Kwa-Thema – The Ekurhuleni schools cricket season has started, and team Kwa-Thema (comprising players from various schools) faced Norkem Park High School in their first game on Wednesday at the Prince Thethe Oval at the Kwa-Thema Sports Complex.
Kwa-Thema batted first and scored 282 runs in their allotted 20 overs.
Sphokuhle Masilela was the game’s star, scoring 122 runs, while Mpumelelo Mashiloane scored 50.
Kwa-Thema bowled out Norkem Park for 37 runs.
The winner will play in the Gauteng Schools Cricket League after September, and the winners thereof will represent Gauteng in the South African Schools Cricket tourney.
Kwa-Thema coach Mandla Nkosi said they couldn’t participate in the Gauteng Schools Cricket last year because they lost out on the point system.
“We didn’t lose any games last season but shared points with several teams as we couldn’t play due to wet weather. Therefore, Benoni represented the region because they were ahead on points,” he said.
Nkosi said they plan to win other games in the tourney.
“I am happy with our win because it shows we are hungry for this.
“We were ready for the tournament,” he said.
Nkosi said they still needed more girls to join the cricket team and emphasised the importance of parents coming to the complex to support their children in home games.
“The players will gain more confidence when seeing their parents at the games, which can help us a great deal to win,” he said.
Nkosi concluded by saying club cricket would soon resume and be played on the weekends.
