At the beginning of 2025, Bishops staked their claim as one of the strongest cricket schools in the country. Their case for that status was backed up when they lifted the Schools SA20 national title, in March. That, though, is the past and they have another challenge to attend to on Saturday.
Stellenberg High School visits Bishops for a 50-overs-a-side clash. The visitors’ first assignment will, arguably, be their toughest of the new season.
Stellies‘ Kyle van Santen is their go-to batsman, but they’re more than a one-man show. In February, he showed his chops against their local rivals, Hoërskool Bellville, scoring 66 off 47 balls in a 25-over bout. Three weeks later, in a 50-over clash, he claimed 4/25 to demonstrate his all-round ability.
In-between their Bellville fixtures, they double-upped Durbanville, scoring 230/8 before dismissing Durbies for 115, with. Lohann Pretorius,Gerrard Kamalie, JJ Rothman and Van Santen all picking up two wickets a piece. An unbeaten 73 from Rothman, batting at seven, also showed off the depth of the Stellenberg batting.
Stellies has plenty of all-rounders, but specialisation has its merits, too. To quote the American essayist, Ralph Waldo Emerson: “The shoemaker makes a good shoe because he makes nothing else.”
Bishops’ leg spinner, Julian Pilkington, is, perhaps, a case in point. He was a key performer when the Cape Town school claimed the Schools SA20 title, snaring 3/12 against a talented St. David’s Marist Inanda batting lineup in the final.
Opening batsman, Adnaan Lagadien, has already turned out for the SA u19 Emerging side, and scored a century against Zimbabwe u19in Zimbabwe. He thrives against the new ball and can do the job in any format.
At the Schools SA20 National Finals, before Bishops met St David’s Marist Inanda in the final, he devastated the same opposition’s bowlers, smashing an unbeaten 89 runs off only 58 balls. At the event’s end, he was named the Batter of the Tournament.
The Jade Brigade will have their work cut out for them, especially playing away from home. Bishops fields a talented and deep bowling lineup, – led by Waco Bassick and Michael Kruiskamp – so Stellenberg will need to pace their innings well to challenge their hosts. Trial by fire it will be.
The second round of the Gauteng Schools Wednesday Champions League took place at the Muckleneuk Sports Ground in Pretoria, where the School of Excellence experienced its first defeat, but ended the day leading the pack.
A week later, they added another victory, working hard for a 2-1 success against Thuto Lefa Secondary School, but in their second outing they went down 0-1 to Je Malepe Secondary. Despite the setback, the School of Excellence remains in first place with nine points.
The two-time champions of the competition, Clapham High, who were unexpectedly held to a 1-1 draw by Ibongo Secondary on the tournament’s opening day, returned to form in the second week and narrowed the gap to the School of Excellence to only two points.
Clapham High stacked successive 2-0 wins over Mokgome Secondary and Je Malepe, the team that ended the School of Excellence’s unbeaten run.
Following the School of Excellence and Clapham High in the standings are Ibongo and Je Malepe, who both have seven points, the same as Clapham, but Clapham has a game in hand, which means they’re well positioned to take over at the top from the School of Excellence.
On Wednesday, Ibongo secured a 2-0 victory over Rutasetjhaba, but were knocked back in their next outing, suffering a 0-1 defeat at the hands of Thuta Lefa.
In the last fixture of the day, Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sport School picked up a tight a 1-0 win over Je Malepe.
u17 Girls’ Competition
In the u17 girls’ Gauteng Schools Champions League, the reigning champions and two-time titleholders, Jabulile Secondary School, find themselves in an unusual position after two weeks of action. They’re currently in fourth place and trail the leaders, Clapham High, who have 12 points, by five.
On Wednesday, Jabulile took on Zithobeni Secondary School in their opening match and settled for a 1-1 draw, but they had no trouble dealing with the challenge of Randfontein High, surging to a 5-0 victory in their second match.
