Kayven Hills stamped his authority as one of Eastern Storm’s rising stars at the Cricket South Africa U13 Regional Week in December, producing fearless, all-round performances against the country’s best young cricketers.

Playing on home soil during the tournament hosted by Eastern Cricket Union, the Laerskool Rynfield alumnus showed composure, confidence, and match awareness well beyond his 13 years.

“It was a good tournament. I’m proud of the boys. We performed well. I’m proud of what we’ve become as a team. From where we were to where we are now, there’s been quite a huge improvement,” he said.

Hills was a key weapon in coach Thapelo Ditle’s setup, delivering telling contributions with both bat and ball, while also making his presence felt in the field with crucial catches. His ability to influence games across all departments underlined his value to the Eastern Storm side.

“I performed quite well. I scored a couple of runs with the bat. I bat either at five or six. It was an all-round performance from my side. I contributed with both bat and ball, and I also put my body on the line in the field, making a few valuable catches.”

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Reflecting on his role as an all-rounder, where, among others, he has to stabilise or accelerate innings and bowl crucial overs to support specialist bowlers, the 13-year-old said calmness and composure are vital.

“It’s important to keep your composure when batting in the middle, especially when the top-order hasn’t built any meaningful partnerships. Calmness is one of the most important things to have, especially in pressure situations,” said Hills.

Hills’ key takeaway from the CSA tournament was respect, saying, “Coach Thapelo taught us that we must respect and support each other. If a player drops a catch, don’t put him down. Build them up because that builds character.”

The high-level competition proved a major eye-opener for the talented all-rounder, who said the week offered a clear glimpse of the demands of elite cricket.

Energised by the experience, Hills has now set his sights firmly on a professional career as he continues his journey through the ranks.

“The tournament has opened doors for us. It was a big opportunity to showcase our talent. I will continue grinding because hard work is the most important thing to becoming successful.”

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