A new champion will be crowned at Cricket South Africa's Cubs Week (for Under-19 players), which is being played in Stellenbosch after 2024 winners, the Northern Champions, were comprehensively outplayed by the Western Legends on Sunday, going down by seven wickets. With the win on the Coetzenberg Oval, the Legends also maintained their unbeaten record.
Leftarm spin bowler Nathan Rossouw removed five batsmen from the crease for only 29 runs, which led to the Champions being bowled out for a mediocre 150 runs. Divan de Villiers (43) was the only batsman to provide notable resistance.
Meyer Pretorius (2/20) and Kamohelo Mokoena (2/29) were also among the wickets.
Legends opening batsmen, Christian Kind (54) and Naudé Botha (30) laid the foundation for their side's victory with an 80-run partnership.
Ruben Maree (30*) and Dakalo Leketa (22*) then combined for an unbroken 31 for the fourth wicket to see the Legends to victory. On Monday, they'll face the United States of America in the semi-finals.
The home side, the Southern Superstars, added another win to their clean record, scoring a comfortable seven-wicket victory over the Eastern Warriors, which was highlighted by Daniel Bosman (75*) and Enathi Kitshini (38*), who shared an unbeaten partnership of 111 runs for the fourth wicket.
Warriors posted a respectable total of 256/6 in their 50 overs, thanks to half-centuries by Cayden Wilson (75*), Randy Syce (58) and Kian Cambier (50).
Superstars' reward is a semi-final showdown with the Coastal Conquerors on Monday.
Conquerors were on fire on the third day of competition, with Semal Pillay (110) recording a century to help his side tally a mammoth 335/7 in their allotted overs. He and Ben Hockley (86) got stuck into Namibia's bowlers from the start, sharing a big 158-run partnership for the first wicket.
Bandile Mbatha delivered another strong all-round performance for the Conquerors, striking an unbeaten half-century (62*), which he followed up with a five-wicket haul for only 38 runs.
USA secured their semi-final place with a narrow five-run victory over the Central Gladiators.
Scorecards
Northern Champions 150 (Divan de Villiers 43, Extras 41; Nathan Rossouw 5/29, Meyer Pretorius 2/20, Kamohelo Mokoena 2/29); Western Legends 151/3 (Christian Kind 54, Ruben Maree 30*, Naudé Botha 30, Dakalo Leketa 22*; Charl Prinsloo 2/28). Western Legends won by seven wickets.
Coastal Conquerors 335/7 (Semal Pillay 110, Ben Hockly 86, Bandile Mbatha 62*, Extras 26, Ross Coetzee 22; Dan Brassell 3/71, Waldo Smith 2/55); Namibia 203 (Liam Basson 70, Zacheo van Vuuren 25, Peter Blignaut 23; Bandile Mbatha 5/38, Rowan Rajah 2/28). Coastal Conquerors won by 132 runs.
Eastern Warriors 256/6 (Cayden Wilson 75*, Randy Syce 58, Kian Cambier 50, Esa Gangat 34*; Divan Linde 2/37); Southern Superstars 259/3 (Daniel Bosman 75*, Johan Wege 48, Adnaan Lagadien 44, Enathi Kitshini 38*, Beni Hansen 32, Extras 22; Cayden Wilson 2/33). Southern Superstars won by seven wickets.
USA 243/9 (Dharshan Haribabu 57, Arjun Mahesh 48, Shiv Shani 43, Rahul Basu 29, Extras 23; Esosa Aihevba 4/53, Tahseen Hanslo 3/32); Central Gladiators 238 (Jason Rowles 65, Siyabulele Radebe 43, Joe MacRobert 34, Kamogelo Phiri 32; Shiv Shani 4/12, Rahul Basu 2/34). USA won by five runs.
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