The Clapham High girls’ team maintained their perfect record. They are, in fact, the only side in either the boys’ or girls’ competition with a 100 percent record, having scored four wins from four matches. Their return from Wednesday’s fixtures was a massive 8-1 win over Tembisa High and a 3-0 defeat of Buhle BeMfundo.
All credit to Tembisa High, they shook off their big loss to Clapham High and rebounded with a 2-0 win over Khanya-Lesedi Secondary. After that victory, Tembisa High is only three points adrift of Clapham, and third in the standings, just behind Anchor Independent Academy.
Anchor went one and one on Wednesday, losing 1-3 to Khanya-Lesedi before scoring a 2-0 win over Randfontein High.
RESULTS
u17 Boys
Clapham 2-0 Je Malepe
School of Excellence 2-1 Thuto Lefa
Ibongo 2-0 Rutasetjhaba
Je Malepe 1-0 Rosina Sedibane
Clapham 2-0 Mokgome
Thuto Lefa 1-0 Ibongo
Je Malepe 1-0 School of Excellence
u17 Girls
Zithobeni 1-0 Buhle BeMfundo
Clapham 3-0 Buhle BemFundo
Clapham 8-1 Tembisa High
Zithobeni 1-1 Jabulile
Jabulile 5-0 Randfontein High
Tembisa High 2-0 Khanya Lesedi
Khaya Lesedi 3-1 Anchor
Anchor 2-0 Randfontein High
Tzaneen will again be treated to a thrilling local derby with the annual meeting between Merensky Landbou Akademie and Hoërskool Ben Vorster set to light up the Limpopo Super League on Saturday.
Read and follow all the Limpopo Super League action live on SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com)
In recent years, the Plasies have dominated the fixture and have also been the stronger team in the overall league, having won it back in 2022.
Since then, the title has been shared between two other sides. Mohodi Boys Hub made history in 2023, becoming the first Hub side ever to claim a major league trophy at school level. In 2024, the title went to Hoërskool Pieterburg, who was also responsible for the Plasies’ most recent loss, consigning them to a six-run defeat in Polokwane last week.
In Tzaneen, Ben Vorster, nicknamed the Black Caps, completed a five-wicket victory over Phalaborwa Hub.
The team from Merensky recently bid farewell to director of cricket and head coach Stebian van der Walt, who joined Hoërskool Strand in the Western Cape as their new head of cricket. Steven Steyn has taken over the role as head coach of the Plasies.
“Despite the recent departure of Mr. van der Walt, I believe the players have adapted exceptionally well to their new environment,” Steyn said.
“The group recognises the value and depth of talent at their disposal, which is reflected in their dedication and work ethic. The senior players in the team complement the rest superbly and demonstrate a clear desire to create a lasting impression during their final year.
“We look forward to the upcoming challenge against a strong Ben Vorster side, and the players are brimming with confidence in their ability to meet this challenge. We know what Ben Vorster brings to the field, but our focus remains on our own game plan, maximising our strengths and applying pressure in every conceivable area of the match.”
Senior players like left-arm turner Timothy Baker and captain Luka Heinlein have certainly stepped up since Van der Walt’s departure. Baker, especially, has been a huge asset. The spin bowler currently leads the bowling charts in the league, along with Rayaan Malji from Hoërskool Piet Potgieter, and might well end up as the leading wicket-taker for the second consecutive year.
For the Black Caps, all-rounder Rivoningo Chauke has been a breath of fresh air. It is especially in the bowling department where he feels the most at home. Kuhlani Mnisi has shone with the bat, leading the charts in this department, while the Vossies also have captain Njabulo Maseko at their disposal, both with bat and ball.
In Polokwane, Hoërskool Pietersburg face league leaders, Hoërskool Piet Potgieter. The defending champions have only played one match, while Piet Pot has been in action three times. It promises to be a clash of epic proportions, with both sides boasting experience and class, and the ability to turn a match on its head in the blink of an eye.
