2018 National Club Championship: stars to watch

National Club Championship stars to watch

Keep an eye out for big performances from these players during the 2018 National Club Championship in Pretoria this month.

Zakhele Qwabe

Zakhele Qwabe (Wellington Cricket Club): Largely overshadowed at franchise level by the promising Mthiwekhaya Nabe of late, the right-arm medium-pacer will be determined to show his Cape Cobras career isn’t necessarily over yet, by putting in a string of strong showings in Pretoria.

Tony de Zorsi

Tony de Zorzi (University of Pretoria Cricket Club): Captain of South Africa at the 2015 Under-19 World Cup and more recently tasked with opening the batting for the Titans in the absence of Test cricketers Aiden Markram and Dean Elgar, the talented left-hander should be the mainstay of the Tuks batting order.

Janneman Malan

Janneman Malan (North-West University Cricket Club): The younger brother of Cape Cobras and South African A star Pieter Malan, the 22-year-old right-hander played some franchise cricket for the Lions this season – and is tipped to match, if not better, the success of his older sibling.

Grant Mokoena

Grant Mokoena (Yorkshire Cricket Club): With a full season for the Knights – at first-class, List A and T20 level – drawn to a close, and with former Proteas batsman Loots Bosman by his side, the hard-hitting right-hander can inspire his community club against the university clubs in particular.

Calvin Savage

Calvin Savage (Crusaders Cricket Club): The recent recipient of a maiden first-class century for the Dolphins in the Sunfoil Series and a telling five-wicket haul for KwaZulu-Natal in the Sunfoil 3-Day Cup final, the dynamic all-rounder will be key to the Durban-based outfit’s campaign.

Bamanye Xenxe

Bamanye Xenxe (University of Fort Hare Cricket Club): A key part of the Eastern Cape unit’s win over Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Cricket Club (Madibaz) in the regional play-off, the right-arm seamer will benefit entirely from having former Proteas fast bowler Mfuneko Ngam as a coach at the tournament.