Johannesburg’s Queens High School will be at the Schools T20 national finals at Tuks in Pretoria next weekend as the Inland Focus School and captaining them will be Amogelang Sima, writes THEO GARRUN.

Queens played in the Johnny Waite Knockout series – the Gauteng T20 qualification tournament – and made it to the quarterfinal stage, explains Amogelang.

‘We were beaten by Jeppe in the quarters, so we then went into the Focus Schools competition where we beat Prestige College in the final,’ he said.

‘It’s incredibly exciting,’ he said. ‘As a CSA Focus school we get very good specialised coaching and there has been a big improvement in our skills. It’s great to get an opportunity to test ourselves against the top schools in the country.’

T20 cricket has been the focus for the team, Amogelang explained, so they haven’t played that much longer format cricket.

‘We played five 50-over games and won three of them. We did very well in a township T20 tournament and have had a good run in the T20 qualifiers, I think we are ready for the nationals.’

Amogelang has a solid cricket pedigree. He has been part of the Gauteng cricket development programme since he was 11 and was put into Queens High as part of the focus school initiative.

‘We stay in the hostel and are helped with our cricket development and our academic performance.’

It’s been a good year for Amogelang. He is a batting all-rounder who bowls leg spin.

‘My top score was 76 runs and I have got to 40 on a number of occasions,’ he said. ‘I have also taken three “fifers” this year and a couple of four-wicket hauls as well.’

The team’s strength is definitely its bowling attack, Amogelang believes.

‘Tumelo Yeki played for the Lions at the Khaya Majola Week in December and I was in the under-19B team. Our other quicks and spinners are also useful and if we all fire I think we can give any team some trouble,’ he said.

They are certainly not going to Pretoria to make up the numbers, Amogelang said.

‘We want to go all the way, and at the same time we know that this is a great chance to learn more about the game.’

Photo: Theo Garrun