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Who will lift the first Schools SA20 trophy in Pretoria this week?

By Hannes Nienaber , in Cricket | Featured Cricket | News Featured | Main , at 2025-03-11 Tags: , , , , , , ,

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – JANUARY 17: Jason Rowles of South Africa U19 during the 1st Youth ODI Series match between South Africa U19 and England U19 Western Province Cricket Club on January 17, 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images)

For the first time since 2019, a national T20 schools champion will be crowned in Pretoria this week.

The national T20 program received a well-deserved second life as the Schools SA20 which was formed by Cricket South Africa (CSA) in collaboration with SA20. The top schools T20 sides from each region will fight it out from Wednesday at the University of Pretoria for the Final Showdown of the competition.

Catch all the action live on SuperSport Schools (www.supersportschools.com).

Besides the six regional champions – St Andrew’s School, Pearson, St David’s Marist, Hoërskool Garsfontein, Diocesan College (Bishops) and Northwood – there will also be two additional sides in action in the boys’ section. Graeme College from Makhanda received an invitation to the Final Showdown as a Cricket South Africa Focus School.

The other side, who cracked an invitation, is a CSA Hub Invitational side which also can’t be underestimated. This side was handpicked from the various Hubs of CSA throughout South Africa by the national schools’ selection panel.

St Andrew’s from Bloemfontein is the only team in attendance who have a national T20 title in the bag. They won the Coca-Cola Schools T20 back in 2018. They had Protea paceman Gerald Coetzee in their midst and were captained by Garnett Tarr. The latter is representing the Knights these days.

Their coach in 2018, Gregg Hobson, is now the Director of Cricket at Saints with AJ van Wyk coaching the side. They will know what is expected of their side if they want to be one of the teams in action in the final on Saturday.

St David’s Marist of Johannesburg will be one of the early favourites with South African u19 player Jason Rowles, leading the charge. They also have the Manack brothers, Armaan and Morteza, which could also change the course of a match. Another player who has represented the national u19-side Kamogelo Phiri, will also be a stalwart for the side from the City of Gold.

They will open their onslaught against the CSA Hub Invitational on the opening day. They will have to be wary of the invitational side’s Ryall Julies who made the SA Colts’ side at the conclusion of last year’s Khaya Majola Week in Cape Town. Julies is one of the fastest bowlers at school level in South Africa.

Garsfontein of Pretoria will open their account against Graeme College in the opening round. The Garsie Ysbere defeated Affies in their regional final and will also be strong contenders to lift the trophy.

The Fixtures: 

Wednesday, 12 March 2025 

14:00 – Northwood vs St Andrew’s School | Tuks Oval
14:00 – St David’s Marist vs CSA HUB Invitational | Tuks D-field
14:00 – Graeme College vs Garsfontein | Tuks E-field

Thursday, 13 March 2025 

09:30 – Garsfontein vs St Andrew’s School | Tuks E-field
09:30 – Pearson vs Diocesan College | Tuks Oval
09:30 – Northwood vs Graeme College | Tuks D-field

14:00 – Diocesan College vs CSA HUB Invitational | TUKS D-field
14:00 – Garsfontein vs Northwood | Tuks Oval
14:00 – Graeme College vs St Andrew’s School | Tuks E-field
14:00 – Pearson vs St David’s Marist | Tuks B-field

Friday, 14 March 2025 

09:30 – Diocesan College vs St David’s Marist | Tuks Oval
09:30 – CSA HUB Invitational XI vs Pearson | Tuks B-field

14:00 – Semi-Final 1 (A1 vs B2) | Tuks B-field
14:00 – Semi-Final 2 (B1 vs A2) | Tuks D-field

Saturday, 15 March 2025 

13:00 – Schools SA20 Final | Tuks Oval

Hannes Nienaber
error: Sorry ol' chap, those shenanigans are not permissible.