North West Cricket hosted the inaugural u.15 North West School leagues’ T20 tournament at Senwes Park, Potchefstroom from 26 – 28 August 2016. Four teams and 52 cricket players participated in the tournament. The four teams were the Western Warriors, NTT Racers, Seeff Thunderbolts and Senter 360 Strikers.

The four main sponsors of the tournament were Elgro River Lodge (accommodation), Fontein Borans, NTT VW – Potchefstroom, Seeff Potchefstroom and Senter 360. It is due to their support that the tournament was possible.

The three- day tournament started on Friday, 26th August 2016 and, for most of the players, it was their first cricket match at Senwes Park. The players who participated were selected from the various North West high schools from the four districts.

Hosting the tournament also assisted North West Cricket in its trial processes. It gave players additional matches and NW provincial u.15 age group selectors a chance to see the players in match situations.

More than that, it helped the players and parents build friendships outside their school boundaries and rivalries and introduced the NW Dragons culture to the school players, coaches and parents.
The talent on display over the weekend was great and gave selectors of the NW Provincial u.15 age group many pleasant headaches with regards to the selection process.

Players like Van Zyl Smit showcased why he is arguably one of the best u.15 players in the province, as he stood head and shoulders above the rest with consistent batting performances and captaincy.

Smit scored four half-centuries in four innings that included 32 fours and ended on a total of 269 runs. To top that off an average of 134.50 and strike rate of 131.86 led the Western Warriors to the finals unbeaten. He also didn’t disappoint in the final match scoring 82* runs off 56 balls as his team won the inaugural u.15 NSL T20 Tournament for 2016.

Handré de Villiers was the pick of the bowlers at the tournament, returning with a total of nine wickets for seventy-nine runs, a strike rate of 8.89 and economy of 5.70. De Villiers’s best bowling figures were 5/4 in 3.2 overs against NTT Racers.

“What an amazing weekend of NSL u.15 T20 cricket at Senwes Park! Well done to the Western Warriors on winning the inaugural tournament. Massive thanks to the other teams and sponsors Z NTT Racers, Senter360 Strikers, Seeff Thunderbolts and Elgro River Lodge. What a privilege to play a part in the development of our future stars,” said Heinrich Strydom, CEO of North West Cricket.