Blog

Paul Roos Gimnasium vs Pearson High

In preparation for their battle against SACS on Saturday, Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG) hosted Pearson High for a 50-over contest on Friday morning.

After winning the toss, the hosts enjoyed a relatively smooth outing at the crease when they opted to bat first.

Janko Webb, at three, and Marcus Conradie, at five, made hay, with both compiling centuries. Together, they took PRG from an unconvincing 43/3 to 197/4 after a 154-run fourth wicket partnership.

Webb struck 13 fours and a six in his 102 off 97 balls. Conradie, meanwhile, stroked 10 fours and a maximum in the innings’ top score of 110, which came at more than a run a ball, off 103 deliveries. He was the eighth man to lose his wicket.

Roux Joubert, batting at nine, kept the momentum rolling, however, weighing in with an unbeaten 41 off 39 to help Paul Roos to 312/9 after their 50 overs.

Jean Schultz claimed four wickets for the Gqeberha locals, sending down 10 overs that also cost him 53 runs. Meanwhile, Jayden Ward snagged 2/23 from four.

Pearson opener, Cale Price, played with confidence in the challenging run chase, blasting eight fours in a 33-ball stay that produced 42 runs. He was the first player to lose his wicket with the total on 71. From there, though, matters began to head south for Pearson.

Morné Pauw removed both openers and claimed 2/21 in six overs, while James Holm dialled up the pressure, surrendering only 24 runs from his 10 overs, which brought him two wickets, too.

Towards the end of the Pearson reply, Roux Joubert snapped up 2/10 in a four-over spell.

Seth Muirhead brought the contest to a sudden end when he captured 3/5 in 2.5 overs, which left the visitors on 150 all out after 33.5 overs and Paul Roos the winners by an emphatic margin of 162 runs.

Hoërskool Durbanville vs Hoërskool Parel Vallei

Also on Friday afternoon, Hoërskool Parel Vallei (PV) visited Hoërskool Durbanville for a T20 clash. The Somerset West side won the toss and elected to bat first.

The reliable Chris Hughes top-scored at the top of the order, contributing a steady 34 runs off 35 balls. However, much like Pearson at PRG, PV struggled to build partnerships after a solid 42-run opening stand.

Number five batsman, Ruben du Plessis, tried to pick up the pace in the middle overs, though, launching two sixes in his 22 off 18 deliveries, but the visitors mustered only an average 108/7 from their 20 overs.

Jan-Oscar van Tonder led the home bowling attack, getting rid of the PV top order on his way to 3/25 from four overs. Farrel-Leigh Dido also took multiple wickets, collecting 2/17 from his four.

While Parel Vallei found it to be tough sledding at the crease, Durbies experienced even greater headwinds as the visiting bowlers dominated. Chris Hughes knocked over 3/9, Dirk van Zyl 3/10, and Daniel Dreyer nabbed 2/8 in just two overs.

Durbanville’s reply faltered early, and, try as they might, they were unable to secure a foothold; Ruben la Grange, batting at four, top-scored with a modest 13 runs.

Farrel-Leigh Dido and Jeandré Janse van Rensburg chipped in with 12 each, but it wasn’t Durbies’ day, and they were bowled out for only 65 after 16.2 overs, leaving Parel Vallei with a comfortable 43-run win.

Summarised Scorecards

Paul Roos Gimnasium 312/9 (Marcus Conradie 110, Janko Webb 102, Roux Joubert 41*; Jean Schultz 4/53, Jayden Ward 2/23, Deanu Bezuidenhout 2/54); Pearson High 150/10 (Cale Price 42, Jude Septoo 25; Seth Muirhead 3/5, Roux Joubert 2/10, Morné Pauw 2/21, James Holm 2/24). Paul Roos won by 162 runs.

Hoërskool Parel Vallei 108/7 (Chris Hughes 34, Ruben du Plessis 22; Jan Oscar van Tonder 3/25, Farrel-Leigh Dido 2/17); Hoërskool Durbanville 65/10 (Chris Hughes 3/9, Dirk van Zyl 3/10, Daniel Dreyer 2/8). Parel Vallei won by 43 runs.

The third annual Clifton T20 Tournament, which brings together KwaZulu-Natal’s top 10 cricket-playing schools, as well as Hoërskool Waterkloof and St John’s College (Harare), has quickly established itself as one of South Africa’s best and most exciting cricket events and, in 2026, the bar has been set even higher, with primary schools added to the tantalising line-up of talent.

All matches on the Crusaders Main Oval, the primary venue for the Clifton T20, will be broadcast live on DStv Channel 216. Further coverage will be live-streamed on SuperSport Schools.

The broadcast on DStv Channel 216 includes primary school contests, which will be played between the high school games and will provide an unforgettable experience for the juniors, who will also be presented with coloured playing kits.

At the best of times, T20 cricket outcomes are difficult to predict, but trying to do so for the 2026 edition of the tournament would be foolhardy. That’s one of the things that makes it special, however.

