Graeme College is ready for Schools SA20 finals
The Graeme College players’ bags are packed, and they are ready to make the 10-and-half-hour journey to Pretoria for the Schools SA20 national finals, which take place from 12-15 March. The boys from Makhanda will not be travelling to make up the numbers.
Coach Odwa Xonxa’s charges are battle-tested. They took a longer route to the national finals. In their district tournament, they defeated St Andrew’s College and Union High before falling to Pearson High in the semifinals.
That led them down the path of Cricket South Africa’s Focus Schools, where they made short work of their opposition, recording three wins in three outings against Hudson College, Dale College, and Prestige College in December 2024.
Andrew Muir, Graeme’s captain, showed up with the bat and, especially, the ball. He was Graeme’s leading wicket-taker on their way to the finals, while left-handed opener Enrique Strydom led the way with the bat, averaging in the 40s in the preliminary rounds.
Corbin Tidbury was also a revelation during Graeme College’s campaign. The 15-year-old registered a pair of half-centuries for the first team this season, both of them in the 90s.
Tidbury has long shown his potential. Last year, he was a member of the Eastern Province side that lifted the title at the CSA u16 National Week. He dominated his age group, decimating opposition bowling attacks, and he will bring the same energy to the team as his Proteas’ hero, Aiden Markram.
Xonxa has backed Tidbury’s talent and temperament. His stream of centuries at u15 level showed that he was ready to compete against better opponents. He is a coveted 3D player and also bowls leg- or off-spin, keeps wicket, and is excellent in the field.
Graeme College’s young side features four other players – Lisekho Zinyane, Jordan Damons, Andrew Muir, and their first-choice wicketkeeper Zukho Phontshi – from the title-winning Eastern Province u16 side.
Pontshi was also selected for the Eastern Warriors Cubs team as one of two Graeme College players in the side. The other was Luphelo Mdyesha.
Mdyesha has a wealth of experience and is one of the leaders in the team. He turned out for the Eastern Province u19 side at the Khaya Majola Coke Week.
Graeme College doesn’t just bring talent to the national finals, however. They also bring a never-say-die spirit that has carried them far.
“We are going to leave everything on the field. The boys are excited for this opportunity. They will not hold back. They will express themselves and have a lot of fun in the process,” Xonxa said.
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