***Official*** South African Domestic Season 2017/18

[SeamUp]

More on the issue at the Titans. Not sure how this can be considered right but oh well.

The 33-year-old opener didn’t make the greatest impression in England and now a potential double whammy at franchise level too.

These are tough times in the life of Heino Kuhn.

Having waited until he was 33 years old, Kuhn finally made his Test debut for South Africa in England in July, but after scoring just 113 runs in eight innings, that dream might be over having barely got started.

Also read: Ottis Gibson speaks out on his Proteas gig … finally

South Africa’s next Test engagement is against Bangladesh at the end of this month and Kuhn obviously needs some big runs in the one round of Sunfoil Series matches that will be played before the Proteas gather in Potchefstroom to make sure he stays in the squad.

But the only problem is that Kuhn is now battling to make the Titans team.

With only five spots available for white players, coach Mark Boucher already has six White CSA-contracted players who will probably be looking to play some four-day cricket before the Tests – Quinton de Kock, AB de Villiers (who is apparently very keen to play after his long layoff), Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Morne Morkel and Chris Morris. Adding to the selection quandary are Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaasen, who are both on the fringes of the Test team as well.

“It’s going to be tough, AB will have to play and then there’s Aiden, Dean and Heinrich as well, so that’s four specialist batsmen already. So a tough decision will have to be made and I’m man enough to handle it. But I am still doing my wicketkeeping drills and I’m definitely willing to keep wicket if it gets me in the side,” Kuhn said.

The prolific run-scorer in all formats for the Titans said that playing Test cricket for South Africa was an honour that he would always cherish, but he was disappointed that he was not able to score more runs.

“It’s always an honour to get called up for the Proteas, and to play Test cricket was a long-time dream of mine. They were tough conditions in England, but that’s no excuse and I would have loved to do better, but it just didn’t happen. I will always cherish the chance I got and if I get another I will definitely grab it.

“I felt good at the crease even though there was a lot of pressure, but as an older player you can handle that better. I felt comfortable, I was opening with Dean, but it just didn’t happen for me. As an opening batsman, you’re always going to get good balls, that’s part of the job,” Kuhn said.

 

[SeamUp]

Warriors stars to miss opening games

The Warriors will be without all three of their Kolpak stars when Cricket South Africa’s franchise season gets off to an early start on Tuesday next week.

As a result of the six-week T20 Global League being crowbarred into the domestic season, the four-day Sunfoil Series will start three weeks earlier than normal.

The Warriors, who are in Oudtshoorn playing friendlies against the Cape Cobras, open their campaign against the Highveld Lions at the Wanderers.

Colin Ingram, Colin Ackermann and Simon Harmer will not be available for that game and the next two matches at home in Port Elizabeth – to the Cobras and away against the Titans in Benoni – due to county duties in England.

Warriors coach Malibongwe Maketa said his squad would make the best of the situation.

“The Kolpak players will miss the first three games of the season. But this will, in turn, give opportunities to the younger players,” he said yesterday.

Maketa also had to do without the Border players in his squad for preseason matches to allow them to contest the Africa T20 Cup.

“We had to release the four Border players for the Africa T20 Cup. So Chris Jonker, Aya Gqamane, Yaseen Vallie and Jerry Nqolo are also not here with us.”

But Maketa said he was satisfied with the time spent in the middle in the first two-day match against the Cobras, which finished in a draw on Sunday.

“Matthew Breetzke got a few runs and so did Eddie Moore. It was good for me to touch base with young Matthew and see what he has to offer.

“In general, it was encouraging for everybody to get out there and have a little bit of a bat.”

The Warriors start another two-day match against the Cobras today, and Maketa said he hoped to make use of the time to prepare his squad for the challenge next week.

“It’s important that we build on the past few days. We have a limited amount of time before the season starts on Tuesday, and we have not had a lot of opportunity to spend time on the grass.”

 

[SeamUp]

5th addition of the Ekasi Challenge. Should be televised as usual.

Opportunities to turn out for the Multiply Titans are like gold given the strength and depth of the squad, but several fringe players will get the chance to impress when the franchise hosts the fifth edition of the Momentum eKasi Challenge against the bizhub Highveld Lions in Hammanskraal on Wednesday.



None of the current Proteas will be in action and the Titans have also had a spate of injury withdrawals from the training squad that was announced last week for the annual cross-Jukskei derby, but the home side will still boast plenty of quality with the likes of Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, captain Albie Morkel and Shaun von Berg all taking part.



