Stellenberg faces massive challenge at Bishops
At the beginning of 2025, Bishops staked their claim as one of the strongest cricket schools in the country. Their case for that status was backed up when they lifted the Schools SA20 national title, in March. That, though, is the past and they have another challenge to attend to on Saturday.
Stellenberg High School visits Bishops for a 50-overs-a-side clash. The visitors’ first assignment will, arguably, be their toughest of the new season.
Stellies‘ Kyle van Santen is their go-to batsman, but they’re more than a one-man show. In February, he showed his chops against their local rivals, Hoërskool Bellville, scoring 66 off 47 balls in a 25-over bout. Three weeks later, in a 50-over clash, he claimed 4/25 to demonstrate his all-round ability.
In-between their Bellville fixtures, they double-upped Durbanville, scoring 230/8 before dismissing Durbies for 115, with. Lohann Pretorius, Gerrard Kamalie, JJ Rothman and Van Santen all picking up two wickets a piece. An unbeaten 73 from Rothman, batting at seven, also showed off the depth of the Stellenberg batting.
Stellies has plenty of all-rounders, but specialisation has its merits, too. To quote the American essayist, Ralph Waldo Emerson: “The shoemaker makes a good shoe because he makes nothing else.”
Bishops’ leg spinner, Julian Pilkington, is, perhaps, a case in point. He was a key performer when the Cape Town school claimed the Schools SA20 title, snaring 3/12 against a talented St. David’s Marist Inanda batting lineup in the final.
Opening batsman, Adnaan Lagadien, has already turned out for the SA u19 Emerging side, and scored a century against Zimbabwe u19 in Zimbabwe. He thrives against the new ball and can do the job in any format.
At the Schools SA20 National Finals, before Bishops met St David’s Marist Inanda in the final, he devastated the same opposition’s bowlers, smashing an unbeaten 89 runs off only 58 balls. At the event’s end, he was named the Batter of the Tournament.
The Jade Brigade will have their work cut out for them, especially playing away from home. Bishops fields a talented and deep bowling lineup, – led by Waco Bassick and Michael Kruiskamp – so Stellenberg will need to pace their innings well to challenge their hosts. Trial by fire it will be.
