The 2016/17 KFC Mini-Cricket Kids vs Proteas Tour came to an
exciting end after the kids overcame the Proteas for the second consecutive
week to claim a 2-2 series result. The
Proteas travelled to the famous Khaya Majola oval in Mthatha to take on the KFC
Mini-Cricket kids from Zamaxolo Junior Secondary School in the Tour decider. The Proteas took a 2-1 series lead into the
game but were weary of the on-form kids after their emphatic victory in
Durban. The kids put on yet another
stellar display, claiming victory with more than an over to spare to level up
the series and to end the Tour honours even.
Stellar fielding, vocal
supporters and line and length bowling from Zamaxolo JSS was the theme of the
first innings as the Proteas found runs hard to come by. Wickets were lost to run outs at regular
intervals as the kids heaped the pressure on their opponents. Captain on the
day, batsman Temba Bavuma, along with Eastern Cape local boy, Jon-Jon Smuts,
did their best to keep the runs ticking over.
In the end the Proteas were able to set the kids a target of 38 to win.
The opening overs of the second innings once again proved a
tight affair with the kids finding the likes of Eddie Leie hard to get
away. A rare miss-field from Reeza
Hendricks and a big over off Bavuma’s bowling however gave the kids a sniff at
victory. From then onward they dominated
and a massive over off of Jon-Jon Smuts saw them home with 8 balls to spare.
KFC Mini-Cricket all-star coach and former Protea, Mfunkeo
Ngam, who has remained unbeaten in the 4 year history of the Tour, was
immensely proud of his young team. “The
Proteas last won in 2013/14 so to have now gone 3 tours without a series loss
is a phenomenal achievement. There was
pressure on our team today to come up with a result and the kids certainly
delivered. They went up against some of
the stars of world cricket this season so they should be hugely proud of their
performance, not only today but over the entire Tour. KFC Mini-Cricket continues to go from
strength to strength and I can’t wait to have another crack at the Proteas in
the 2017/18 season” said Ngam.
The player of the match
performance by Zamaxolo’s Anele Nunu was testament to the kids’ brilliant
showing. The highlight of his unbeaten 15 runs was a brilliant reverse sweep
over the wicketkeeper’s head which proved the defining moment and set his team
on the path to victory.
Proteas captain on the day, Temba
Bavuma, was pleased with his team’s performance over the season and equally
impressed by the level of talent witnessed in this season’s KFC Mini-Cricket
Kids vs Proteas Tour. “We have been on a
good run of form recently and although we couldn’t deliver today, we are
pleased to have shared the spoils with the KFC Mini-Cricket Kids. The kids have been tough opponents over the
years and this year was no different.
They put up a real fight and I’m sure KFC will be thrilled at the level
of talent emerging. This is always one
of the most exciting events on the Proteas calendar and we are already looking
forward to the 2017/18 tour,” he said.
The Proteas won the inaugural KFC
Mini-Cricket Kids vs Proteas Tour in 2013/14. The 2014/15 Tour, was won by the
kids with the 2015/16 Tour ending in a 2-2 draw. With this season ending 2-2, both teams will
be eager to continue their great form when the Tour returns for a 5th
edition later in 2017.
Mike Middleton, Chief Marketing Officer
for KFC South Africa concluded, “Congratulations to both teams on one of the
best ever KFC Mini-Cricket Kids vs Proteas Tours. We travelled the length and breadth of South
Africa playing four exciting games. We
gave aspiring young cricketers the once in a lifetime opportunity to get active
and take on their heroes, and we witnessed some amazing displays from the
current and future stars of South African cricket. We can’t wait to do it again in 2017/18, it will
once again be even bigger and better and I’m sure the KFC Mini-Cricket kids
will once again be a formidable challenge for the Proteas.”
KFC Mini-Cricket is played by
over 114,000 kids who are coached by nearly 9000 volunteer coaches.
To get your child involved in KFC
Mini-Cricket or to volunteer as a coach visit www.kfcminicricket.co.za
{ENDS}
Media Contact
Shawn Belluigi
Tel: 083 675 4338
Email: shawn@intunecom.co.za
About the KFC Mini-Cricket Kids v
Proteas Tour
For the third
year KFC will run a national competition where KFC Mini-Cricket kids will stand
the chance to play against the Proteas in the KFC Mini-Cricket Kids vs Proteas
Tour
Kids can enter online (www.kfcminicricket.co.za)
or via USSD (*120*7535#)
The winners will
be rewarded with a prize handover, a training session and a game against the
Proteas, all assisted by one of the three KFC Mini-Cricket coaches, Graeme
Smith, Neil McKenzie and Mfuneko Ngam.
The runners-up
will be given the opportunity to participate as ball boys and girls at a
televised Ram Slam T20 Challenge match in their area
Three third
place winners will be drawn, each of whom will be awarded with 25 KFC
Mini-Cricket sets for their school.
About KFC Mini-Cricket
KFC
Mini-Cricket provides a platform for kids in South Africa to have fun and get
active
KFC
Mini-Cricket is the largest grassroots development sports programme in South
Africa and is also an essential building block for learning cricketing basics
and entrenching a love for the game.
There are currently over 110
000 kids from over 4 900 schools active in the KFC Mini-Cricket programme
who are coached by over 8000 volunteers
KFC
has sponsored KFC Mini-Cricket since 2010 and in the 2012/13 cricket season KFC
became the title sponsor of the KFC T20 Internationals and an associate sponsor
of the Ram Slam T20 Challenge.
KFC
has recently renewed its Mini-Cricket sponsorship for a further 10 years,
taking the partnership through to 2025
Log on to www.kfcminicricket.co.za or contact CSA
at (011) 880 2810 for more info on KFC Mini-Cricket