The hosts, Clifton College, have been drawn in Pool A with Hilton College, Kearsney College, and St John’s. Pool B features Maritzburg College, Northwood, St Charles College, and Westville Boys’ High. Durban High School (DHS), Glenwood, Waterkloof, and Michaelhouse are in Pool C.

Starting with Pool A, Clifton’s form in the W100, the Dolphins’ region’s 100-ball competition, has been good. They’ve beaten DHS, the two-time reigning Clifton T20 champion, and Westville Boys’ High, last year’s beaten finalist, who have won the W100 for five successive years in their past two outings.

Clifton’s captain Shiraz Perumal, a star performer with the ball in 2025, has shone with the bat early in the season, scoring 111 runs and being dismissed only once in three matches. As the skipper of the side, he’s taken on the responsibility of leadership like a duck to water.

Hilton College heads into the event off the back of winning the KZN Regional final of the Switch Schools SA20 Volume Two competition in Pietermaritzburg. Inconsistent in 2025, they, nonetheless, made the semi-finals of the Clifton T20 last year. They appear to be a far more consistent side in 2026, powered by a strong bowling attack, which has set them up for some convincing victories.

Sechaba Gude and Sange Qangule have excelled with the new ball, while those who follow – Obakeng Motsepa, Sean Burman, Luke Wilson, and Benoit Rey – have all played their part in Hilton’s successes.

Robert Burman has enjoyed a strong start as captain of the side, setting a good example at the crease, while Barack Munawa and Ben Wilson have provided a reliable opening partnership, laying on sound platforms.

Kearsney College, with plenty of experience in their line-up, has found form after misfiring at the Grey High Festival before the start of the first term, where they took a while to adapt to the conditions in Gqeberha. They possess a varied attack and some exciting young batsmen. Both of those were on show in a recent pummeling of Glenwood in the W100.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Asher Hollister is one on whom to keep an eye. Rivaan Moodley, meanwhile, has developed into a superb all-rounder, challenging batsmen and regularly taking wickets with his leg spin and also playing his part in the top order with his bat.

St John’s, as a visitor from north of the border, offers a touch of the unknown. They, however, are often the standard setters in Zimbabwe. Maritzburg College, Kearsney, and Clifton experienced that in 2024, when St John’s won the St John’s Rams T20, defeating all three on their way to the title.

Last year, Clifton College reached the final of the St John’s Rams T20, where they were beaten by a combined team from St John’s College (Johannesburg), Queen’s High, Jeppe and KES.

This is relevant because the Clifton T20 mirrors the St John’s Rams T20. Clifton has been a regular participant in the event for over a decade. It has proved immensely popular with South African teams – especially because of its cool vibe and warm-hearted hosts – and that’s why Clifton settled on the format when the school introduced the Clifton T20 during its centenary year in 2024.

The event has filled a gap in the KZN cricket calendar, which had largely featured traditional limited-overs matches, by introducing a colourful action-packed tournament that brings all of the top KZN schools together in a family-oriented environment, with a beautiful trophy on the line. Broadcasting matches with top commentators from SuperSport Schools has also shared the excitement with a wider audience.

In Group B, Maritzburg College will be aiming for greater batting consistency to aid their challenge. They’re led by opening bowler Reece Willson, who represented The Dolphins at the Khaya Majola Week in 2025. He’s a regular wicket-taker, and making early inroads into the opposition’s batting order provides a good platform for T20 success.

Northwood might fancy their chances. They’re from the north of Durban and play at the Crusaders Club from time to time. They’re also an experienced side.

Last year, they won the KZN Schools SA20 title, and towards the end of 2025, they made the final of The Dolphins Switch Schools SA20. They can be a bit hit and miss at the top of their batting order. But if their top order batsmen get in, they’re a tough team to beat. Openers, David de Bruyn and Ross McGlashan, will be one of the keys to their challenge, while Keegan Reeves will carry his fine all-round form into the event.

St Charles College lifted The Tuskers Switch Schools SA20 title by beating Hilton College towards the end of last year. While matters didn’t go according to plan in the KZN Regional Final, they again comfortably beat Hilton College, the eventual winners, in the round-robin stage of the competition.

Hilton rested a couple of key bowlers in that clash, but Saints cruised to a convincing win, which reflected just how small the margins are between victory and defeat when the top sides meet.

Westville Boys’ High took down Northwood in The Dolphins’ Schools SA20 final, and they went on to reach the KZN Regional final, where they were blown away by Hilton College’s dynamic bowling and fielding performance. They’re a dangerous side, though, batting deep down the order while also offering many bowling options.

In captain Kyle McGough, Ewan du Toit, Tristin Delvin, Misbah Nair, Aarin Rasmussen, and wicketkeeper/batsman, Aidan Baudach, they have six fantastic all-rounders.

DHS, the two-time defending champions, are in Group C. They no longer have the express pace of Bayanda Majola to lead their bowling attack, and he played a big role in their success last year. But they do boast two of the most successful batsmen in the province, Ismaeel Omar and Josh van Biljon, both of whom scored centuries in the Clifton T20 last year.

