Switch Schools SA 20 Player Profile – Mankwana Morori (Queens High)

Inspired by Proteas‘ pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada, Queens High School all-rounder Mankwana Moriri is ready to light up the Switch Schools SA20 Final Showdown in Pretoria this week.

At just 16, Moriri has already built a reputation as a game-changer. She’s the kind of cricketer who can flip a match on its head with either bat or ball.

In Queens’ bid to become the best schoolgirl T20 side in the country, she has become a vital cog in coach Jabulani Manatsa‘s ambitious team, driving their charge to the national finals with fearless stroke play and clinical spells.

Moriri will use last year’s heartbreak – Queens lost to Steyn City School in the Central Gauteng Lions (CGL) final – as the motivation to anchor her team to the title.

“I am very happy to see my team in the Phase Three finals because last year I watched the final between Queens and Steyn City, and unfortunately Queens lost by two runs, which was quite disheartening for me because I would have liked to see them win, but we got a chance this year. We will use it wisely,” she said.

Recently back from a shoulder injury, Moriri is expected to limit her time with the ball as she continues her recovery. Thus, she is aiming to make a telling impact with her batting.

“I have just recovered from a shoulder injury, so there will be less bowling for me. I’m preparing by visualizing different match situations and reminding myself to stay present. I also trust the work I’ve put in during practice,” she said.

Originally from Mpumalanga, Moriri captured the spotlight last year while representing Sandton Cricket Club in a Lions CGL Women’s President League match. She blazed an astonishing 203 off just 70 deliveries – a breathtaking knock decorated with 34 boundaries and seven sixes – and steered Sandton to a mammoth 339/1.

She was far from done, though. Taking the ball, she tore through the opposition, capturing 3/7 in four overs as Dalikay Cricket Club was bundled out for 50. The result? A crushing 289-run victory and the arrival of a serious talent.

Her exploits earned her a deserved call-up to the SA u19 Women‘s national training camp squad in April, which confirmed her status as one of South Africa’s brightest young prospects.

This season, Moriri has again delivered when it mattered most, which included playing a starring role for Queens when they toppled the defending champions, Steyn City, to clinch the CGL Phase One title.

In the Phase Two finals, she produced an electric cameo – 33 not out off just 14 balls – in Queens’ win over Hoerskool Middelburg in the Gauteng/Mpumalanga girls’ final. It was further confirmation of her ability to thrive in high-pressure moments.

Now, with the Schools SA20 finals looming, all eyes will be on Mankwana Moriri. If her track record is anything to go by, Pretoria could be the stage and setting for another explosive chapter in the rise of Queens High’s dynamic all-rounder.

“Being debutants doesn’t really make us feel like we don’t belong. Instead, it motivates us to prove who we are and what we are there for.

“We will try our best to bring the trophy back. We would really appreciate it if we could get all the support from our school,” Moriri said.