North West cricketers display talent at academy week

North West Cricket hosted their annual academy week from 25 to 29 June, when six teams battled it out at various cricket grounds around Potchefstroom. The teams that participated were North West u.19, North West Academy, Free State Academy, Northern Cape Academy, KZN Academy and the NWU first-years’ team. The teams played 50-over format cricket on days 1–3 and 20-over cricket on days four and five. This week gave all the teams a chance to look at the squad of players at their disposal and gave the players game time in the pre-season build-up. Months of cricket lie ahead and this academy week was a good opportunity for the players to stake their claim for the coming season.
North West Academy showed their class throughout with a number of players putting their hands up. The all-rounder, Jon Hinrichsen, picked up 3/23 against Free State Academy to help his side to a comfortable four-wicket victory. Ruan Haasbroek also scored an invaluable 85 to further cement his status as one of North West’s top young batsmen.
Haasbroek also added another half-century (51) against the NWU first-years’ team in a losing effort.
NWU first-years’ batsman, Ryan van Tonder hit a well-composed 72 while the former Volkie, W.L. Fourie picked up 4/40 for a surprise win against the North West Academy. Bradley Lynch was another NWU batsman who performed in the T20 format on days four and five with some aggressive batting, picking up scores of 70, 50 and 38.
There was little joy for the young North West u.19 squad, however. They had their mettle tested in the opening matches. One bright spark was Odirile Modimokoane who picked up five wickets at an average of 21,8.
KZN Academy’s Bradley Porteous was in a class of his own as he hit the most runs in the 50-over format with 165 and an average of 82,5 to boot. Peet du Plessis of Free State Academy was the pick of the bowlers with nine wickets at an average of 9,3 and an economy rate of 3,23.

Photos: Wouter Pienaar