Omar went big against Kearsney, scoring 104 not out in an eight-wicket semi-final win, and Van Biljon played superbly to score 103 not out against a dangerous Hoërskool Waterkloof side (see YouTube highlights above), which was one of the most important results of the group phase of play.

Speaking of Klofies, they have proved themselves time and time again to be one of the country’s best at T20 cricket. They were crowned the Westvaal North-South T20 champions in 2022 and 2023 and won the Wildeklawer T20 in 2025.

They’re an attacking outfit, playing brave cricket and going for their shots. Their opponents will need to take wickets regularly because the chances of holding them in check are otherwise slim. Look out for their top order batsmen – Wian du Plessis, AJ de Villiers and Rico van der Walt – to lead their charge.

Michaelhouse, also in Pool C, is a dark horse. They’ve played some good cricket early in 2026. They feature a well-balanced bowling attack, with good frontline pacemen well backed by accurate seamers and spinners.

Captain Graydon Leslie has been one of their star performers with the bat at the top of the order. All-rounders, Rex Wardlaw and Ben Heuer, will have a big role to play for the Balgowan boys, too, while Liam O’Dwyer was a match-winner in their two-day match against Maritzburg College last weekend.

Glenwood is a tough team to figure out. They’re talented – always a hard-working team in the field, who do a good job of putting the batting side under pressure – but their batting has been patchy thus far. They’ll look to captain Kreesan Pillai to lead with the bat, while Mishael Gunawardana is another player who could play a prominent role for the Green Machine. He offers good all-round skills.

Before the Clifton T20 Tournament, the focus remains on the traditional KZN weekend fixtures. On Saturday, 31 January, the schedule is as follows:

Westville vs Clifton, Bowden’s
St Charles vs Maritzburg College, SCC Oval
Kearsney vs Northwood, AH Smith Oval
DHS vs Hilton, Theobald Oval

FIXTURES

Group A

Friday, 13 February

11:30 – Clifton vs Hilton, Crusaders Main
14:30 – St John’s vs Kearsney, Riverside

Saturday, 14 February

08:30 – Clifton vs St John’s, Crusaders Main
08:30 – Kearsney vs Hilton, Crusaders 2
14:30 – Clifton vs Kearsney, Crusaders Main
14:30 – St John’s vs Hilton, Riverside

Group B

Friday, 13 February

08:30 – Maritzburg College vs St Charles, Crusaders Main
08:30 – Northwood vs Westville, Riverside
14:00 – St Charles vs Northwood, DHS
14:00 – Westville vs Maritzburg College, Northwood

Saturday, 14 February

08:30 – Northwood vs Maritzburg College, Riverside
14:00 – St Charles vs Westville, Northwood

Group C

Friday, 13 February

08:30 – Michaelhouse vs Waterkloof, DHS
08:30 – Glenwood vs DHS, Northwood
14:30 – DHS vs Waterkloof, Crusaders Main

Saturday, 14 February

08:30 – Waterkloof vs Glenwood, DHS
08:30 – DHS vs Michaelhouse, Northwood
14:00 – Glenwood vs Michaelhouse, DHS

Sunday, 15 February

08:30 – Eliminator 1, Crusaders Main
08:30 – Eliminator 2, Crusaders 2
09:00 – 7th place, DHS
09:00 – 9th place, Northwood
09:00 – 11th place, Kingsmead Oval
11:30 – Semi-final 1, Crusaders Main
11:30 – Semi-final 2, Crusaders 2
14:30 – Final, Crusaders Main

In Tzaneen, local bragging rights will be up for grabs when the long-time rivals, Merensky Landbou Akademie and Hoërskool Ben Vorster, meet for the first time in 2026 in a Finsbury League showdown.

Meanwhile, the toughest task in the D Section at present is to stem the flow of runs from the bat of Hoërskool Dr Malan captain Heinrich Jansen van Rensburg.

Inclement weather, coupled with the Northern Region Play-offs of the Switch Schools SA20 Volume Two, has meant that Merensky’s Plasies have yet to feature in a 50-over fixture this year, playing only T20 matches after their opening two games in the competition were washed out.

The Black Caps of Hoërskool Ben Vorster, meanwhile, have travelled to Klerksdorp and Meyerton to face Hoërskool Wesvalia, whom they defeated, and the Dokkies of Hoërskool Dr Malan, respectively.

For Plasies, the new year has marked the return of a familiar figure. Pieter van der Merwe, who was the Director of Cricket until 2017, has returned as the Head of Sport to, once more, take charge at Limpopo’s most renowned agricultural school.

In the Black Caps’ camp, history is waiting to be written, with an opportunity to defeat the Merensky Landbou for the first time in many years. To do so, though, they’ll have to win on the Merensky Oval.

Meanwhile, the rampaging Heinrich Jansen van Rensburg and his teammate Ruben Muller have been preparing for the visit of Heidelberg Volkskool to Meyerton.

