8 January 2025
The Coastal Conquerors, from KZN, were beaten in the semi-finals of Cricket South Africa‘s annual Cubs Week on Monday, going down to the surprise eventual champions, the USA, who beat the previously unbeaten Southern Superstars in Tuesday’s final.
On Tuesday evening, five players from the Conquerors were named in the South Africa u19 squad to take on England in three limited-overs internationals later this month in the Western Cape, while three members of the Conquerors were included in the squad for two youth tests, which will be played in February.
Maritzburg College‘s Chad Mason (feature photo) and Nqobani Mokoena, of Northwood, were included in both line-ups.
The limited-overs squad also included Glenwood‘s Bandile Mbatha and Ntando Soni, and Semal Pillay, of DHS. Kearsney‘s Sandiswa Yeni, who turned out for the Western Legends, primarily made up of players from the North-West, Northern Cape and Free State, was named in the youth test line-up.
Wynberg Boys’ High‘s Beni Hansen, who was named the captain of the SA Schools‘ side for a second year in succession, will captain both teams.
Five players who represented South Africa at the ICC u19 Cricket World Cup at the start of 2024 were not considered for selection. Four of them, including recent test debutant, Kwena Maphaka, will be in action in the SA20. The other three are Tristan Luus, Steve Stolk, and Lhuan-dré Pretorius.
The other player who was part of the South Africa’s World Cup squad, Riley Norton, who made SA Schools in cricket and rugby in grade 11, has opted to pursue a career in rugby.
South Africa u19 Squads
Limited Overs: Beni Hansen (captain), Carl Fryer, Bandile Mbatha, Adnaan Lagadien, Enathi Kitshini, Chad Mason, Daniel Bosman, Ntando Soni, Semal Pillay, Divan de Villiers, Jason Rowles, Lethabo Phahlomahloka, Nqobani Mokoena, Paul James, Raeeq Daniels.
Tests: Beni Hansen (captain), Adnaan Lagadien, Chad Mason, Daniel Bosman, Divan de Villiers, Jason Rowles, Jorich van Schalkwyk, Muhammed Bulbulia, Nathan Rossouw, Nqobani Mokoena, Paul James, Raeeq Daniels, Sandiswa Yeni, Martin Khumalo, Lethabo Phahlamaloka.
Fixtures
Limited Overs
17 January vs England, Cape Town
19 January vs England, Cape Town
22 January vs England, Stellenbosch
Youth Test Series
27 January vs England, Stellenbosch
3 February vs England, Cape Town
Coastal Conquerors’ matches
Over the five days of action at the Cubs Week, the Coastal Conquerors won three and lost two matches, ultimately finishing in third place.
In their opener, fifties from the DHS duo of Semal Pillay and Josh van Biljon, plus an unbeaten 49 from Bandile Mbatha, helped lift the Conquerors to 277/7 in their 50 overs. However, 89 from the Meyer Pretorius and 52 from Dakalo Leketa helped the Western Legends to a narrow two-wicket win with only two balls to spare.
On day two, a solid all-round performance delivered a four-wicket win over the 2024 winners, the Northern Champions. With Bandile Mbatha, Rowen Rajah, Nqobani Mokoena, and Shahzaad Perumal all picking up two wickets, the Champions were limited to 196/9 from their 50 overs.
In reply, Semal Pillay made 61 from 77, and Ross Coetzee 49 from 44, while a 53-run partnership for the sixth wicket between Chad Mason (22*) and Bandile Mbatha (28) carried the Conquerors to the brink of victory.
Semal Pillay continued his torrid form on day three, cracking 110 in the Conquerors’ big total of 335/7 against Namibia. He finished as the second highest scorer of the event, tallying 265 runs, only 15 behind Jason Rowles, who topped the run scoring charts.
Ben Hockly weighed in with 86, and Bandile Mbatha showed off his all-round game with 62 not out.
Namibia mustered 203 all out in reply. Liam Basson made 70, but Mbatha, with 5/38, and Rowen Rajah, with 2/28, helped bowl the Conquerors to victory and into the semi-finals.
Facing the hosts, the Southern Superstars, for a place in the final, the Coastal Conquerors folded to a disappointing 109-run defeat.
Led by Adnaan Lagadien‘s 93, the Superstars posted 273/8 in their innings, while left-arm spinner Roxton Payne, with 2/17, led the KZN side’s bowlers. Rowen Rajah picked up 2/35.
Chad Mason made 76 in the Conquerors’ run chase. Unfortunately for the team, though, Ntando Soni’s 26 was their next best effort as they were dismissed for only 164. SA Schools’ opening bowler, Raeeq Daniels, has been in outstanding form and that continued when he knocked over 3/35.
In the playoff for third, the Conquerors exacted revenge for their defeat to the Western Legends in their opening match. This time around, the legends were restricted to 229 all out, although Ruben Maree, again, went close to a century, making 95. Chad Mason did the damage, however, snaring 5/46, while Nqobani Mokoena claimed 2/37.
