizer Chiefs
2011 Silver Final
Future of Africa 6-5 Tuks
2010 Gold Final
PSG 2-0 Kaizer Chiefs
Silver Final
Socca Dream 2-1 Riverside
2009 Gold Final
Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 Tuks
Silver Final
Randburg AFC 2-0 Langalibalele Sports Academy
2008 Gold Final
Warriors FC 1-0 Kaizer Chiefs
Silver Final
Biya4 Academy 2-1 KZN Lyons FC
2007 Gold Final
Stars of Africa 5-4 Tec4kkers
Silver Final
West Youth Academy 4-1 Future of Africa
2006 Gold Final
Clapham High School 3-0 RCD Espanyol Academy Johannesburg
2005 Gold Final
Highlands Park (9) 1-1 (8) Time Tigers Executive FC