The Dokkies’ captain has been in scintillating form, registering two centuries in as many matches, and his tally already stands at 261 runs from those two innings. To compound the threat he poses, his impact with the ball has been similarly significant, placing him among the leading wicket-takers in both matches.

Batting at the top of the order, Muller has provided strong support with scores of 80 and 90, but he’ll be eager to notch his first century of the campaign.

The fixture between Hoërskool Wesvalia and Hoër Tegniese Skool (HTS) Middelburg in Klerksdorp is no less significant, with potential implications for the promotion-relegation playoffs, which are scheduled for 21 February.

The Wessies, as noted earlier, fell short against the Black Caps, while their second fixture, against the Plasies, was abandoned, leaving them in a precarious position. HTS Middelburg remains winless after two outings.

Any log points would be a huge boost for either side, setting the stage for a contest that could go down to the wire should both teams fire on all cylinders.

BULAWAYO: South Africa U19 Men concluded their ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup journey against Sri Lanka at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, on Thursday after a challenging campaign.

SA had opted to bat first, with a classy century from opener Jorich van Schalwyk, who struck a composed 116, laying a solid foundation alongside Adnaan Lagadien (46).

The pair added 96 runs for the opening wicket before Lagadien was dismissed by V. Akash in the 19th over.

Van Schalwyk continued to anchor the innings despite the early losses of skipper Muhammad Bulbulia and Jason Rowles.

He found valuable support in Bandile Mbatha, with the pair adding a solid 48 runs.

Paul James (37*) and Michael Kruiskamp (21*) late cameo also ensured South Africa closed their innings on a competitive 261/7.

Sri Lanka, however, made light work of the chase. A decisive 143-run partnership between Viran Chamudita (116) and Senuja Wekunagoda (48) shifted the momentum firmly away from South Africa, guiding them to 265/5.

Despite encouraging individual performances across the tournament, the team went down by five wickets.

SA U19 Men’s Head Coach, Malibongwe Maketa, noted that this campaign highlighted both the demands of elite age-group cricket and the importance of continued growth as the Junior Proteas transition along the national pathway.

“We had a very disappointing campaign this year. Across the tournament, we had moments in most games where we could really wrestle control and take charge, but in those tough moments, we weren’t quite up for it.

“However, there were also some positive and encouraging performances from several players like Jason Rowles, JJ Basson, and Bayanda Majola. They’ve shown real growth, and we’re excited about their development.

“This programme is about supporting players as they transition from school cricket into professional cricket. We’ll continue to support all of them through domestic cricket opportunities, camps, and tours, because we believe there is a lot of talent and skill in this group,” said Maketa.

South Africa U19 Squad: ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026

Muhammad Bulbulia (Captain-KZN Inland), JJ Basson (Lions), Daniel Bosman (Western Province), Corne Botha (Lions), Paul James (Western Province), Enathi Khitshini (SWD), Michael Kruiskamp (Western Province), Adnaan Lagadien (Western Province), Bayanda Majola (Dolphins), Armaan Manack (Lions), Bandile Mbatha (Dolphins), Lethabo Phahlamohlaka (Titans), Jason Rowles (Lions), Ntandoyenkosi Soni (Eastern Province), Jorich van Schalkwyk (Titans).

 

SA U19 Men Fixtures:  ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 (15 January – 06 February)

Friday, 16 January – 09h30: Afghanistan v South Africa, HP Oval, Windhoek – Afghanistan won by 28 runs.

Monday, 19 January – 09h30: South Africa v Tanzania, HP Oval, Windhoek – South Africa won by 329 runs.

Thursday, 22 January – 09h30: West Indies v South Africa, HP Oval, Windhoek – West Indies won by 55 runs

 

Super Sixes

Sunday, 25 January – 09h30: Australia vs South Africa – NCG, Windhoek – Australia won by six wickets.

Thursday, 29 January – 09h30: Sri Lanka vs South Africa – Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo – Sri Lanka won by five wickets.

Tuesday, 03 February – 09h30: First semi-final, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo

Wednesday, 04 February – 09h30: Second semi-final, Harare Sports Club, Harare

Friday, 06 February – 09h30:  Final, Harare Sports Club, Harare

 

Issued by: Cricket South Africa – Corporate Communications

With Hoërskool Middelburg on a roll, the other five sides in the C Section of the Finsbury League find themselves playing catch-up ahead of the third of the five rounds on Saturday

With a strong, well-balanced line-up, Middies surged to the top of the standings after an emphatic victory over Hoërskool Zwartkop last weekend.

Beyond tightening their grip on first place in the C Section, their 318-run demolition of Zwarries also saw their big guns rediscover their form. Khaya Majola star Eduan Strydom‘s magnificent 183 was the highest individual score recorded thus far in the Noordvaal in 2026.

Alongside him, another familiar name, Gavin Genis, has also found his rhythm, smashing 171 runs from just 66 balls in his last two innings.

The duo has sent a huge warning in flashing red lights to the Hoërskool Lichtenburg bowling attack that awaits them on Saturday.

