The first ever u.17 NSL (North West Schools League) T20 tournament saw the cream of North West’s cricketing crop battle it out for the top prize at Senwes Park from 16-18 September 2016.

The big winners, at the end of the day, were the undefeated Seeff Thunderbolts who, under the captaincy of Volkies’ Ruan von Abo and the all-round skills of player of the tournament, Cobus Crowther, were crowned champions after beating the North West Vikings by 18 runs in the final.

The tournament consisted of four teams, the Seeff Thunderbolts, Sihencha Super Kings, North West Vikings and the Senter 360 Strikers. All the  teams were loaded with players from around the province in this IPL-style T20 extravaganza. Some of the star names from Potchefstroom schools  included Marco and Duan Jansen, Vernon Charslund, Von Abo, Crowther, Louis van Schalkwyk, WL Fourie, Reabetswe Mokgoro, Modise Mahlaku and Herman de Jong, to name but a few.

Crowther was the leading  wicket-taker with 10 wickets from his four matches at a strike rate of 9.60, an average of 8.80 and a fantastic economy rate of 5.50. Louis van Schalkwyk was the top run-scorer in the tournament with 153 runs at an average of 51 with a strike rate of 127.50.

The historic first match saw the Senter 360 Strikers pick up a 22-run win against the Sihencha Super Kings.

The star performer for the Strikers was Pierre Botma who scored an unbeaten 35 (17) and also contributed 2/13 with the ball. The Strikers posted 166/6 and then restricted the Super Kings to 144/7. The Super Kings openers Louis van Schalkwyk (36) and Amogelang Dilape (HTS Potchefstroom) were the main contributors with the bat. Dilape scored a vital 51 but it was not enough to steer his side to victory.

The Seeff Thunderbolts got their campaign off to a spectacular      six-wicket win against the Western Warriors as they reached their target of 102 with 9 overs to   spare. Martin Fourie’s unbeaten 33(18) was key to this.

The Seeff Thunderbolts took on the NW Vikings in the   final after three pulsating rounds of matches. Crowther’s 43 from 28 balls was  instrumental to his side’s 140 all out. The Vikings did brilliantly with Vernon Charslund (3/26) and Werner Dames (2/9) being the pick of the bowlers.

The Vikings could only reply with a  modest 122 all out as Anthony Keen    delivered a magical spell with the ball to take 3/22. The Vikings’ main man was Gimmies’ Herman de Jong who smashed 61 from 39 balls with 5 fours and 3 sixes. It was in vain, however, when Keen got his wicket just as it seemed that De Jong would do the unthinkable one-man show for his team.

NW Cricket CEO, Heinrich Strydom, was over the moon regarding the success of the tournament that capped off the final NSL tournament for the  season.

‘It gave some of the top school players the chance to compete in a first-class stadium.

The players also got the opportunity to get coaching from the top North West Dragons players. We also got positive feedback from parents and various schools. One of the great aspects of the tournament is its strength versus strength nature,’ he said.

Teams:

Seeff Thunderbolts’ owner: Abe Pretorius – Potch

NW Vikings owner: Wimpie Moolman – Lichtenburg;

Sihencha Super Kings owner: Stephan Naudé – Rustenburg

Senter 360 Strikers’ owner: Casper Botha – Potch.