Top-order batsman Henry Davids and pace bowlers Malusi Siboto, Junior Dala, Lungi Ngidi and Eldred Hawken are all unavailable for Wednesday’s clash, which has led to exciting young prospects Gregory Mahlokwana, Corbin Bosch, Migael Pretorius and Jiveshan Pillay all being called up to the squad.



“It will be a very young squad because with such a long season ahead, I’ve got to protect those players with injuries, that’s my major concern at the moment,” said head coach Mark Boucher. “It will be good for some of the guys to get another week or so of rest and repair their bodies.”



“We’ve shown already last season that we are not scared to give players an opportunity. Rivaldo Moonsamy and Eldred Hawken came through well last season, and the opportunity will be there again on Wednesday and maybe someone will stake a claim for a regular starting spot.”



The eKasi Challenge trophy is one the Titans would dearly love to get their hands on, having lost all four previous games in the event, but the Highveld Lions are bringing a strong side to Hammanskraal, full of dangerous match-winners like Rassie van der Dussen, Nicky van den Bergh, Wiaan Mulder and Bjorn Fortuin.



Veteran opener Stephen Cook is leading the Lions and is looking forward to the social outreach aspect of the event, which will also see both teams holding a coaching clinic at the nearby Temba Cricket Oval on Tuesday afternoon.



“I’ve always enjoyed the activities around the game – the coaching clinics, the interacting with the kids and the new environment we get to play in. It’s about so much more than just the 100 overs on the day. We’ve done well in the past on the field, but we also really want to add value off the field.



“We can become very inward focused in cricket, not looking for the greater good, but you never know when you can be a hero to someone and we must all remember that responsibility. We need to show the spirit of cricket that is sometimes lacking,” said Cook.



The Highveld Lions, thanks to a masterful Temba Bavuma century, disposed of the Titans by 18 runs at Soweto Cricket Oval last year, with Grant Mokoena, playing next to the streets of his youth, scoring a hundred of his own.



Mokoena is no longer with the Titans, having moved to the Knights, but they do have the home-grown talents of pace bowler Alfred Mothoa for the locals to get excited about.



With Dala, Siboto and Ngidi all out of action, Mothoa obviously has a great chance of playing just his second game for the Titans on Wednesday, following the success of his debut in the last Sunfoil Series game of last season.



“The ekasi Challenge serves a wonderful purpose and is going to be great for the Hammanskraal community, but we are focusing on red-ball cricket in practice at the moment; looking forward to the start of the Sunfoil Series next week,” Boucher said.



But in an extremely hectic, compressed domestic season, Boucher could well be calling on some of the players who get a chance in Hammanskraal to step up in key matches later in the summer.



Multiply Titans squad to face bizhub Highveld Lions tomorrow (from): Aiden Markram, Jiveshan Pillay, Jonathan Vandiar, Heinrich Klaasen, Rivaldo Moonsamy, Tony de Zorzi, Albie Morkel, Shaun von Berg, Corbin Bosch, Alfred Mothoa, Gregory Mahlokwana, Grant Thomson, Migael Pretorius, Andrea Agathagelou.



bizhub Highveld Lions squad (from): Stephen Cook, Rassie van der Dussen, Omphile Ramela, Nicky van den Bergh, Wiaan Mulder, Bjorn Fortuin, Craig Alexander, Ayavuya Myoli, Nono Pongolo, Ryan Rickelton, Carmi le Roux, Yaseen Valli, Ndumiso Mvelase.

 

[SeamUp]

Pukke are currently out at the University World Cup in Sri Lanka and are 2 out of 2. Looking to follow in the footsteps of Tuks in being world champions.

NWU-Pukke’s Varsity Cricket champions have officially arrived in Sri Lanka to challenge for top spot in the prestigious Red Bull Campus Cricket World Finals from 10-17 September.

Pukke are in Group A of this hotly contested tournament and will face the fellow campus teams of Australia, Pakistan and India, which all promises to be exciting clashes. Group B sees Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and UAE’s representatives up against each other.

Pukke’s first match is against Australia tomorrow (Sunday, 10 September). They then play India on Monday and Pakistan on Tuesday.

beat Australia

NWU-Pukke got their 2017 Red Bull Campus Cricket tournament off to the perfect start with a brilliant 6 wicket victory against Australia’s University of Sydney on Sunday morning.

The stars for NWU-Pukke were Janneman Malan with an unbeaten 67 (52) with the bat in chase of Australia’s total of 157/9, as well as Pukke spinners Ruan Haasbroek (3/13) and Dyllan Matthews (3/22) who benefited from the sub-continental conditions.