Piet Pot’s Muaaz Mohammad has been in scintillating form, and the Pieties’ coach, Corné Craig, will hope that his bowlers have shaken off the last bit of rustiness. There were some good signs, though, as Stephan Swanepoel, last year’s Limpopo Impala Junior Provincial Player of the Year, found himself among the runs and the wickets against the Plasies last weekend.
He will, however, have to deal with Malji, who, like previously mentioned, is the combined leading wicket-taker alongside Baker. These two know each other well, having played provincial and senior club cricket against each other in the past.
Hoërskool Louis Trichard welcomes Nkowankowa Hub. Both teams are still searching for their first victory in this year’s league, with the Triegies also being a newcomer. Phalaborwa Hub faces Mohodi Hub in what traditionally produces some fireworks as both proud hubs battle it out for bragging rights over the other.
Captain CJ Sukraj will lead Maritzburg College in the semi-finals of the Mancosa Cowie Cup against Northwood School. Photo: Brad Morgan.
The semifinals’ lineup of the Mancosa KZNHSFA Cowie Cup has been confirmed after Maritzburg College stormed to a 5-2 victory over Brettonwood High on Wednesday in the last of the quarterfinals, played on Barns Field, in Pietermaritzburg.
After suffering a defeat to Michaelhousein the Jody Momplé Cup final on Sunday, College was back in knockout cup action and eager to move past the disappointment of falling at the final hurdle on the weekend.
Their clash with Brettonwood brought together two champion teams. During the second term, Brettonwood captured the KZNHSFA Coastal C-League title to earn promotion to the B-League in 2026. College, meanwhile, was crowned the KZNHSFA Inland A-League champion.
The Red, Black, and White, motivated by their defeat to Michaelhouse, was favoured to advance to the semi-finals, especially since they are also the reigning champions of the Cowie Cup, after defeating Port Shepstone in the 2024 final. The goal scorers in that game were Mazithi Qasha and Philasande Khuzwayo, who played a crucial role in securing a 2-0 victory for College.
On Wednesday, Qasha, once again, proved to be a devastating finisher for College. He fired in a hat-trick as College won by three over the visitors from Durban, with Nzolo Ngcemu and Zilizipho Duma also striking for the home side.
Nic Haswell, the Director of Soccer at Maritzburg College, commenting on his team’s qualification for the semifinals of the Cowie Cup, described the match against Brettonwood as exceptionally entertaining and fast-paced.
“Brettonwood were pressing us from the outset and played with great determination and energy,” he told SuperSport Schools Plus. But, he added, Maritzburg College gained an early advantage with a superb headed goal from Duma.
Brettonwood mounted a strong fightback and stunned College when they took a 2-1 lead. The hosts, though, levelled just before the break.
“Brettonwood’s impressive pressing, however, took a toll in the Pietermaritzburg heat, and College took control of the game in the second half and ran out comfortable 5-2 winners on the day,” Haswell said.
In the semi-finals, the defending champions will face a stiff challenge from a reenergised Northwood, who twice drew with College in the Primo Big 10, but eliminated the Pietermaritzburg school in the quarterfinals after their penalty shootout went to sudden death.
In the other semifinal, it will be an all-Pietermaritzburg clash between Alexandra High and the runner-up in the Inland A-League, Carter High.
Both were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Jody Momplé Cup on Sunday, with Alex falling to Hilton College 7-8 on penalties after a 1-1 draw, and Carter exiting 0-1 against Michaelhouse, who went on to lift the trophy.
The all-around flair of Eduan Stydom, a familiar face in the First XI of Hoërskool Middelburg, steered the defending champions of the Mpumalanga Schools SA20 off to a flying start.
Strydom started by setting the tone with the bat at the top of the order, which would ultimately result in a man-of-the-match performance in the 75-run victory over Hoërskool Hoogenhout.