Josh van Biljon, with a solid 89, and Mfana Shange, with 51 not out, then spearheaded the Conquerors’ successful run chase, seeing them to a comfortable six-wicket victory with 8.3 overs in hand.
Mason and Mokoena ended as the Conquerors’ leading wicket-takers, removing eight batsmen each. Rowen Rajah and Bandile Mbatha both claimed seven wickets, with the Conquerors’ quartet finishing among the top 11 most successful bowlers of the Week.
Ben Hockly, with nine catches and a stumping, topped the fielding stats.
SCORES
Day 1
USA 233/8 (Arjun Mahesh 82, Utkarsh Srivastava 34, Amrinder Gill 27, Rahul Basu 26, Extras 22; Divan Linde 2/25, Enathi Kitshini 2/37, Raeeq Daniels 2/40); Southern Superstars 236/6 (Adnaan Lagadien 90, Daniel Bosman 65, Paul James 29*, Divan Linde 26*; Utkarsh Srivastava 2/41). Southern Superstars won by four wickets.
Coastal Conquerors 277/7 (Semal Pillay 57, Joshua van Biljon 50, Bandile Mbatha 49*, Nqobani Mokoena 32, Mfanafuthi Shange 26, Extras 28, Chad Mason 20; Meyer Pretorius 3/46, Carl Fryer 2/40); Western Legends 279/8 (Meyer Pretorius 89, Dakalo Leketa 52, Ruben Maree 31, Extras 30, Naudé Botha 26; Chad Mason 2/41, Ntando Soni 2/50, Nqobani Mokoena 2/50). Western Legends won by two wickets.
Eastern Warriors 293/5 (Randy Syce 105, Jean Upman 77, Extras 33, Zuko Pontshi 26, Tré Gilbert 23, Jacques van der Merwe 20; Curtleigh Koetzee 2/51); Central Gladiators 291/8 (Tahseen Hanslo 78*, Kamogelo Phiri 40, Pranav Raichetti 39, Siyabulele Radebe 38, Jason Rowles 35; Luphelo Mdyesha 3/24, Dawid Vermaak 2/41). Eastern Warriors won by two runs.
Namibia 137/10 (Ben Brassell 42, Waldo Smith 36, Extras 32; Tshegofatso Nthara 3/21, Sandiswa Yeni 2/17, Jorich van Schalkwyk 2/18, Parth Patel 2/42); Northern Champions 141/1 (Jorich van Schalkwyk 64*, Jaden Govender 44*, Sabelo Mabanga 23; Henry Grant 1/23). Northern Champions won by nine wickets.
Day 2
Northern Champions 196/9 (Jaden Govender 76*, Charl Prinsloo 41, Extras 25; Bandile Mbatha 2/15, Rowan Rajah 2/16, Nqobani Mokoena 2/18, Shahzaad Perumal 2/33); Coastal Conquerors 197/6 (Semal Pillay 61, Ross Coetzee 49, Bandile Mbatha 28, Extras 26, Chad Mason 22*; Wian Ruthven 3/28, Sandiswa Yeni 2/32). Coastal Conquerors won by four wickets.
Western Legends 274/9 (Muhammed Bulbulia 122, Ruben Maree 54, Extras 33; Junior Kariata 3/39, Nico Pieters 2/31, Peter Blignaut 2/46); Namibia 196/10 (Waldo Smith 49, Peter Blignaut 41, Extras 29, Zacheo van Heerden 23, Francois du Plessis 20; Meyer Pretorius 3/19, Nathan Rossouw 3/25). Western Legends won by 78 runs.
Central Gladiators 245/10 (Armaan Manack 62, Kamogelo Phiri 50*, Joe MacRobert 35, Jason Rowles 28, Pranav Raichetti 21, Extras 20; Raeeq Daniels 4/38, Sibulele Makeleni 2/25); Southern Superstars 246/5 (Beni Hansen 83, Unathi Magoloza 42*, Extras 30, Paul James 24*, Adnaan Lagadien 24, Johan Wege 23; Sipho Potsane 2/31). Southern Superstars won by five wickets.
USA 281/7 (Amrinder Gill 88, Sahil Garg 73, Utkarsh Srivastava 54, Extras 25; Likhona Gcora 3/51, Esa Gangat 2/42); Eastern Warriors 100/10 (Jacques van der Merwe 41, Randy Syce 22; Advaith Krishna 5/17, Ansh Rai 2/10). USA won by 181 runs.
Day 3
Northern Champions 150/10 (Divan de Villiers 43, Extras 41; Nathan Rossouw 5/29, Meyer Pretorius 2/20, Kamohelo Mokoena 2/29); Western Legends 151/3 (Christian Kind 54, Ruben Maree 30*, Naudé Botha 30, Dakalo Leketa 22*; Charl Prinsloo 2/28). Western Legends won by seven wickets.