They’re currently winless, but a victory for all-rounder Jurgen Hesse and his side would be a huge boost for Liggies‘ campaign, and it would give them some breathing room as the promotion-relegation matches draw nearer.

Zwartkop, who will be hurting after last weekend’s wipeout, has home advantage against the only other unbeaten side in the section, Hoërskool Dinamika, of Alberton.

Dinamika’s two victories owed a lot to valuable contributions from their lower-order batsmen. They don’t boast a star-studded line-up and have rather relied on balanced team performances to deliver good results. The all-round experience of Branko Steenberg, a regular in the 1st XI for several years, however, is a big asset.

For Zwarries, Wynand Frylick will be a key performer. His middle-order batting and bowling will need to fire if they are to rein in a confident Dinamika outfit in Centurion.

In the capital of Limpopo, Hoërskool Pietersburg welcomes Hoërskool Centurion for Pieties‘ first Finsbury fixture on their home ground.

Pietersburg won against Lichtenburg their last time out, thus staying within reach of the log leaders. Khaya Majola all-rounder Stephan Swanepoel leads a strong and experienced batting line-up, which also features AJ Galloway and Hanru Marias, who are both in their third year of 1st XI cricket.

Centurion heads to Polokwane armed with the all-round skills of Morné Prinsloo, the younger brother of Charl Prinsloo of the Northern Cape Heat, and Morné Venter, who will need to shine if the visitors are to topple Pieties, who are usually a formidable proposition on their home ground.

Grey High School and their rivals from Makhanda, St Andrew’s College, made their presence felt on the opening day of the inaugural Grey High School Water Polo Tournament in Gqeberha on Thursday.

Catch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools.

The two sides entered the tournament as the favourites, and they showed why by dominating the field, showcasing great skill in the pool while scoring bucketloads of goals.

They both finished the opening day of the event, which runs through to Sunday, with maximum points.

St Andrew’s, seeded in Pool A, recorded two convincing victories, beating Hudson Park High 7-0, before crushing a Grey Invitational side 12-0, later in the day.

Coach Grant Mackenzie‘s boys continued to play with the momentum and cohesion they had built up in their home pool at the SAC Shield in Makhanda last weekend. They moved the ball around with precision, and their captain, Jacques Du Toit, never looked bothered in the cage.

While the hosts made light work of their opponents, Pearson High School and Woodridge College also started their respective campaigns brightly.

Pearson, under the tutelage of new head coach Stan Gospodinov, who joined the school from Grey College, scored seven times on their way to a 7-2 win against the Grey Invitational team. They were defeated in their second match of the day, though, going down 3-8 to Woodridge.

Pool B had only three matches on the opening day, but they were all blockbusters.

Grey powered their way to an emphatic 16-3 win over Paarl Boys’ High in their opener, sending out a strong message to the other contenders that they intend to be in the running to become the tournament’s inaugural winners.

Reddam House Constantia, who have provided outstanding entertainment in the early rounds of the SACS Nite Series, also registered a win, outscoring Glenwood House 10-5.

Coach Ross van Schoor’s Boishaai team recovered from their early loss and thumped Stirling High, from East London, 11-2 to end the day on a high note.

Day two will kick off with a Pool B clash between Stirling and Reddam House at 09:00 before Hudson takes on Woodridge an hour later.

Day 1 Results

Pool A

Pearson High 7-2 Grey Invitational
St Andrew’s College 7-0 Hudson Park
Woodridge College 8-3 Pearson High
Grey Invitational 0-12 St Andrew’s College

Pool B

Grey High 16-3 Paarl Boys’ High
Paarl Boys’ High 11-2 Stirling High
Reddam House 10-5 Glenwood House

Day 2 Fixtures

09:00 – Stirling High vs Reddam House
10:00 – Hudson Park vs Woodridge College
11:00 – Glenwood House vs Grey High
12:00 – Paarl Boys’ High vs Reddam House
13:00 – Hudson Park vs Pearson High
14:00 – Stirling High vs Glenwood House
15:00 – Grey Invitational vs Hudson Park
16:00 – St Andrew’s College vs Woodridge College
17:00 – Reddam House vs Grey High

Like many others, Boland Landbou’s 1st XI Head Cricket Coach, Handró le Roux, began his cricketing journey by playing in the garden at home. For many years, the sport was, to him, a hobby.

“I remember playing cricket in the front yard in Hoedspruit, where we used a big thorn tree as wickets,” he recalled. “That venue is where I had my first memories of playing cricket.

“My first live match was a Test at Newlands between the Proteas and Pakistan. We walked away with a win on day three, and I took a photo with Makhaya Ntini.”

When presented with an opportunity to coach the sport, Le Roux decided to give it a shot.

“Initially, I started coaching at a primary school because there were coaches needed at Hugenote Primary School, in Wellington.

“I started coaching u7 and u8 mini-cricket when I was still studying at university. I started coaching at high school level in 2015, when I started at Boland Landbou.