Opening the batting, after Middies had won the toss away from home, the Middies all-rounder got his side off to a quick start after the early loss of his partner, Daryl Chirumetsikwa (1). Needing only 33 deliveries, he smashed six fours for a lightning 38 that got the other batters going.
Another flurry of quick wickets, including Strydom’s, by Logan Schutte (2/26, also the first to strike) and Wihan Fourie (1/33), shifted the momentum again in a short space of time. Experience eventually prevailed as Hendré Nel strolled to the crease. He and Wijnand Millard, a name that we will hear a lot more of, combined for an important partnership.
Millar took the lead, scoring at more than a 200 strike rate for his 58 from just 27 balls. Nel, not far behind, struck it crisply, too, ending the innings unbeaten on 45 runs coming from only 29 balls. More importantly, the partnership of 86 runs established a handsome total of 196/6 for the visitors in the allotted 20 overs.
Strydom’s day, however, hadn’t finished yet. He still had some work left with the ball, work which he finished with aplomb. In only 2.3 overs, he landed the knockout punch with which to dash Hoogenhout’s hopes. Conceding only four runs, he snapped up four wickets on the back of some hard work by Frederik Boshoff, as the pair worked well in tandem.
Boshoff, picking up four wickets of his own, including that of both opening batsmen, Johan Viljoen (23) and Wyatt Johnson (46), was rewarded handsomely for his efforts, too. The wicket of Viljoen, especially, was treasured, seeing that he had hammered Hoërskool Nelspruit with a superb innings of 157 not out just a couple of days prior.
Eight wickets for only 23 runs was, eventually, just too much damage to recover from as Hoogenhout slumped to only 121 at home, 76 runs short of toppling the defending champions.
Summarised scorecard:
Hoërskool Middelburg 196/6 (Wijnan Millard 58, Hendré Nel 45*, Eduan Strydom 38, Extras 25, Herman Potgieter; Logan Schutte 2/25); Hoërskool Hoogenhout 121 (Wyatt Johnson 46, Extras 24, Johan Viljoen 23; Eduan Strydom 4/4, Frederik Boshoff 4/19). Hoërskool Middelburg won by 75 runs.
17-year-old JJ Basson was one of the 84 players who earned a place in 2025-26 edition of the SA20. He was picked by the Paarl Royals. Photo: Supplied.
“Grandpa would have been proud.”
The Basson family was overjoyed with JJ Basson’s selection by the Paarl Royals as one of their three u23 players for season four of the SA20. However, the family also felt that none of them would have been as thrilled as the man JJ Basson was named after.
Jacob Johannes Basson was the first cricketer in the Basson family. He had enough talent to trouble club cricketers with his right-arm off-spin, but his talent never took him beyond turning out for his club, Oostelikes.
When it became apparent that his grandson’s talent superseded his own, the older Basson helped him to cultivate it. It soon became apparent that the younger JJ’s cricket gifts were greater than all of his predecessors combined.
“He bought JJ his first bat, a Kookaburra bat, when he was a little boy,” Deon Basson, JJ’s father, told SuperSport Schools Plus.
“He, also, never missed a match JJ played. He showed up for everything. When JJ was selected for his first u11 tournament, which was played in White River, my dad just asked for the details and made the trip from Pretoria.”
That tournament was the first time JJ Basson’s world of cricket truly extended beyond his school, Krugersdorp North Primary. Like every youngster, his began his journey with dreams of becoming a batsman, and a century for the school’s first team helped to encourage those ambitions.
However, everyone who watched him at that tournament in White River left certain that they had watched a talented left-arm seamer.
It didn’t take long for more people to recognise his talent. When Gauteng West and Joburg North met at u13 level in a regional tournament, JJ almost singlehandedly won that encounter for his team.