It was a clinical bowling performance from Pukke who managed to peg back the University of Sydney after the Australians has gotten off to a fast start. Hayden Kerr hit a quickfire 73 (39) and he was the foundation that their innings was built on. Haasbroek got his wicket with the score on the dreaded nelson of 111 and from there on Pukke could stamp their authority on proceedings. Matthews was also exceptional with his leg spinners that gave the Australians a few headaches.

Pukke’s opening pair of Wihan Lubbe (44) and Malan put up a 58 run opening partnership with Lubbe taking the bowlers to the cleaners with aggressive play early on. Lubbe hit 5 fours and 3 sixes in his innings, before losing his wicket to the impressive Kerr. Marques Ackerman followed soon and at 60/2, the University of Sydney were back in the game. Malan though kept a calm head and took control as he made it his mission to steer his side over the line. Malan hit four massive sixes and 2 fours in a mature knock to send Pukke over the line with 15 balls to spare.

beat India

Impressive is just one way to describe NWU-Pukke’s 72 run win against India today (11 September) in the Red Bull Campus Cricket World Series Group A match that took place in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Ruan Haasbroek spearheaded Pukke’s win with an unbeaten 46 (37) and 1/2 with the ball as the South African representatives completed their second victory in as many days. Haasbroek was duly named man of the match for his efforts.

Pukke batted first and amassed 169/4 from their 20 overs before bowling out India for a mere 97. Jovaun van Wyngaardt (2/14) and Dyllan Matthews (2/22) were the chief destroyers for Pukke as the Indians struggled to adapt to Pukke’s tight and aggressive bowling. India found themselves at 25/5 at one stage and were in absolute tatters as Julian Soutter (1/13) and Niel Durow (1/13) cashed in. India’s Omkar Khatpe was their only shining light as he contributed 31 (34) with the bat before succumbing to Wihan Lubbe’s off spin.

Earlier Lubbe (34) and Janneman Malan (30) once again got Pukke off to a decent start and it looks like their opening partnership will be an invaluable part of Pukke’s trophy aspirations as the tournament progresses to the business stage. The team’s spin bowling has also been on point in the tournament even causing problems for sub-continent nations such as India.

Pukke next take on Pakistan, tomorrow in what promises to be a titanic clash. Pukke have the opportunity to make it three in a row, but this might be a tough task against an always unpredictable Pakistan side

The entire Potchefstroom will be holding thumbs for the Pukke Boys as they take their next step towards cricketing glory.

 

[Kippax]

5th addition of the Ekasi Challenge. Should be televised as usual.

I've been making use of SuperSport's video archive to have a look at the last three editions of this, seeing Devon Conway made two 50s in them.

This amusing turn from Roelof van der Merwe backs up your suggestion of it probably being just a straight up lack of water at various inland curators' disposal, for use on their grounds at this time of year -

 

[Kippax]

 

[Kippax]

 

[Kippax]

 

[brockley]

Has Puttick retired,or a case of quotas?

 

[Kippax]

Nah still going.

OUDTSHOORN NEWS - Impressive performances with the bat by Andrew Puttick and Pieter Malan, as well as a bowling work by Dane Piedt, did the Cape Cobras self-image and confidence well during a warm-up match against the Warriors at the Rec in Oudtshoorn.

For the Cobras, Puttick's hundred (100, 170 balls, 1x6, 12x4) and Malan (72; 149 balls, 1x6, 9x4) sent the Cobras on the winning track, with an opening of 170 (280 balls). Jason Smit (55) contributed to the Cobras's first innings of 354/7 (declared),

 

[SeamUp]

Looks like Morne van Wyk is playing in the Afghan domestic T20 and with Vilas with Lancashire I am not sure who will keep for the Dolphins. Maybe rookie Gavin Morris.

Ekasi Challenge

Markram 133
Agathangelou 64
SA u19 Pillay with a 50 on debut for Titans. Not too bad.

 

[SeamUp]

Has Puttick retired,or a case of quotas?

1 of the few domestic stalwarts still going with Ontong, M.van Wyk, Cook, Davids & A.Morkel in the 35+ vintage.

 

[SeamUp]

Corbin & Eathan Bosch. Both fast bowlers. One Pretoria Boys High School Old Boy & a Titan & the other Hilton College Old Boy & a Dolphin. They don't look very similar.

