Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Cricket Week Day 1 Wrap

The start of the 22^nd annual under-19 Coca-Cola Khaya Majola in Bloemfontein was delayed by an hour on Thursday at four of the six venues after a massive overnight thunderstorm resulted in wet run-ups, waterlogged outfields and some water leaking under the covers.

The potential crisis was, however, diverted thanks to the customary team work and innovation and the cream of the country’s under-19 players eventually got a full day’s play in, in steamy conditions in the city of Roses.

The damp conditions, not surprisingly made batting difficult initially and all the sides lost wickets early on.

In the end four teams – SWD, Western Province, Border and Namiba - won on the first innings on a day when declaration cricket was the format played.

The first day belonged to the batsmen. Gauteng’s Mitchel van Buuren got the 1^st century of the week, and the only one of the day, when he made 106 in his side’s draw with KwaZulu-Natal Coastal.

There were also 12 half centuries scored. Big fifties came from EP’s Matthew Breetzke, who made 77 against Northerns; Grant Esau of SWD, who made 82 against Mpumalanga and Eben van Wyk, who got 75 for Namibia against Limpopo.

The other half centuries were scored by: Wiaan Mulder (54 for Gauteng v KZN Coastal); Muhammed Mayet (57 for Gauteng v KZN Coastal); Qeshile Sinethemba (58 for Border v Northern Cape); Josniel Long (62 for Border v Northern Cape); Nkosinathi Msiza (60 not out for Northern v E Province); Joshua Klein (65 not out for SWD v Mpumalanga); Jesse Christensen (51 for Western Province v KZN Inland) and Keegan Whittaker (58 not out for Boland v Northwest).

There was only one five wicket haul on the day: Eastern Province’s Keenan Smith took 5/68 against Northerns.

The Coca-Cola Hero of the day award went to Gauteng’s Mitchell Van Buuren, the day’s only centurion, for gutsing it out on a difficult pitch against hostile bowling from KwaZulu-Natal Coastal. Gauteng were on 14/3 when he came to the crease. Together with his captain, Wiaan Mulder, he rebuilt the innings, putting on 109 for the fourth wicket.

Once things had settled down he cut loose and ended up with 106 – a heroic performance that saved Gauteng’s three-year unbeaten record at the week when it looked at one stage like they were in danger of surrendering it.

Summarised Scores

Easterns 224/6 (Jarred Adler 77; Gerald Coetzee 2/23, Phillip Visser 3/55). Free State 145/5 (Dilivio Ridgaard 50, Gerald Coetzee 32 not out; Devon Botha 2/31, Kyle Landsberg 2/46. Easterns 2^nd inns 8/0. Match drawn.

Namibia 1^st inns152 (Niko Davin 43, Eben van Wyk 75; Ruvan Kruger 4/26, Craig Corne 2/17, Sahil Patel 2/43). Limpopo 114/9 (Timothy Elphinstone 39, Ruvan Kruger 23, Sahil Patel 29; Ben Shikongo 3/11, Donovan 3/24). Namibia 2^nd inns 64/2 (Lohan Lourens 54 not out). Limpopo 2^nd Innings 34/4. Match drawn, Namibia won on 1^st innings

Boland 143/5 (Andre Hanekom 35, Bernu Engelbrecht 43, Ben Henderson 27, Keean Whitten 58 not out; Jacobus Crowther 2/63, Louis Van Schalkwyk 2/29). Northwest 135/4 (Louis van Schalkwyk 49 not out, Ruan Von Abo 32). Match drawn.

Northern Cape 148/7 (Simon Muller 40, Luke Dallas 3/37, Ahkona Nnyaka 3/33, Siphamandla Kreqe 2/30). Border 164/4 (Sinethemba Qeshile 58, Josniel Long 62 not out, Athenkosi Mfazwe 28 not out; Chadwin November 3/38). Match drawn, Border won on 1^st innings.

Gauteng 241/7 (Wiaan Mulder 54, Mitchell van Buuren 106, Muhammed Mayet 57; Zakariya Paruk 3/29, Zakariya Paruk 3/29, Matthew Lees 2/69). KwaZulu-Natal Coastal 147/8 (Thamsanqa Khumalo 29, Jordan Grobbelaar 44 not out; Mitchell van Buuren 2/26). Match drawn.

Northerns 201/9 (Ivan Kriek 30, Ruben Trumpelman 36; Nkosinati Mzisa 60 not out; Keenan Smith 5/68, Jade De Klerk 2/57). Eastern Province 154/5 (Matthew Breetzke 77, Chris Benjamin 36; Ruben Trumplelman 2/24). Match drawn.