Joburg North scuttled Gauteng West for a measly 110 after electing to bowl first and it looked as if they would cruise to victory when they got into a rhythm and reached 76/1, needing only 35 more runs to win. JJ, though, shattered their hopes of victory with a blistering second spell that saw him capture five wickets for 11 runs. Gauteng West won.
That performance was a sneak peek into the future. Later that year, Basson helped his side clinch the title in the Gauteng Cup. The winner’s medal found a place beside his 2021 Lenasia Premier League (LPL) u13 winners’ medal for the Celestial Knights. That was only the beginning.
Recalling the teenager’s early years, Rudi Erasmus, one of JJ’s coaches at Hoërskool Noordheuwel, said: “We really just focused on the basics of bowling, making sure every step was smooth, efficient, and strong. The rest was up to him, testing his limits and finding his own technique and rhythm through time and effort.”
In 2022, when JJ was 14, an improved action helped him play a leading role in the Black Widow Junior side’s victory in the Big Bom Lenasia T20. He also featured in the Diadora Jozi Cup u15 team that finished in second place at the annual winter tournament. That title didn’t elude him for long, however. The following year, he clinched it with the u16 side.
The accolades have kept rolling in. Besides 2024, when he was sidelined by injury, there hasn’t been a year when the left-armer hasn’t been part of Gauteng’s age group teams at national events.
Batsmen breathed easier when JJ Basson wasn’t bowling. His towering height and the left-arm angle made life difficult for them. However, with JJ, it isn’t just about height and being a southpaw.
“One of his greatest skills is his ability to bring the ball back into right-handers. He also has a good bouncer and has good variations in his armoury. What makes him dangerous is how quickly his wrists can snap to provide him extra pace,” Ahmed Nawab, the Gauteng Lions’ u19 coach, shared.
Nawab’s description of JJ is a glove that fits Mitchell Starc. That comes as no surprise because, before he found his own path, JJ copied the Australian star’s action. He did it for so long that his skillset makes it appear as if they came off the same production line. JJ was so enamoured by the Australian that he also wears the number 56 shirt. He couldn’t have chosen a better role model.
Among modern left-arm pacers, only New Zealand’s Trent Boult can keep company with the Aussie quick as an exponent of new-ball bowling, although Starc holds the edge. Earlier this year, the Aussie put his genius with the new ball on display when he recorded the fastest five-wicket haul against the West Indies in Test cricket history. It came in only 15 balls. Like Starc, JJ is a new-ball hitman.
“We worked on that a lot. The focus was on getting him to land the new ball in the right areas,” Donald Dinake, JJ’s coach at Noordheuwel, said.
In 2007, social scientist Angela Dweck published her seminal book, Mindset, which discussed fixed and growth mindsets. According to Dweck, people with a fixed mindset are bent on proving themselves to be outstanding or good over and over again, but they’re afraid of failure. Those with a growth mindset, on the other hand, are unafraid of failure because they believe that hurdles help them to develop their abilities.
When Dinake speaks of JJ, it sounds like he took a passage from Dweck’s publication and used it to talk of the teenager. He uses words like coachable, good listener, inquisitive, and sponge. JJ handles negative feedback with a maturity that is way beyond his young age, Dinake said.
““I always remind him that feedback is never personal. I say to him, the bowling is not you. It’s a skill that you have and need to improve and develop. So, when a coach gives you negative feedback, it’s not them criticising you, but rather, they are trying to help your skill,” his father, Deon, said.
As far as JJ is concerned, feedback is a ladder. One can use it to climb a few rungs or to go all the way to the top.
The Noordheuwel grade 11 learner has big dreams. When he was younger, he didn’t set his sights on playing for the biggest club in his area. He targeted representing the Lions. At 15, his ambition changed to representing his country.
The teenager doesn’t just listen. He treasures the feedback, taking it on board and then putting it to the test through hour upon hour of bowling innumerable deliveries to upskill himself. That’s how he became the South Africa u19 side’s premier strike bowler at the age of 17. Now, he is so good that Malibongwe Maketa, the SA u19 coach, expects him to deliver early wickets, which he does. However, JJ Basson is not solely a new ball specialist.
