WATCH: Van Riebeeck Park youngster talks about his 229*
Blaine Kotze (9) has been hand-selected for the Celestial Knights team and has already been fully sponsored by Black Widow.
A nine-year-old Van Riebeeck Park cricketer achieved a strike-rate of 260 when he smashed 229* off just 88 balls during a match for Randburg Raptors’ u-9 team playing in a Sunday league game on February 29.
Speaking about his big hit, Blaine Kotze said: “After the first drinks break, I was on 113 from 39 balls.”
He hit 16 sixes and 24 fours in his unbeaten innings and was there from the first to the last ball of the match.
Blaine says he has his own cricket nets in their backyard. His older cousins taught him how to play when he was only seven.
“I started playing with Aiden and Kade in their nets whenever we had family gatherings. Aiden played cricket in Scotland and England,” Blaine said.
He is positive he will be selected to play for Laerskool Van Riebeeck Park but is not sure for which team, as he is new at the school.
His mother, Wendy, said he achieved a significant milestone at his previous school, St Dunstan’s College, last year.
“He was the first boy in the u-9 team to score 100 not out and in the same year the school turned 100 years.”
According to Blaine’s dad, Werner, his son has already been head-hunted by a competitive high school in the country but was not in the position to disclose which school.
Blaine’s favourite South African cricketer is Quinton de Kock. “He bats well, ‘wickies’ great and he is also the Protea team’s captain.”
Internationally, he’s fond of Virat Kohli.
When asked what type of bowler he liked to face, Blaine said he preferred fast bowlers. “Fast bowlers are so much easier to face, since their balls are already packed with so much power.”
His dad praised Johan ‘Kierie’ Fourie of Kempton Park Cricket Club and executive trainer at Kempton Park Cricket Academy.
“He is a great coach. Blaine was taught the fundamentals of gentleman’s cricket and Johan taught him the aggression and flair of modern T20 cricket. Coupled with video analysis this made Blaine the player he is today.”
Blaine also plays for the Kempton Park Cricket Club and was recently selected for the Celestial Knights, where players are hand-picked to take part in the LPL League.
Sport seems to be something that runs in the family, as Blaine’s sister Kirsten (11) was selected for the Easterns provincial hockey team.
Dad Werner also plays cricket and Blaine explained how they would have contests to see who could score the most runs.
“I’m very far behind,” his dad joked, but then elaborated on Blaine’s cricket performance in general.
