Coca-Cola Schools T20 Challenge Nationals returns to the Capital

8 top cricket schools to battle it out to be crowned Coca-Cola T20 Schools champion

The national finals of the Coca-Cola Schools T20 Challenge will return to the Capital City, Tshwane, after the premier youth cricket tournament was successfully hosted in 2014. The tournament will take place on 16-18 March 2018, at University of Pretoria and will see a new school be crowned 2018 champions.

The 2018 edition of the tournament will see a new champion be crowned after 2016 and 2017 winners, St Stithians College, who represented the Highveld Lions, were knocked out during the provincial phase of the tournament.

This season, Coca-Cola added a new element to the tournament that is aimed at spreading the talent search wider, by bringing on board Proteas player, Temba Bavuma and key cricket experts, to identify and reward players at each of the six franchise finals. These players represent the Coca-Cola T20 All-Star team and have been given the opportunity to be part of the national finals.

The Coca-Cola T20 All-Star team members will to take on a CSA Development Hub team as a curtain-raiser to the final match of the tournament. The team includes: Matthew Montgomery (batsman, Clifton College), Simon Holmes (fast bowler, Clifton College), Matthew Thorn (opening batsman, Outeniqua), Rudi Klaasen (batsman, Paul Roos Gimnasium), Neil Bothma (wicketkeeper-batsman, HTS Marais Viljoen), Khaya Nyamathe (batsman, Marais Viljoen), Mason Zacharea (left-arm spinner, Northern Cape), Reeza Alexander (batsman, Northern Cape High School), Odilile Modimokoane (left-arm spinner, Rustenburg High School), Stiaan Swanepoel (allrounder, Rustenburg High School), Matthew Dewer (batsman, Selborne) and Matthew Fourie (bowler, Selborne.

Michelle Cloete, Marketing Manager, Coca-Cola South Africa commented, “We would like to congratulate all the players taking part in this year’s tournament. Coca-Cola continues to be committed to the development of South Africa’s future Proteas through our sponsorship of the Coca-Cola Schools T20 Challenge. We look forward to seeing all the talent that will be on display this week.”

Schools that will represent the six Cricket South Africa franchise teams, as well as two focus school teams, at the 2018 Coca-Cola Schools T20 Challenge National Finals are:

1.      Cape Cobras – Rondebosch Boys High School

2.      Coastal Focus School – Graeme College

3.      Dolphins – Hilton College

4.      Inland Focus School – Prestige College

5.      Knights – St Andrew’s School

6.      Highveld Lions – King Edward VII School

7.      Titans – St Alban’s College

8.      Warriors – Grey High School

The Coca-Cola Schools T20 Challenge National Finals will take place at the University of Pretoria LC de Villiers Cricket Oval, from 16-18 March 2018. To engage with the tournament online, search #WhereHeroesAreMade on Twitter or visit @CocaCola_ZA and @OfficialCSA

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Media Contact

Shawn Belluigi

Email: shawn@intunecom.co.za

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