“It’s almost scary to consider how fast the years have gone by. Over the last decade, we [Boland Landbou] have been up and down. I would like us to get to a place where we can compete with your ‘top cricket schools’ year in and year out. We consistently beat some of the top schools in a season, but not regularly enough to be part of the conversation.

“A big positive for us is that we have provincial representation every year, and across multiple age groups. We recently had an SA Schools’ player (Francois Prins) for the first time in a few years.”

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither was the coach’s love of cricket. Rather, his appreciation for it, like a fine wine, grew better with age.

“I only really fell in love with coaching about three or four years after I began doing it. Coaching has become a part of my everyday life, and it’s a big part of who I am,” he explained.

“I now really enjoy it, as the role allows me more time to develop and form bonds with the team. It’s different to other sporting codes, where the contact time with your players is limited.”

Le Roux shared his thoughts with SuperSport Schools Plus about a recent highlight with the Boland Landbou 1st XI: “We played in the final of the Diamantveld Wildeklawer T20 in 2025. That was a big positive for us. It tells us that we have what it takes to compete. It’s something that I am very proud of.

“I feel fortunate to have coached the 1st XI for a few seasons now. I’m currently standing on 180 matches as the Head Coach.”

Much like a farmer develops methods to reap the best harvest, Le Roux’s coaching philosophy has been influenced by those who coached the 1st XI before him.

“When I got into coaching, the 1st XI coaches at Boland Landbou at that time were Prieur du Plessis and Jan Frylinck Snr. (father of Jan Frylinck, who represents Namibia). A lot of my coaching development is from what I learnt from them, as well as some coaches from rival schools. It’s a copy-and-paste philosophy, with a twist of my own flair.

“I always looked up to Jacques Kallis when I was growing up. I loved the way he played the game; hard but fair. I don’t think people realise how much time and effort he spent growing his game, as well as helping his teammates. I try to do the same with my boys.”

Boland Landbou has been knocking on the door of the “top dogs club” for a few years now. With Handró le Roux guiding the Farmers, membership of that club appears to be an attainable goal in 2026.

Clifton College vs Durban High School

Well beaten at Durban High School (DHS) on Saturday in a 40-overs-a-side contest, Clifton College flipped the script at the Riverside Sports Club and beat DHS in a W100 showdown on Wednesday by six wickets, with seven balls to spare.

On a very hot day, Clifton captain Shiraz Perumal made an interesting decision to bowl first. He, then, led from the front, with a tidy bowling performance, conceding only 13 runs from his 20 balls for an economy rate of 3.3.

Five of the seven DHS batsmen reached double figures, but Clifton did well to prevent them from pressing on, with 24 from Taine Havermann the best that School mustered. Josh van Biljon made 20 and Suliman Jadwat 20 not out as the visitors totalled 113/6.

Left-arm spinner, Blake Johnson, who opened the bowling, snared 1/22 from 20 balls, and removed the dangerous Josh van Biljon by bowling him. George Gooch, who shared the new ball, claimed an early wicket and went for only 10 runs from his 15 deliveries.

The most successful bowlers, though, were Daniel Rea, who returned 2/22 from 15, and Eli van Jaarsveld, who sparkled with 2/19 from 20.

DHS’s 113/6 wasn’t a big score, but it was a tricky one, especially in the humid and hot conditions at the Riverside Sports Club.

Early in Clifton’s reply, Yusuf Ahmed was caught and bowled by Seth Edwards for six, but Daniyaal Klinck, who opened with Ahmed, then partnered Muhammed Malek for 29 from 27 balls, advancing the total to 47 before Klinck fell after a 35-ball stay that brought him 24 runs, including a six and a four.

DHS played themselves back into contention when Tristan Quail accounted for Hayden Drieselmann and Muhammed Malek within the space of six balls, the former for 12 and the latter for 13, which left Clifton on 69/4 after 69 balls.

That brought Shiraz Perumal and Daniel Rea together, and the Clifton skipper, who made 60 off 50 on the weekend, took the lead with a match-winning innings. In just 18 balls, he blasted three sixes, added a four, and rocketed to 38 not out.

Rea held down his end, meanwhile, to accumulate an unbeaten 10 off 10 and together with Perumal added an unbroken 47 off only 25 balls to see Clifton to 116/4 and victory, their second on the trot in the competition.

Quail performed superbly, snaring 2/13 from 15 balls, while Sandi Mazibuko nabbed 1/3 from five. Up front, Taine Havermann and Josh Morley did a tidy job, but without picking up a wicket.

Glenwood High vs Kearsney College

Kearsney College, meanwhile, delivered a phenomenal performance on Dixon’s Oval, at Glenwood, to hand the Green Machine a 10-wicket drubbing.

After the toss fell their way, Glenwood opted to bat and precisely matched DHS’s total against Clifton, tallying 113/6. Just like DHS, they had five of their seven batsmen reach double figures, and the similarities didn’t end there. Glenwood’s highest score, like that of DHS, was 24, scored by Kamo Moloto. He faced 22 balls and struck three fours.

