Eldoraigne, Transvalia soar into Kovsie Smash Final
It took four days for the first century to be recorded at the 2026 Kovsie Smash in the City of Roses, Bloemfontein.
With the attention firmly on Thursday afternoon’s semi-finals, Hoërskool Sentraal‘s Erik Prinsloo seized the spotlight with a blistering knock.
He took just 49 deliveries to smash a breathtaking 125, which powered the Bloemfontein outfit to a commanding 125-run victory over Hoërskool Lichtenburg.
Prinsloo’s innings formed the backbone of Sentraal‘s imposing total of 253/7 from their 20 overs, which was the highest team score recorded at the tournament thus far.
In reply, the Liggies‘ Johan Duvenhage impressed with a patient 70, which was a notable effort given the demands of the shorter format of the game.
Heading into Thursday’s matches, three teams retained perfect records. It was, however, the two pre-tournament favourites, Hoërskool Eldoraigne and Transvalia, who booked their places in Friday morning’s final.
The Eldos brought an end to Hoërskool Kalahari‘s unbeaten run with a convincing 68-run victory. Captain Rowan McLaren registered his second half-century of the week, but it was Ruan Steyn who dominated proceedings with a commanding 66, which guided the Centurion-based side to a competitive 186/6.
Once again, the Eldoraigne bowling unit delivered collectively. Every bowler played their part with disciplined spells, most notably Vince Lotz, who returned figures of 2/9. Kalahari was restricted to 118/9, with Myburgh‘s 26 the lone highlight of the innings.
Transvalia produced a ruthless display to dismantle the hosts, Hoërskool Fichardtpark. The home side struggled from the outset against one of the most effective bowling attacks of the tournament, and Valia enhanced their reputation with another strong showing in their penultimate match.
Janco Jacobs was outstanding, claiming three wickets without conceding a run. He was well supported by Declan Steinmann, who returned figures of 2/8, and Aden Matthee, whose 2/9 further tightened the vice as Fichardtpark was skittled for only 54. Kriegler Botha‘s unbeaten 23 ensured the run chase was completed with ease.
A final which pits Transvalia‘s formidable bowling attack against Eldoraigne‘s powerful batting line-up promises a fitting climax to the tournament.
In other matches, Hoërskool Driehoek‘s Christiaan Schoeman struck 80 in his side’s comprehensive 83-run victory over Duineveld, while Hoërskool Overvaal‘s Janco de Lange recorded the third-highest individual score of the day, blasting an unbeaten 76 in a losing cause against Potchefstroom Volkskool‘s Stayers.
Summarised scorecards
Quarterfinals
Transvalia 160/3 (Jeandré Barnard 71*, Declan Steinmann 36*, Divan Knoetze 34; Evan van der Merwe 1/14); Potchefstroom Volkskool Stayers 119/7 (Nolan Roets 39, Christiaan Stoop 21; Declan Steinmann 2/16). Transvalia won by 41 runs.
Eldoraigne 218/4 (Vince Lotz 54, Jean du Randt 47*, Ruan Steyn 45, Benyael Morkel 33; Luke Venter 2/26); Oos-Moot 65/10 (Marnus Broodryk 24; Anhus Myers 3/5, Niclas Moller 2/8). Eldoraigne won by 153 runs.
Hoërskool Pietersburg 89/10 (Stephan Swanepoel 25; Liam Laing 4/9, Carl Thole 3/9); Kalahari 90/0 (Louhan Noeth 52*, Carl Thole 25*). Kalahari won by 10 wickets.
Fichardtpark 140/6 (Diederik de Vos 45, Jayden Geldenhuys 36, Davyd Oosthuizen 29*; Luann Le Roux 2/35); Overvaal 119/6 (Janco de Lange 42; Jayden Geldenhuys 3/13, Henrich Kemp 2/21). Fichardtpark won by 21 runs.