SWD 224/9 (Grant Esau 82, Joshua Kleu 65; Bernard Vorster 2/41). Mpumalanga 40 (Unathi Mbathane 3/1, Joshua Kleu 3/0). SWD 2^nd inns 17/0. Mpumalanga 2^nd inns 62/3 (Bernard Vorster 21 not out). Match drawn SWD won on 1^st innings.

KwaZulu-Natal Inland 119 all out (Sean Gilson 34, Ethan Bosch 38, Michael Cohen 3/19, Mazele Sisonke 2/27). Western Province 171/9 (Jesse Christensen 51, Matthew Valentine 20, Mihlali Mongwana 40 not out; Jaydon Gengan 3/50, Ethan Bosch 2/28, Sean Gilson 2/11). KwaZulu-Natal Inland 2^nd inns 48/1. Match drawn, Western Province won on 1^st innings.

By Theo Garrun  

My Two Cents

COCA-COLA® KHAYA MAJOLA CRICKET WEEK HERO OF THE DAY (DAY 1)

All of the audio and visual clippings of the day can be found on www.csamedia.co.za

Mitchell van Buuren from Gauteng has been named the Coca-Cola® Hero of the day for day one of the Coca-Cola® Khaya Majola Cricket Week.

The prestigious Coca-Cola® Hero of the Day award is presented on each day of the tournament in recognition of a game changing ‘hero’ moment.  Mitchell was selected for the award by a Coca-Cola® appointed panel of cricket experts after he saved his team  when they were in trouble in their game against hostile bowling by KwaZulu-Natal Coastal. Gauteng were on 14/3 when he came to the crease. Together with his captain, Wiaan Mulder, they rebuilt the innings, putting on 109 for the fourth wicket.

 Once things had settled down, Mitchell cut loose and ended up with 106 – a heroic performance that preserved Gauteng’s three year unbeaten record at the Week.

“Winning the Coca-Cola® Hero of the Day means a lot to me especially because I ended up helping my team, which is important in a week like this where the team comes first, I am proud of my performance and of my team as well,” said Mitchell.

‘The true test of a quality batsman is if he is able to rescue his team when they are in trouble. Mitchell showed this quality today, and is the deserved Coca-Cola® Hero of the Day,’ said Robin Peterson, former Proteas player and lead judge of the Coca-Cola® Hero of the Day panel at the Coca-Cola® Khaya Majola Cricket Week.

Fetsi Mbele, Coca-Cola Southern & East Africa’s Senior Communications Manager: Brand Experience commented, “The Coca-Cola® Khaya Majola Cricket Week is Where Heroes Are Made.  For Mitchell this is hopefully just the beginning of a future in the game.  On behalf of Coca-Cola I extend my congratulations, I can’t wait to follow his career going forward as he works towards becoming a hero of South African cricket. ”

ROBIN PETERSON TO SCOUT FUTURE CRICKETING HEROES

Coca-Cola South Africa have added extra shine to the the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Cricket week by announcing former Proteas superstar Robin Peterson as the face of the Coca-Cola® Hero of the Day.  Peterson, who is himself a hero of South Africa cricket, will lead a panel of experts tasked with selecting the coveted Coca-Cola® Hero of the Day award winners at this year’s Coca-Cola® Khaya Majola Week, taking place in Bloemfontein from 15-21 December 2016.

Robin Peterson said, “Having played in the Coca-Cola® Khaya Majola Week myself I can testify that this tournament is a significant stepping stone in the career of a young cricketer. I’m thrilled to be have the opportunity to play a part in the country’s premier youth cricket tournament and to lead the Coca-Cola® Hero of the Day judging panel which has already uncovered multiple young heroes.” 

The Coca-Cola® Hero of the Day is not necessarily your typical man of the match award.  He is the wicketkeeper who made an amazing dive catch, a tail-ender who smashed a reverse sweep for six to win the match or even the player showing sportsmanship and embodying the spirit of the gentleman’s game

It’s moments such as these that Robin and his team, made up of some of the foremost cricket experts in South Africa, including key members of the national sporting and school sports media, will be looking out for and rewarding.

Fetsi Mbele, Senior Communications Manager: Brand Experience, Coca-Cola Southern & East Africa said, “The Coca-Cola® Khaya Majola Cricket Week is without doubt, the primary platform for identifying the future heroes of South African cricket. It is therefore fitting to appoint an established hero, who is also a graduate of the tournament, to scout our future stars.  At Coca-Cola we are immensely proud to continue our support of the development of youth cricket in South Africa through the Coca-Cola® Khaya Majola Week and the Coca-Cola® T20 Schools Challenge. We can’t wait to have Robin add an extra level of expertise to our Coca-Cola hero of the Day judging process.”

For more search #WhereHeroesAreMade on Twitter or visit @Coca_ColaZA.