Corbin Bosch grows out of his father's shadow | Cricket | ESPN Cricinfo

https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/the-witness/20160301/281694023861608

https://www.iol.co.za/sport/bosch-children-hold-key-to-r5-million-estate-71890

 

[Kippax]

I sure wish New Zealand had a few more 18yo bats making really good starts to their pro careers like Jiveshan Pillay.

 

[Firebreaker]

I sure wish New Zealand had a few more 18yo bats making really good starts to their pro careers like Jiveshan Pillay.

Don't worry you should scout some young bright players in SA domestic and lure them to NZ

 

[Kippax]

Sadly Wellington's maxed out its credit card in NZ qualifying players basically, just when there's some really good ones looking for a new home. The rules state we can only field 2-3 at once, we'll be getting up towards that in 2017/18.

 

[SeamUp]

I sure wish New Zealand had a few more 18yo bats making really good starts to their pro careers like Jiveshan Pillay.

Definitely looks well assured for 1 so young. He matriculated last year at 17 so moved from Pietermaritzburg (Dolphins have now lost him & Ngidi to the Titans & can't be happy about it) to Tuks Uni in Pretoria. Saw him at the beginning of the year in the University Champs as he wasn't selected for SA u19 and he looked good then for one so young.

Breetzke
Pillay
van Tonder

is probably our top 3 set in stone for next years u19 CWC in New Zealand.

 

[SeamUp]

Just on an aside - thought Mulder had a tough game yesterday. Still only 19 himself and pushed very early. Needs to get quicker if his bowling is to go to the next level - being so stocky it should happen. Remember seeing Stokes bowling powder-puffs in the u19 WC himself. I also think he is a proper batsman who needs time to get in. Batting 7/8 in limited overs cricket isn't ideal for him but in 4-day cricket it is fine.

Also thought Rickelton looked very assured on his Lions debut coming in at 5 - he is a top 3 bat all day long.

Really would like to see von Berg in a test match on the sub-continent. He has the skills and if he is up to it - he won't let the Proteas down.

Finally and most important I think Markram will be picked for the Bangers test matches. Ideally would have loved another dominant domestic season from him. He loves paying the ball on the up (which will be tested) but there is no denying his class.

 

[SeamUp]

2nd 2-day warm-up game between Cobras & Warriors. 4-DAY Sunfoil Series all set to start Tuesday now.

The second pre-season two-day fixture between the WSB Cape Cobras and the Warriors that was played at the Recreation Ground in Oudtshoorn ended in a draw on Wednesday.

Both coaches, Ashwell Prince from the Cobras, and Malibongwe Maketa of the Warriors will be satisfied with their first outdoor outings of the season ahead of the Sunfoil Series that will kick-off on 19 September 2017.

It was a match where various overs were lost on the first day due to a delayed start and bad light that brought an early end to the proceedings.

The Cobras, who batted first, posted 269/5 before they declared their innings after 72.2 overs but not before three of the top order batsmen reached half-centuries. Zubayr Hamza, who was promoted to open the batting, needed 96 balls for his 50 (7×4) whilst Kyle Verreynne (70; 119 balls, 1×6, 9×4) and Aviwe Mgijima (61; 96 balls, 7×4) were involved in a partnership of 101 runs (165 balls) for the third wicket.

Jason Smith, who scored a half-century in the first match, was again impressive with the bat with an unbeaten innings of 37* (43 balls, 8×4).

The Warriors workhorse, Sisanda Magala, was rewarded with figures of 3/59 (in 14 overs).

Bad light also had the final say on the second afternoon when the umpires called off the game at 4.30 pm with the Warriors ending on 262/6 (62 overs). Lesiba Ngoepe, who was impressive with an aggressive 62 (from 67 balls; 11×4), was well supported by Gihan Cloete (51; 107 balls; 9×4).

Summarised scorecard:

WSB CAPE COBRAS 1st innings 269/5 decl. (Zubayr Hamza 50, Kyle Verreynne 70, Aviwe Mgijima 61, Jason Smith 37*, Sisanda Magala 3/59)

WARRIORS 1st innings 262/6 (Edward Moore 43, Lesiba Ngoepe 62, Gihan Cloete 51, Jon-Jon Smuts 47, George Linde 2/46).

Result: Match Drawn

 

[StephenZA]

Finally and most important I think Markram will be picked for the Bangers test matches. Ideally would have loved another dominant domestic season from him. He loves paying the ball on the up (which will be tested) but there is no denying his class.

With Kuhn injured, Cook needs runs in the FC games, this and next week, to get in front of Markram again. Once Markram is in can`t see him getting left out anytime soon thereafter, they will want him building a partnership with Elgar.