We, at Club Cricket SA, name our Team of the Tournament, after the recently-concluded inaugural Multiply T20 Community Cup in Pretoria…
1. Riaan Minnie (Crusaders Cricket Club)
Runs: 263, Strike-rate: 136, Highest score: 87
The hard-hitting opener was named the Batsman of the Tournament on the back of 263 runs in five innings, which included three half-centuries – and the weekend’s highest score of 87 not out against Bohemian Cricket Club.
2. Matthew Smit (Jeppe Quondam Cricket Club)
Runs: 150, Strike-rate: 109, Highest score: 59, Wickets: 8, Economy rate: 4.82, Best bowling: 3/15
The in-form left-handed batsman and right-arm spinner continued his prolific season by scoring the tournament’s third-most runs – and took the fourth-most wickets.
3. Gareth Oliver (Jeppe Quondam Cricket Club, captain)
Runs: 181, Strike-rate: 120, Highest score: 49, Wickets: 8, Economy rate: 4.46, Best bowling: 4/13
The talented all-rounder scored 181 runs in five innings, while his impressive left-arm spin brought eight wickets – and yielded the Player of the Tournament award for the title-winning captain.
4. Jason Niemand (Bohemian Cricket Club)
Runs: 127, Strike-rate: 126, Highest score: 68
The free-flowing youngster was particularly impressive during a fine half-century Burma Lads Cricket Club, where the full array of skills that earned him a berth in the South Africa Under-19 squad were on display.
5. Nicholas Smit (Jeppe Quondam Cricket Club)
Runs: 111, Strike-rate: 122, Highest score: 51*, Wickets: 7, Economy rate: 5.88, Best bowling: 3/16
The older brother of the aforementioned Matthew Smit, spinning all-rounder Smit finished in the top eight of the tournament’s wicket-takers and run-scorers – and will benefit by playing cricket in the United Kingdom during the South African summer.
6. Michael Loubser (Brackenfell Cricket Club)
Runs: 136, Strike-rate: 155, Highest score: 57
The Western Cape club’s campaign was disappointing, amounting to a mere two wins in five attempts. The hard-hitting left-hander gathered some consolation by hitting the tournament’s most sixes – nine.
Runs: 136, Strike-rate: 155, Highest score: 57
7. Zakir Kathrada (Burma Lads Cricket Club, wicketkeeper)
Runs: 72, Strike-rate: 97, Highest score: 46
Arguably the best wicketkeeper-batsman during the three-day event, the dynamic right-hander also delivered a few handy runs at crucial junctures. As an experienced member of the squad, he was key in mentoring the youngsters.
8. Zakhele Qwabe (Brackenfell Cricket Club)
Wickets: 8, Economy rate: 6.16, Best bowling: 4/37
Part of the Cape Cobras’ Momentum One Day Cup campaign less than a month ago, the right-arm seamer returned to club level to finish as the tournament’s joint second-highest wicket-taker.
9. Nicholas Hewer (Crusaders Cricket Club)
Wickets: 9, Economy rate: 6.27, Best bowling: 3/11
The seasoned veteran spearheaded the Durban-based outfit’s seam attack again – and ended as the tournament’s joint top wicket-taker with Bohemian Cricket Club’s Keegan Allen.
10. Keegan Allen (Bohemian Cricket Club)
Wickets: 9, Economy rate: 4.44, Best bowling: 2/5
The burgeoning righ-arm seamer topped the wicket-taking stakes alongside Hewer, who also snared nine scalps. Superior strike and ecomony rates, however, secured Allen the Bowler of the Tournament accolade.
11. Jason Kumm (Bohemian Cricket Club)
Wickets: 8, Economy rate: 4.19, Best bowling: 4/15
Stalwart Kumm celebrated consecutive four-wicket hauls on the second day of the competition, which saw the East London club bounce back from twin defeats on the opening day – and ultimately finish third.