Maritzburg schools cricket festival
The 56th edition of Oppenheimer Week is taking place at Maritzburg College right now and will end tomorrow (October 6).
A total of 36 matches is packed into four days of schoolboy cricket at its best at venues in and around the KZN capital.
This prestigious festival, sponsored once again by cricket aficionado Jonathan Oppenheimer, features a number of the best schoolboy first XI teams in the country.
Long-time hosts Maritzburg College, plus KZN schools Clifton, DHS, Hilton, Kearsney, Michaelhouse, Northwood and Westville take on Hudson Park (East London), Affies and Pretoria Boys’ High, as well as Johannesburg’s Jeppe, St John’s, St Stithians and King Edward VII School (KES), plus Bloemfontein’s Grey College and Grahamstown’s St Andrews College. A welcome feature is that of the 18th team, the CSA TAP Invitational XI.
If history is a yardstick, a number of the cricketers taking part in the 56th edition of this cricketing landmark are destined for higher honours post-school. AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis (Affies), Hashim Amla, Barry Richards, Lance Klusener (DHS), Kepler Wessels, Hansie Cronje (Grey College), Ali Bacher, Graham Smith (KES), Jonty Rhodes and Kevin Pietersen (Maritzburg College) are just some of the luminaries that have enriched this festival.
Top Cricket South Africa officials Niels Momberg and John Bailey are keeping a close eye on the abundant talent on display and a host of young cricketers have put their hands up, none more so than King Edward VII School batsman Shane Dadswell who followed his unbeaten 123 against Hilton College on day one with a magnificent 156 off just 98 balls in KES's 244-run demolition of Westville.
Host school, Maritzburg College, are another school who have had a batsman in the money. Jean de Wet followed his unbeaten 113 against Grey College with a half-century against Affies on Monday morning.
Given the 50-over format and a mandatory 16 overs to the hour, the cricket is focused and intense throughout.
(File Photo: Smugshot Photography)
Twitter - @SportswaveAndre @ECRSportswave
Facebook - ECRSportswave
This prestigious festival, sponsored once again by cricket aficionado Jonathan Oppenheimer, features a number of the best schoolboy first XI teams in the country.
Long-time hosts Maritzburg College, plus KZN schools Clifton, DHS, Hilton, Kearsney, Michaelhouse, Northwood and Westville take on Hudson Park (East London), Affies and Pretoria Boys’ High, as well as Johannesburg’s Jeppe, St John’s, St Stithians and King Edward VII School (KES), plus Bloemfontein’s Grey College and Grahamstown’s St Andrews College. A welcome feature is that of the 18th team, the CSA TAP Invitational XI.
If history is a yardstick, a number of the cricketers taking part in the 56th edition of this cricketing landmark are destined for higher honours post-school. AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis (Affies), Hashim Amla, Barry Richards, Lance Klusener (DHS), Kepler Wessels, Hansie Cronje (Grey College), Ali Bacher, Graham Smith (KES), Jonty Rhodes and Kevin Pietersen (Maritzburg College) are just some of the luminaries that have enriched this festival.
Top Cricket South Africa officials Niels Momberg and John Bailey are keeping a close eye on the abundant talent on display and a host of young cricketers have put their hands up, none more so than King Edward VII School batsman Shane Dadswell who followed his unbeaten 123 against Hilton College on day one with a magnificent 156 off just 98 balls in KES's 244-run demolition of Westville.
Host school, Maritzburg College, are another school who have had a batsman in the money. Jean de Wet followed his unbeaten 113 against Grey College with a half-century against Affies on Monday morning.
Given the 50-over format and a mandatory 16 overs to the hour, the cricket is focused and intense throughout.
(File Photo: Smugshot Photography)
Twitter - @SportswaveAndre @ECRSportswave
Facebook - ECRSportswave