A new champion will be crowned this year at the annual Khaya Majola Cricket Week (for U19 players).
The Tuskers have, for the first time since 2022, managed to reach the main match of the week. The team from KwaZulu-Natal Inland defeated the defending champions, Western Province, by six wickets in the semifinal at the Johan Volsteedt Oval.
WP batted first and were bowled out for 174 thanks to excellent bowling by Rowen Rajah (3/48), Sechaba Gude (2/11), and Samuel Hughes (2/27).
The Tuskers’ Ben Hockley (58) led his team’s charge with another fine innings. This pushed his tournament total to 229 runs at an average of 76.3.
Gauteng will face the Tuskers in the final. The team won its semifinal against the Titans by 36 runs.
Ombesa Matsha (93) and Armaan Manack (61) laid the foundation for their team with a 113-run partnership for the second wicket, enabling them to post 291/6 in their allotted 50 overs.
Manack’s brother, Morteza (56), also scored a half-century before taking two wickets for just 31 runs. However, the best bowling performances for the winning team came from Jason Rowles (3/41) and Tahseen Hanslo (3/42).
The Titans’ opening batsman, Reuben van Zyl (64), smashed his runs off just 39 deliveries before Hanslo rearranged his stumps. Had Van Zyl managed to score his third consecutive century in the City of Roses, the Titans would likely have played in the final.
Van Zyl boasts 350 runs in his team’s four matches so far in the tournament.
Eastern Province will face North West on the last day of the tournament in a promotion/relegation clash. The team from the Eastern Cape lost by 26 runs to Boland.
Boland’s Gideon du Toit (73*) remained unbeaten, while Luca Plekker (54) and Liam Basson (47) helped their team post 264/7 in their allotted overs.
EP’s Randy Syce (87) continued his fine form with the bat, but Taywin Adams (4/28) and Ryall Julies (2/20) caused havoc among his teammates.
North West’s Eduard Dreyer (151) scored the only century of the fourth day against Mpumalanga. The opener struck 16 fours and three sixes past the boundary rope.
Mpumalanga were bowled out for 111, with Omphile Rangwaga (4/12) standing on a perfect hat-trick after dismissing Zeeshan Ebrahim (0) and Xavier Visagie (0) with the last two deliveries of the 26th over.
He had also removed Gavin Genis (12) with the first delivery of that over. Other bad news for EP is that South African u19 fast bowler Carl Fryer (2/10) is clearly firing on all cylinders.
Summarised Scorecards:
Western Province 174 (Unathi Magoloza 32, Waco Bassick 30*, Sibahle Sigabi 25, Daniel Bosman 25, Qaeed Shaik 23; Rowen Rajah 3/48, Sechaba Gude 2/11, Samuel Hughes 2/27); Tuskers 178/4 (Ben Hockley 58, Daniel Nadasan 28, Ethan Muir 25*, Siphosethu Ngcobo 20, Extras 20; Paul James 1/15). Tuskers won by six wickets.
Central Gauteng Lions 291/6 (Ombesa Matsha 93, Armaan Manack 61, Morteza Manack 56, Corné Botha 30*; Neoentle Makwela 1/30); Titans 255 (Reuben van Zyl 64, Vihan Pretorius 44, Rico van der Walt 37, Tshepang Laka 36, Darius Maritz 33, Lesedi Mabena 22; Jason Rowles 3/41, Tahseen Hanslo 3/42, Morteza Manack 2/31, Corné Botha 2/37). Central Gauteng Lions won by 36 runs.
Boland 264/7 (Gideon du Toit 73*, Luca Plekker 54, Liam Basson 47, Extras 20; Daveric Petersen 1/50); Eastern Province 238 (Randy Syce 87, Myles Sansom 32, Dawid Vermaak 26, Samuel Scheckter 26, Cayden Wilson 25, Cullen Marais 23; Taywin Adams 4/28, Ryall Julies 2/20, Inam Bula 2/47). Boland won by 26 runs.
Free State 213 (Henru de Wet 85, Aiden Dodd 37, Naudé Botha 25, FG Botha 25; Dayalan Boyce 4/36); Dolphins 195 (Seth Simpson 56, Bandile Mbatha 47; Cullen Kakora 3/41, Nikhil Sukraj 3/44, FG Botha /29). Free State won by 18 runs.
CSA Invitational XI 291/7 (JP Botha 75, Corbin Tidbury 63, Noah Heath 49, Riley Miller 33, Enrique Strydom 26, Nkosana Sibiya 20; Abdullah Tadwala 4/46, Clayton Horlick 2/61); Easterns 272/7 (Kenan Shaw 58*, Clayton Horlick 46, Xavier Coetzee 45, Paul Matlala 38*, Nkosibonile Sibisi 27, Jaden Govender 26; Jalen Mannikam 2/36). CSA Invitational XI won by 19 runs.
North West 287/9 (Eduard Dreyer 151, Prince Marumagae 25, Louis van Wyk 23, Olebogeng Scott 22, Henré Cronjé 20; Umair Cheema 3/31, Eduan Strydom 2/47); Mpumalanga 111 (Eduan Strydom 37, Extras 29; Omphile Rangwaga 4/12, Caiden Seleka 2/7, Carl Fryer 2/10, Henré Cronjé 2/14). North West won by 176 runs.
Limpopo 222 (Stephan Swanepoel 58, Jannes van Zyl 37, Ruben Pohl 33, Rayyan Malji 32, Ntshuxeko Sebata 22; Faizaan Kajee 4/23, Nathan Baird 3/40, Hanru Rademeyer 2/59); Northern Cape 111 (Noah Breyl 27*, Faizaan Kajee 21, Extras 21); Timothy Baker 3/22, Stephan Swanepoel 3/27, Rito Rikhotso 2/25). Limpopo won by 111 runs.
Eastern Cape Iinyathi 175 (Awonke Mgini 40, Aaron Senekal 37, Extras 29, Ingathi Mafanga 27; Shirwin Plaaitjies 3/15, Enathi Kitshini 3/25, Keano Coerecius 2/42); Garden Route Badgers 177/9 (Extras 45, Daniel du Plessis 40, Shirwin Plaaitjies 29*, Keano Coerecius 24; Jaun Nel 3/27, Lukhanyo Hlathuka 3/35). Garden Route Badgers won by one wicket.