“His control has come a long way. He has now developed wonderful consistency, which makes him not just useful in the middle overs and at the death, but also a proper wicket-taker in those periods,” Nawab explained.
JJ has made many sacrifices to earn such high praise from everyone around him. Those sacrifices include forgoing some things his peers enjoy, like late nights. His father, Deon, said JJ understands the value that good sleep provides his development, and he is dedicated to his schedule and dietary requirements.
“Nothing explains his dedication better than the work he put in when he was injured. JJ showed great resilience during that time. He would wake up at 04:30, do gym work, go to school, and then come to the Wanderers for physiotherapy appointments and net sessions,” Nawab recalled.
His mother, Nicolene, ensured that he was where he needed to be, on time. When the Joburg Super Kings conducted trials ahead of the SA20 auction, she got him to the Wanderers on time, despite JJ being under the weather. He had been unable to do much because of a severe cold the previous week. However, he showed up at the trials and pushed himself to perform as if he were 100 percent fit.
“He had no discomfort. He was determined to learn as much as he could from Allan Donald and Eric Simons,” Nawab said. “That’s what you can expect from JJ, though. He is the kind of person you would want beside you in a battle because of his commitment.”
Given an opportunity to impress, JJ Basson grabbed it, and he enjoyed himself. His grandfather and namesake would have been proud.
He would have been even prouder to learn that his 17-year-old grandson had been picked by the Paarl Royals as one of their three u23 players at the mega auction.
Jacob Johannes Basson, the elder, would have been proud that his grandson has also grown into an outstanding young man.
Durban High School top-order batsman, Josh van Biljon. Photo: Brad Morgan.
The Durban High School (DHS) train kept rolling in the Eston One Insurance T20 Night League when Schoolchased down a healthy Michaelhouse total to win by six wickets on Wednesday evening at the Eston Beaumont Farmers Club.
The Horseflies‘ success owed plenty to the supremely talented Josh van Biljon, who tore through the ‘Housebowling, smashing an unbeaten century.
Batting first, Michaelhouse made a moderate start and in the eighth over found themselves on 37/3 following the dismissal of opener Cody Sander for 10. His fellow opener, Graydon Leslie, had fallen for four, while Rex Wardlaw was run out by Lazlo Jooste for 18.
The Balgowan boys needed a boost, and they got it from Nic Baker and Ben Heuer. Baker provided the initial impetus, striking four fours in a hasty 28 from 13 deliveries before he was caught by Bayanda Majola off Jooste’s bowling. He and Heuer had added 38 in 3.2 overs.
Following Baker’s departure, Heuer joined forces with Hayden Hewlett and took charge. He clubbed two sixes and six fours in a 42-ball stay that brought him 66 runs, with Hewlett playing the supporting role.
One ball before the end of their 20 overs, Heuer was caught by Bonga Maphanga off the gas man, Bayanda Majola. Hewlett went on to finish on 24 not out from 22 balls, and Michaelhouse tallied 170/5, leaving DHS needing to bat at 8.55 runs per over to win.
With that total, the DHS bowling figures didn’t make for particularly impressive reading. Majola, with 1/27 from four, was the best of their attack.
In reply, DHS made a steady start, with Ismaeel Omar and Ethan Cooper putting on 35 for the first wicket. Omar was the first to go, caught by Preston Greene off of Rex Wardlaw’s bowling for 21 from 19 balls, which had included three fours. That brought Josh van Biljon to the crease. Six runs later, on 41, Cooper exited, having made 10 from 12.
Van Biljon and Taine Havermann immediately set about the Michaelhouse attack, with Van Biljon, especially, getting on top of the bowling. Together, they added 65 runs in 7.2 overs before Havermann was caught by RadheshJhilmeet off Thandanani Zuma‘s bowling for 23 from 21.