Coastal Conquerors 335/7 (Semal Pillay 110, Ben Hockly 86, Bandile Mbatha 62*, Extras 26, Ross Coetzee 22; Dan Brassell 3/71, Waldo Smith 2/55); Namibia 203/10 (Liam Basson 70, Zacheo van Vuuren 25, Peter Blignaut 23; Bandile Mbatha 5/38, Rowen Rajah 2/28). Coastal Conquerors won by 132 runs.
Eastern Warriors 256/6 (Cayden Wilson 75*, Randy Syce 58, Kian Cambier 50, Esa Gangat 34*; Divan Linde 2/37); Southern Superstars 259/3 (Daniel Bosman 75*, Johan Wege 48, Adnaan Lagadien 44, Enathi Kitshini 38*, Beni Hansen 32, Extras 22; Cayden Wilson 2/33). Southern Superstars won by seven wickets.
USA 243/9 (Dharshan Haribabu 57, Arjun Mahesh 48, Shiv Shani 43, Rahul Basu 29, Extras 23; Esosa Aihevba 4/53, Tahseen Hanslo 3/32); Central Gladiators 238/10 (Jason Rowles 65, Siyabulele Radebe 43, Joe MacRobert 34, Kamogelo Phiri 32; Shiv Shani 4/12, Rahul Basu 2/34). USA won by five runs.
Day 4
Southern Superstars 273/8 (Adnaan Lagadien 94, Paul James 42, Daniel Bosman 31, Extras 24, Unathi Magoloza 23; Roxton Payne 2/17, Rowen Rajah 2/35); Coastal Conquerors 164/10 (Chad Mason 76, Ntando Soni 26; Raeeq Daniels 3/35, Taywin Adams 2/22, Daniel Bosman 2/28, Callum Appollis 2/38). Southern Superstars won by 109 runs.
USA 221/10 (Arjun Mahesh 64, Extras 30, Utkarsh Srivastava 29, Shiv Shani 28, Sahil Garg 20; Nathan Rossouw 4/52, FG Botha 2/12, Dakalo Leketa 2/27); Western Legends 109/10 (Caiden Seleka 27, Meyer Pretorius 20; Utkarsh Srivastava 3/8, Rahul Basu 2/21). USA won by 112 runs.
Central Gladiators 153/10 (Corné Botha 50, Pranav Raichetti 34, Extras 24; Jorich van Schalkwyk 2/12, Wian Ruthven 2/15, Sandiswa Yeni 2/24, Charl Prinsloo 2/25, Tshegofatso Nthara 2/30); Northern Champions 154/5 (Jorich van Schalkwyk 54*, Divan de Villiers 32, Lethabo Phahlamohlaka 23, Extras 23; Jason Rowles 2/22). Northern Champions won by five wickets.
Namibia 223/8 (Ben Brassell 66, Liam Basson 54, Waldo Smith 39, Extras 37; Hlumelo Ntola 3/35, Jadwyn Cona 2/39, Esa Gangat 2/40); Eastern Warriors 68/10 (Jean Upman 11; Junior Kariata 4/15, Henry Grant 2/14). Namibia won by 155 runs.
Day 5
USA 244/8 (Utkarsh Srivastava 95, Sabrish Prasad 41, Amrinder Gill 35, Arjun Mahesh 23; Raeeq Daniels 3/53, Divan Linde 2/37); Southern Superstars 139/10 (Divan Linde 55, Daniel Bosman 36; Adit Kappa 4/13, Ansh Rai 3/33, Arya Garg 2/26). USA won by 105 runs.
Western Legends 229/10 (Ruben Maree 95, Caiden Seleka 35, Extras 35; Chad Mason 5/46, Nqobani Mokoena 2/37); Coastal Conquerors 230/4 (Joshua van Biljon 89, Mfana Shange 51*, Semal Pillay 26, Bandile Mbatha 22). Coastal Conquerors won by six wickets.
Namibia 186/10 (Liam Basson 46, Adriaan Coetzee 45, Francois du Plessis 45, Extras 30; Jorich van Schalkwyk 3/24, Wian Ruthven 2/33); Northern Champions 188/5 (Jorich van Schalkwyk 100, Vihan Pretorius 39*, Jaden Govender 26; Peter Blignaut 2/32, Francois du Plessis 2/44). Northern Champions won by five wickets.
Central Gladiators 372/7 (Jason Rowles 139*, Armaan Manack 60, Siyabulele Radebe 57, Joe MacRobert 50, Extras 32; Hlumelo Ntlola 6/64); Eastern Warriors 249/10 (Esa Gangat 46, Randy Syce 46, Kian Cambier 39, Jean Upman 32, Cayden Wilson 21; Tahseen Hanslo 4/64, Corné Botha 3/36, Esosa Aihevba 2/38). Central Gladiators won by 123 runs.
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