Glenwood’s batsmen failed to build on the platforms they had laid. They also struggled mightily against leg-spinner, Rivaan Moodley, who tied them in knots and gave little away, snaring 2/6 from 20 balls, at a miserly economy rate of 1.5.

Matthew Rice did a good job up front. His 15 deliveries cost 14 runs and brought him the wicket of the Glenwood dangerman, Kreesan Pillai, who fell for 13 from eight balls, two of which he spanked for four.

It’s seldom that teams score freely on Dixon’s, but Kearsney’s young openers, Asher Hollister and Gary Verbaan, did. They laid into the Glenwood attack to hurry the visitors to victory in only 64 balls.

Hollister smashed six sixes and four fours in his rapid 69 not out from only 37 deliveries, while Verbaan cracked five fours in his unbeaten 37 from 28.

Jonah Chaita, who went for 14 runs from his 10 balls, was the most economical of the home side’s bowlers. It wasn’t their day, but it sure was a good one for Kearsney.

Northwood vs Westville Boys’ High

Westville Boys’ High became the third team out of three to win while chasing on the Robin Smith Oval on Wednesday.

Batting first after winning the toss, Northwood posted a healthy 125/7 from their 100 balls on their home ground, led by Luc Boyall‘s 41 from 38, which featured two fours and a six, and 33 off 26 from Keegan Reeves.

Misbah Nair‘s control and excellent change of pace bowling brought him a telling 3/9 from 15 deliveries, while captain Kyle McGough took some stick, going for 31 from his 20 balls, but he also picked up three wickets. Aarin Rasmussen, who opened the bowling alongside the skipper, kept Northwood in check by surrendering only four runs from his 10 balls.

When Westville replied, Northwood did themselves no favours by bowling a large number of wides. They cost two runs each in W100 cricket, and the wide ball has to be bowled again. Extras, thus, contributed 29 runs to the Griffins‘ total.

Westville’s reply suffered a blow early on, though, when Kyle McGough retired hurt for seven. His fellow opener, Aidan Baudach, and Kai Cotton added 23 for the second wicket before Hamza Amla bowled Cotton for 15.

Baudach and Tristin Delvin then combined for an unbroken 89 from only 59 balls to see their side to victory with 14 balls in hand.

Baudach provided a steady foundation for Westville’s run chase, weighing in with 35 from 31 balls with only one four, while Delvin slammed four fours in his unbeaten 40 from 38 deliveries.

Amla, the only bowler to pick up a wicket, finished with a tidy 1/12 from 15 balls, but Westville won convincingly by nine wickets.

Summarised scorecards

Durban High School 113/6 (Taine Havermann 24, Extras 22, Suliman Jadwat 20*, Josh van Biljon 20; Eli van Jaarsveld 2/19, Daniel Rea 2/22); Clifton College 116/4 (Shiraz Perumal 38*, Daniyaal Klinck 24; Tristan Quail 2/13). Clifton College won by four wickets.

Glenwood 113/6 (Kamo Moloto 24, Extras 20; Rivaan Moodley 2/6, Matthew Rice 1/14); Kearsney College 114/0 (Asher Hollister 69*, Gary Verbaan 37*). Kearsney won by 10 wickets.

Northwood 125/7 (Luc Boyall 41, Keegan Reeves 33; Misbah Nair 3/9, Kyle McGough 3/31); Westville Boys’ High 126/1 (Tristin Delvin 40*, Aidan Baudach 35*, Extras 29; Misbah Nair 1/12). Westville Boys’ High won by nine wickets.

A demanding weekend of travel awaits the only two unbeaten sides in the Finsbury League’s A Section, as the Pretoria-based outfits head to the North West to defend the perfect starts to their campaigns.

The defending champion, Hoërskool Waterkloof, visits Rustenburg, where an unpredictable Hoërskool Rustenburg side will be waiting, while Die Hoërskool Menlopark faces in-form leg-spinner Olefa Padi and Potchefstroom Volkskool in Potchefstroom.

The sides from the Jacaranda City currently sit comfortably atop the log after the first two rounds, with both on 10 points following consecutive bonus-point victories. However, Klofies hold an early advantage thanks to a superior net run rate.

Net Run Rate (NRR) is the most common method used in cricket tournaments to rank teams. While points indicate how many matches a team has won or lost, NRR reflects how convincingly those results were achieved. In simple terms, it measures the difference between how quickly a team scores runs and how quickly it concedes them, averaged across the competition.

Since the start of the competition in early January, Waterkloof has been the early favourite. As has been the case in recent seasons, they boast a strong bowling attack that complements a gifted batting line-up.

Leading their attack is left-arm off-spinner Rivan Booysen, who has played an integral role in the defending champion’s early successes and tops the charts with six wickets from their first two fixtures.

Wian du Plessis and AJ de Villiers have impressed at the top of the batting order, while the experienced wicketkeeper-batsman Rico van der Walt anchors the middle order. Now in his third year in the Klofies’ 1st XI, Van der Walt’s experience continues to fortify Waterkloof’s challenge.

