The SA Schools team was beaten for the first time in an exciting match at Newlands in the annual Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Week challenge match, writes THEO GARRUN.

The South African Colts team caused a bit of a surprise on Friday by beating the South African Schools XI by four wickets in the Coca-Cola Challenge game that traditionally brings the curtain down on the annual Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Week.

It is the first time that the Colts – effectively the SA Schools B team – has won this T20 fixture in the three years that it has been going, and in the nature of things the result asks questions of the selectors who chose the two sides.

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T20 cricket is, however, notorious for throwing up unexpected results and one or two individual performances can determine the outcome. That’s what happened on Friday. First, the Colts bowler Tumelo Yeki took 4-17 in four overs of perfect line and length bowling, which helped to restrict the SA Schools team to 126-9. Then Colts batter Bonga Makaka made 59 not out off 59 balls (including seven fours and a six) to guide his side safely to their target with six wickets down and five balls to spare.

Only Tristan Stubbs (35) and Cameron Shekleton (29) got going in the SA Schools innings, while Lifa Ntanzi proved their best bowler, taking 3-17 when the SA Colts batted.

Scoreboard

SA Schools 126-9 (Tristan Stubbs 35, Cameron Shekleton 29; Tumelo Yeki 4-17)
SA Colts 128-6 (Bonga Makaka 59 not out, Dian Forrester 20; Lifa Ngtanza 3-17)
SA Colts won by 4 wickets

SA Schools team

1. Gerald Coetzee (St Andrews – Free State), Captain
2. Jonathan Bird (Bishops – Western Province)
3. Achille Cloete (Paarl Boys’ High – Boland)
4. Thamsang Khumalo (Glenwood – KwaZulu-Natal)
5. Kgaudise Molefe (Jeppe High School for Boys – Central Gauteng)
6. Lefa Ntanzi (Glenwood – KwaZulu-Natal)
7. Thando Ntini (Wynberg Boys’ High – Western Province)
8. Bryce Parsons (King Edward VII – Central Gauteng)
9. Caleb Pillay (Westville Boys’ High – KwaZulu-Natal)
10. Cameron Shekleton (St Stithians College – Central Gauteng)
11. Tristan Stubbs (Grey High School – Eastern Province)
12. Nonelela Yika (Hudson Park – Border)

Coach: Mike Bechet (Jeppe High School for Boys – Central Gauteng)
Manager: Shaheed Khan (Western Cape Sport School – Western Province)

SA Colts team

1. James Ritchie (Hilton College – KwaZulu-Natal Inland), Captain
2. Ruan Cronjé (St Andrews – Free State)
3. Dian Forrester (Affies – Northerns)
4. Justin Gilliland (Newlands Cricket High School – Western Province)
5. Marco Jansen (Potchefstroom Gimnasium – North West)
6. Mondli Khumalo (Maritzburg College – KwaZulu-Natal Inland)
7. Bonga Makaka (Newlands Cricket High School – Western Province)
8. Akeem Minnaar (Klein Nederburg – Boland)
9. Emmanuel Motswiri (Maragon Ruimsig – Central Gauteng)
10. Siya Plaatjie (Wynberg Boys’ High – Western Province)
11. Gareth Schreuder (Hilton College – KwaZulu-Natal Inland)
12. Tumelo Yeki (Queen’s High – Central Gauteng)

Coach: Deon Botes (Affies – Northerns)
Manager: Pierre Hugo (Bloemfontein South High School – Free State)

Individual Awards

Leading Run-scorer of the Week – Tristan Stubbs (Grey High School – Eastern Province) – 287 runs at an average of 71.8

Leading Wicket-taker of the Week – Kgaudise Molefe (Jeppe High School for Boys’ – Central Gauteng) – 21 wickets at an average of 8 runs per victim

Fielder of the Week – Ximus du Plooy (Affies – Northerns)

All-rounder of the Week – Marco Jansen (Potchefstroom Gimnasium – North West)

Player of the Week – Bryce Parsons (King Edward VII – Central Gauteng)

Photo: Theo Garrun