Other results
Witteberg 151/5 (Janco Botha 74, Xander Fourie 52; Danny Botes 2/23, Erik Prinsloo 2/24); Sentraal 140/8 (Janré Bornman 51, Damian Smith 32, Riwan van der Westhuizen 23; Dumisani Johnsen 2/16, Lwazi Mosea 2/19, Xander Fourie 2/26). Witteberg won by 11 runs.
Voortrekker 142/7 (Vlag Janse van Rensburg 39, Paul Naudé 37, Thato Nthebere 22; 2/13, Cobus Wilken 2/36); Jim Fouché 73/10 (Jayden Strydom 3/20, Janno Olivier 2/8, Vlag Janse van Rensburg 2/11). Voortrekker won by 69 runs.
Hoërskool Sasolburg 152/6 (Stephan Roets 43, Andriaan van der Merwe 32, Jan-Hendrik Espach 32; Waldo van der Westhuizen 2/38); Goudveld 142/6 (Edrich du Plessis 42*; Nathan Bower 2/24). Hoërskool Sasolburg won by 10 runs.
Merensky 148/7 (Waldo Mouton 52*; Divan Dreyer 3/25, Drikus Meiring 2/21); Driehoek 149/7 (Christiaan Schoeman 31, Ian van der Westhuizen 26*; Conrad Venter 3/22). Driehoek won by three wickets.
Semi-finals
Eldoraigne 186/6 (Ruan Steyn 66, Rowan McLaren 50, Jean du Randt 20; Wilrigh Mostert 2/20); Kalahari 118/9 (Myburgh de Klerk 26, Janko Noeth 24, Wilrigh Mostert 22; Vince Lotz 2/9, Juandré Badenhorst 2/15). Eldoraigne won by 68 runs.
Fichardtpark 54/10 (Neven Olivier 8; Janco Jacobs 3/0, Declan Steinmann 2/8, Aden Matthee 2/9); Transvalia 56/1 (Kriegler Botha 23*; Jayden Geldenhuys 1/21). Transvalia won by nine wickets.
Other results
Sentraal 253/7 (Erik Prinsloo 125, Daniel Pienaar 30, Damain Smith 29; Miquel Goncalves 3/35, Jurgen Hesse 2/43); Hoërskool Lichtenburg 128/3 (Johan Duvenhage 70*, Dovhan Wiese 20*; Ruardt Kleynhans 1/9). Sentraal won 125 runs.
Potchefstroom Volkskool Stayers 159/8 (Damian Pretorius 34, Callum Campbell 26, Christiaan Stoop 20; Ethan Kruger 2/32, Zander Olivier 2/41); Overvaal 160/4 (Janco de Lange 76*, Luann le Roux 25, Zander Olivier 20*; Hanru Combrinck 2/21, Pierre Joubert 2/35). Overvaal won by six wickets.
Hoërskool Pietersburg 101/8 (Stephan Swanepoel 30, Willem Viljoen 28*; Elmar Theron 3/10, Henco Erasmus 3/13); Oos-Moot 104/3 (Liam du Preez 58*; AJ Galloway 1/8). Oos-Moot won by seven wickets.
Witteberg 151/5 (Dumisani Johnsen 53, Xander Fourie 37, Pieter Wessels 22*; WJ van Niekerk 2/29); Trio 152/7 (Myburgh 42, Dylan Young 30, Pedri Wilken 30; Dumisani Johnsen 2/35). Trio won by three wickets.
Driehoek 174/7 (Christiaan Schoeman 80, Janco Smit 22; Wilmar Myburgh 3/23, Xander O’Connell 2/30); Duineveld 91/10 (Du Preez Faber 56; Leanardo Visser 2/1, Chris Saayman 2/10, Ian van der Westhuizen 2/10). Driehoek won by 83 runs.
Voortrekker 137/5 (Paul Naudé 42, Jano Olivier 30, Andries Rautenbach 20*; Nathan Bower 2/25); Hoërskool Sasolburg 138/5 (Jan-Hendrik Espach 56, Liam Singleton 30*; Jordan Buitendag 2/16). Hoërskool Sasolburg won by five wickets.