Lazlo Jooste didn’t last long, but Bayanda Majola, with eight not out, helped Van Biljon see School to victory with eight balls to spare.
Van Biljon finished on exactly 100 not out, having blasted three sixes and 12 fours in an outstanding 53-ball knock. Because of that onslaught, the Michaelhouse bowling figures didn’t make for happy reading.
Red Wardlaw picked up 1/30 in four, and Ben Heuer finished with 1/32 in four, with Wardlaw’s economy rate of 7.5 per over the best that a ‘House bowler managed. Opening bowler Thandanani Zuma removed Havermann, but he went for 42 runs from only three overs.
Scores
Michaelhouse 170/5 (Ben Heuer 66, Nic Baker 28, Hayden Hewlett 24*; Bayanda Majola 1/27, DhilanNaraidu 1/29); Durban High School 174/4 (Josh van Biljon 100*, Taine Havermann 23, Ismaeel Omar 21; Red Wardlaw 1/30, Ben Heuer 1/32).
Henru de Wet is a key player for Grey College, a dangerman with both the bat and ball. Photo: Grey College on Instagram.
Potch Gim vs Grey College
Grey College makes a short trip to tackle Potchefstroom Gimnasium in a 50-overs-a-side clash on Saturday. They’ll be full of confidence after they received strong contributions from multiple batsmen last time out.
In Grey’s first innings of 278/3 declared, he also shared a 111-run partnership with Aiden Dodd, who weighed in with 78.
The second time around, Grey declared on 218/4 from just 34.3 overs. That tally included 99 from Divan Bezuidenhout and 50 from Juan Maree.
The PotchGim bowling line up will be in for a stern examination. If they bowl loose deliveries, they’ll be punished.
Their batsmen will face a different but equally dangerous challenge from the Grey College bowling attack.
Remember that guy who scored a century last week? Henru de Wet can bowl, too. He takes many wickets. Maybe because he’s able to see things from the batsman’s perspective?
Against Selborne, however, it was Sicelo Matayi and Otto Krause who led the attack, picking up three wickets apiece while keeping the run rate in check.
The hosts’ familiarity with the conditions will be an advantage, but they’ll need to make use of their local knowledge by executing their game plan with discipline.
Hoërskool Goudveld vs St. Dominic’s College
In Welkom, Hoërskool Goudveld and St Dominic’s College, the alma mater of former Proteas’ captain, Dean Elgar, get their seasons underway with a Schools SA20 clash on Friday.
They’ll also be up against Bethlehem’s Hoërskool Witteberg and their local rivals, Welkom Gimnasium, before the local Schools SA20 play-offs. But those contests await in October.
For a first outing of the season, there’s plenty at stake considering that the Schools SA20 is a country-wide competition, with honours to be gained at provincial, regional, and national level.
At least, though, for the loser, it won’t mean elimination from the competition. They’ll have time to learn from Friday’s outing and come back better. For the winner, it will be a step forward in the quest to show who rules the roost in the northern Free State.
A massive weekend lies ahead as the four big shots of the Titans Platinum League face each other in a round that can already prove to be decisive in the outcome of the race for ultimate honours.
In a clash that always offers a large dose of excitement and nail-biting drama, Hoërskool Waterkloof plays host to Hoërskool Garsfontein at the André van der Walt Oval on Saturday.
These two teams have met once before this year, in a T20 practice match, ultimately affected by the weather, as the Ysbere prepared for the SA20 playoffs hosted at the University of Pretoria, just two weeks later. Both have enjoyed immaculate starts to their campaigns.
The Klofies have already thumped Hoërskool Eldoraigne and Prestige College, while the Ysbere did the same against Prestige and beat Pretoria Boys High comfortably a week later. Having two balanced sides, with match-winners in the batting and bowling departments, always makes for a tight encounter.