Rusties, however, will not be an easy assignment despite going down to three consecutive defeats, including a loss to St Andrew’s School in the Central Region final of the Switch Schools SA20. They made the final, though, with an impressive win over Potchefstroom Gimnasium, and they remain a dangerous side, particularly on home soil.

Fast-bowling all-rounder Callie Fryer has come into his own and continues to impress with both bat and ball in his final year of school cricket. He presents a major threat to the visitors, especially since the home team is desperately in need of a win with promotion–relegation implications looming on 21 February.

A victory for Menlopark in Potchefstroom would further strengthen their grip on a top-two position. However, Padi’s form since the Cubs Week in Stellenbosch at the start of the year has been outstanding, and if the Volkies ‘ leg-spinner continues on his current trajectory, a duel with in-form Parkies‘ batsman Monré Koekemoer could provide the Potchefstroom crowd with plenty of fireworks.

Murray Hofmeyr‘s off-spin may also play a decisive role. The tall all-rounder was a key contributor to Menlopark’s win over Hoërskool Eldoraigne last weekend and appears to be finding his rhythm at just the right time as the competition moves into a crucial phase.

Eldos will also be hunting their first victory when they travel to Kempton Park to face Hoërskool Kempton Park. Kempies claimed their first win last weekend against Rustenburg, which has put Eldoraigne in the relegation crosshairs and makes Saturday’s clash a crucial one for the visitors.

Under pressure, the visitors will lean on the experienced opener, Vince Lotz, and all-rounders, Matthew Sampson and Benyael Morkel, to deliver. However, Kempton Park did not return to the A Section by chance, with players like Sheldon Kruger and Hanroux Siemens underlining the depth and quality in their line-up.

On Tuesday, 27 January, Hoërskool Hans Moore became the only team in the Finsbury League‘s B Section to register a second victory in this year’s competition when they romped to a commanding 226-run win over Hoërskool Marais Viljoen in Alberton.

They had beaten Potchefstroom Gimnasium the previous week, continuing a dominant run of form.

Hans Moore also enjoyed a strong showing at the Northern Regional Playoffs of the Switch Schools SA20 Volume Two competition over the past weekend, where they finished as the runner-up to Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool (Affies) after a narrow three-run defeat in the final.

Their Switch Schools SA20 campaign was also the reason the fixture against Marais Viljoen was moved to midweek. The log leaders next turn their attention to Midstream College, who visit Benoni on Saturday.

Midstream, newcomers to the B Section this year, made an immediate statement with an opening victory over the same Marais Viljoen side that Hans Moore beat on Tuesday. They fell short against Hoërskool Nelspruit in their second outing, however.

In Hans Moore, they face their sternest test against the B Section’s form side, who were unbeaten until the final of the Northern Regional Playoffs. Their impressive run included a 23-run win over Affies and a 24-run win over Hoërskool Garsfontein.

The middle-order match-ups should be intriguing. Over the weekend, the Hans Moore pitch offered batsmen the chance to score freely once they had settled in, and Midstream’s Dian de Villiers and Ryan Strauss will be keen to exploit those conditions.

However, they will come up against the in-form duo of Aidan Shaw and Xavier van Biljon, who own strong home ground records. They understand how to make the best use of the conditions. Adding to the challenge, the visitors will also have to contend with the Moories’ spin twins, Kearan Weyers and Kyle Wratten.

Jonathan Wiseman, now in his third year of 1st XI cricket, will take the new ball and lead the Midstream College attack.

Hoërskool Nelspruit, in their first home fixture of the competition, will welcome a wounded Potchefstroom Gimnasium side to Mbombela.

Gimmies, whose only defeat thus far has come at the hands of Hans Moore, possess a strong line-up, with batsman Christivan Coetzer among the key figures. However, the experience of Gherdu van Eeden in the middle order and the bowling of Safwaan Muller will present a tough challenge for the visitors.

Marais Viljoen stays at home for a second week in succession for a showdown against Hoërskool Montana in Alberton on Saturday.

Monties became Potchefstroom Gimnasium’s first victim when they failed to chase down a low total. They’ll be eager to rectify that this weekend, especially with their captain, Juan Theunissen, in good form early in the season. In four matches, he has compiled 216 runs, including 53 in the loss to Gimmies.

Marais Viljoen, in turn, will look to the brothers, Zaim Hashim and Rieshaeel Hashim, and their captain, Ethan van Rooyen, to step up. They need a win with promotion and relegation implications looming on the final weekend of the competition, on 21 February.

Summarised scorecard – 27 January 2026

Hans Moore 319/9 (Matthew Haigh 88, Xavier van Biljon 62, Tristan Harris 60, Kyle Wratten 41*, Isaac Aube 34; Hendré Cilliers 2/35, Jadon Pretorius 2/39, Marco Hoffman 2/48); Marais Viljoen 93/10 (Zaim Hashim 24; Nathan King 4/16, Ruan Wessels 2/7, Xavier van Biljon 2/16). Hans Moore won by 226 runs.