Hansen to lead the SA Schools’ side once again
CAPE TOWN. – For the third year in a row, the South African Schools‘ cricket team will be led by a learner from Wynberg Boys’ High.
Beni Hansen, after leading Western Province to the Khaya Majola Cricket Week title, will captain the national schools’ side for a second successive year.
He’s the first player since 1994 to achieve the feat, following in the footsteps of Mark Rushmere (Woodridge College), who was selected as captain in 1982 and 1983. Lee Barnard (King Edward VII) was handed the leadership role in 1974 and 1975, while Hylton Ackerman (Dale College) skippered the side in 1965 and 1966.
St David’s Marist Inanda has the most representatives in this year’s SA Schools side with two players in Armaan Manack and Jason Rowles.
Of the five SA Schools players from 2023 who were in action in Cape Town, only Hansen made the team again. Richard Seletswane (Central Gauteng Lions), Parth Patel (Easterns), Ntando Soni (Dolphins), and Jorich van Schalkwyk (Titans) all missed out on selection this time around.
None of that quartet was selected for the SA Colts either. This is a clear message from the convenor of selectors, Patrick Moroney, and his fellow selectors that players have to perform during the tournament to make one of the squads.
Free State’s Dakalo Leketa knows what it feels like to miss out, but his journey had a happy ending. He made the SA Colts‘ team in 2022, then failed to earn selection for either the Colts or SA Schools in 2023. This time around, he made the SA Schools team.
Seletswane, meanwhile, was eyeing a fourth SA Schools cap after being selected for the squad in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
Only five players have been selected for the SA Schools side four or more times. Dassie Biggs (Eastern Province, 1963, 1963 England, 1964, 1965), Norman “Smokey” Featherstone (Transvaal, 1966, 1967, 1967 England, 1968), Barry Richards (Natal, 1962, 1963, 1963 England, 1964) and Neil Rosendorff (Free State, 1962, 1963, 1963 England, 1964).
Hylton Ackerman tops the list with six SA Schools caps in 1962, 1963, 1963 England, 1964, 1965, and 1966.
Since unification, no player has been honoured with more than three selections for the SA Schools’ side. Besides Seletswane, four other players have achieved the rare feat since 1994. They are Zwelibanzi Homani (Eastern Province, 1999-01), Tulani Ngxoweni (Border, 94-96), Jacques Rudolph (Northerns, 1997-99) and Wayne Parnell (Eastern Province, 2005-07).
The SA Colts side will be captained by Lethabo Phahlamohlaka of Cornwall Hill College in Centurion.
The SA Schools and SA Colts sides will face each other in a T20 clash at Newlands on Saturday.
Awards for the Platinum and Gold sections were presented on Friday evening, with Ross Coetzee (Dolphins), Kearsney College‘s prolific captain, winning the Platinum Best Batter Award after scoring 229 runs at an average of 57.3, with a strike rate of 60.3. Bowlers dominated the week, but Coetzee stood tall.
The winner of the Platinum Best Bowler Award was Raeeq Daniels (Western Province), who made the most of playing a number of matches on his home ground at Rondebosch Boys’ High. His best return was 5/25, and he finished the week with 14 wickets at an average of only 9.1 per wicket while conceding just 2.9 runs per over. Daniels was also honoured as the Player of the Tournament.
Affies‘ Divan de Villiers was named the Platinum Best All-Rounder after scoring 162 runs at an average of 54, with a strike rate of 82.2, while also taking eight wickets.
In the Gold section, Selborne College‘s Tré Gilbert was recognised as the Best Batter after tallying 152 runs at 50.7, with a strike rate of 73.8.
Paul Matlala received two awards as the Best Gold Bowler and Best Gold All-Rounder. He captured 13 wickets in only 34.5 overs at a miserly average of 7.8 and he also scored 88 runs at 29.3.
Matala, who is from Elands Park School, made history by becoming the first player from a special needs school to be selected for the South African Schools’ side.
The teams are:
SA Schools: Beni Hansen (Wynberg Boys’ High, Western Province – Captain), Ross Coetzee (Kearsney College, Dolphins), Christian Kind (Grey College, Free State), Jason Rowles (St David’s Marist, Central Gauteng Lions), Armaan Manack (St David’s Marist, Central Gauteng Lions), Divan de Villiers (Affies, Titans), Dakalo Leketa (St Andrew’s School, Free State), Raeeq Daniels (Rondebosch Boys’ High, Western Province), Enathi Kitshini (Thembalethu Hub, Garden Route Badgers), Chad Mason (Maritzburg College, Tuskers), Nqobani Mokoena (Northwood, Dolphins), Paul Matlala (Elands Park School, CSA Invitational XI).
SA Colts: Lethabo Phahlamohlaka (Cornwall Hill College, Titans – Captain), Sabelo Mabanga (Actonville Hub, Easterns), Adnaan Lagadien (Bishops, Western Province), Pranav Raichetti (St Stithians College, Central Gauteng Lions), Steve Stolk (Menlopark, Titans), Kashief Joseph (Bishops, Western Province), Charl Prinsloo (Hoërskool Centurion, Titans), Timothy Short (Rondebosch Boys’ High, Western Province), Cayden Wilson (Pearson, Eastern Province), Dayalan Boyce (Westville Boys’ High, CSA Invitational XI), Ryall Julies (Paarl RPC, CSA Invitational XI), Sandiswa Yeni (Kearsney College, Dolphins).
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