South African Schools’ selection committee has their work cut out at this year’s Khaya Majola Week.
17 DEC RAIN HAS FINAL SAY ON SECOND DAY OF KHAYA MAJOLA WEEK IN STELLENBOSCH
STELLENBOSCH: The South African Schools’ selection committee has their work cut out during this year’s Khaya Majola Week.
The tournament has been shortened to only four match days for this year’s edition and a rain-interrupted second day has without a doubt put further pressure on the selectors.
“The rain will definitely make our selection process a bit more difficult than usual with the fact that the tournament has also been shortened by a day, commented Patrick Moroney, Convenor of the National U19 Selection Committee.
“We take performances during the Khaya Majola Week in consideration for selection for the SA Schools and Colts teams. We do however have the various youth camps within the regions to fall back on as selection panel if any of the remaining days’ play are further interrupted by rain,” said Moroney.
Cricket South Africa hosts various camps around the country to help them identify and develop players as part of their youth development pipeline.
Besides Moroney, the SA U19 selection panel consists of Shukri Conrad, Vincent Barnes, Loots Bosman and Lewis Manthata. Conrad is also the national U19-side’s head coach.
Although all nine matches were abandoned due to rain before lunch on day two, there was still a few players who managed to produce impressive performances.
Eastern Province’s opening batsmen, Zac Micklewright (65*) and Ashley Ostling (54*) shared an unbeaten 126 in their match against Boland before play was abandoned.
Western Province’s opening batsman Maahir Joseph (69*) recorded the highest individual score of the day with his half-century against KwaZulu-Natal Inland.
The best bowling performance belonged to Namibia Cheetahs’ JC Balt who picked up three of Border’s wickets at the cost of only 18 runs.
Central Gauteng Lions’ Richard Seletswane (37*) has without the doubt caught the eye with another good innings in his side’s match against the Titans. He already represented the SA Schools side in 2021 as well as the national U19-side in 2022.
KHAYA MAJOLA WEEK – DAY 3 FIXTURES
Titans vs Boland (Maties A, Coetzenberg Oval)
Western Province vs North West (Maties B, Tassies Oval)
Lions vs KwaZulu-Natal Inland (Paul Roos Oval)
Free State vs Eastern Province (Bridgehouse)
Easterns vs KwaZulu-Natal (Maties C)
Garden Route Badgers vs Border (Distell)
Mpumalanga vs Northern Cape (Spes Bona Cricket Club)
Namibia Welwitschias vs Limpopo (Maties 4)
Namibia Cheetahs vs Border Kei (Van der Stel Cricket Club)