Jade de Klerk from EP has been named the Coca-Cola Hero of the day for day two of the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Cricket Week.

The prestigious Coca-Cola Hero of the Day award is presented on each day of the tournament in recognition of a game changing ‘hero’ moment.  Jade was selected for the award by a Coca-Cola appointed panel of cricket experts after he ran out Muhammed Mayet from Gauteng.

Eastern Province started their game against Gauteng well and initially had them in trouble, at 46-4. Muhammed Mayet joined day one’s Coca-Cola Hero of the Day, Mitchell van Buuren, at the crease, and the two began a partnership that could have easily rescued the game for Gauteng. This partnership was abruptly stopped when Jade, whilst fielding at extra cover, brilliantly ran out Mayet for 15.

Gauteng never recovered from the run out and Jade followed it up by taking three wickets in two overs including the prize wicket of Mitchell van Buuren.

The victory was even sweeter, as Eastern Province became the first team to beat Gauteng in the last four years of the tournament.

‘It is a special feeling to win the Coca-Cola Hero of the Day,’ said Jade. ‘Without my teammates and their support I would not be standing here to accept the award.’

‘There were a lot of good performances today, however Jade de Klerk’s runout was really special and changed the game for his team, plus with the wickets he took, he really contributed to his team winning the game,’ said Robin Peterson, former Proteas player and lead judge of the Coca-Cola Hero of the Day panel at the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Cricket Week.

Photo: Petri Oeschger/Gallo Images