Amongst the powerhouses on display are the two captains. Klofies’ Riley Miller has been his side’s best batsman so far this season, while Xander Venter of Garsfontein poses a double threat with both the new ball and at the top of his side’s batting order.
Rivan Booysen has been the find for the Klofies with the ball, seemingly always in the wickets column with at least three scalps more often than not. Saturday poses a tough challenge, however, squaring off against not only Venter but also the in-form Reuben van Zyl.
Die Hoërskool Menlopark travels just down Lynwood Road to face Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool in their backyard. Similar to the Klofies-Garsies encounter, there has been a long-standing rivalry between the Parkies and Affies, which has produced some crackers over the years.
The return of the influential Ruben Groenewald, after a successful year on the rugby pitch, makes an already well-balanced side even more dangerous. Apart from Groenewald, the fact that JP Botha has found form at the top of the order is a significant boost for the Affies’ batting department.
The Parkies are licking wounds following a somewhat unexpected defeat at the hands of Pretoria Boys High School last weekend. This, however, is exactly what makes them dangerous: an unpredictable team with some serious young talent, good enough to topple any side on any given day.
Matt van der Westhuizen and his batting troups, including Jan-Willem Pienaar, will be relishing the opportunity to put the batting-friendly conditions of the Affies Oval to good use.
Pretoria Boys High will look to continue some strong momentum when they travel to Hammanskraal to face Prestige College at home. Here too, the battle of the batsman can play a decisive role in the outcome of the game.
Dylan Kruger‘s amazing 123 not out against the Parkies last weekend has shown exactly how capable he is, while 94 from the bat of Thabang Kutumela against the Klofies issued a similar statement.
Hoërskool Eldoraigne faces Cornwall Hill College at home. Still searching for their first victory as part of the Platinum League, Saturday might just be the day. However, the likes of Cornwall’s stalwart, Oliver Richard, will make life difficult for them, even though the Eldos are at home.
Menlo-Blou het koning gekraai in sowel die o.18- as o.15-ouderdomsgroep, tydens Saterdag se Tshwane Fast 5-toernooi in Pretoria.
Dié netbalbyeenkoms, waaraan spanne van regoor die hoofstad deelgeneem het, het vir hope aksie en klipharde mededinging gesorg om opnuut die gees en talent van Tshwane se jong netbalspelers uit te lig.
In die o.15-kategorie was daar geen tekort aan drama nie. In die uitklopwedstryde het die spanne hardnekkig baklei vir elke punt, met Menlo-Blou en Menlo-Rooi wat in die eindstryd teen mekaar te staan gekom het. Ná ’n spanningsvolle kragmeting het Menlo-Blou net-net daarin geslaag om met 22–20 as kampioen uit die stryd te tree.
Die ander uitspele was ewe mededingend, met Oos-Moot, Hillview, Worker Beez, Baby Beez, Garsfontein en Zwartkop wat almal uitgehaal en gewys het. Die geesdrif van die spelers en die ondersteuning van die toeskouers het gesorg vir ’n besonderse atmosfeer.
Die o.18’s het kragtig voortgebou op die aksie van die juniors, om met onwrikbare karakter mee te ding vir die plekke op die puntelys. Prestige en Queen Beez het in die wedstryd om die sewende plek gelykop gespeel met 31–31, terwyl Garsfontein met ’n indrukwekkende sege van 24–15 oor Zwartkop vyfde geëindig het. In die stryd om die bronsmedalje het Oos-Moot met 25-20 die botoon gevoer oor Queen Beez.
Die toernooi het ‘n gepaste klimaks bereik met die o.18-eindstryd, waar Menlo-Blou en Menlo-Rooi weer mekaar die stryd aangesê het. Menlo-Blou het uiteindelik met gefokusde spel en doeltreffende afronding die oorhand verkry om met 24–18 as die Tshwane Fast 5-kampioen gekroon te word.
