The Hudson Park first XI sealed their progression to the provincial final of the Coca-Cola Schools T20 competition as they crushed Mthatha International School by 135 runs in the Border-Kei final at Hudson Park yesterday.
Hudson, who had defeated all the local sides on the Border to win through to the final, will now play the EP finalists – either Grey High or St Andrews College.
It will then be a massive match between that winner and Hudson to become the Warriors representative at the nationals to be held over the coming school holidays.
This is the fourth 'Warriors' final that Hudson have made and they will be aiming to win it for the first time and represent the Eastern Cape in the Warriors colours at the nationals.
In the match against Mthatha International, Hudson batted first and posted a mammoth 195/1 in their 50 overs.
Both openers, Jason Niemand (52 off 29, 7x4, 1x6) and Athi Mfazwe (48 off 43, 6x4, 1x6) retired, while Sinethemba Qeshile (25no off 23, 2x4) also chipped in.
Axola Ngwana was the only wicket to fall after smashing his way to 46 off 24 balls with four maximums and three boundaries, while Cameron Mackay (8 off 3, 1x6) was unbeaten at the crease at the end.
Mthatha's chase then never got off the ground as they were bowled out for 60 in 15 overs.
All of the Hudson bowlers chipped in, with Mfazwe's 3/17 the pick of the bunch, while Luke Dallas’ 2/0 off two overs was very impressive.
In all it has been another fantastic season for Hudson and they will be aiming to end it on a high.
“We are unbeaten on the Border this year and have been playing some top-class cricket this season,” said Hudson coach Dave Alers.
“We have beaten a lot of good sides comfortably and have been very dominant in most of the games we have played.”
Hudson recently claimed the Algie Cup for an impressive 10th time in the past 13 years, beating Dale College in the final, and have only lost one game all season, against St Andrews at their festival, when four of Hudson’s senior players were at the Cubs Week.
“Our goals this season were to beat the top local sides and win the Algie and Standard Bank T20 competitions which we have done, and lastly we need to qualify for the nationals and all of our goals will have been achieved,” claimed Alers.
The Hudson Park team is laced with 2015 provincial players such as captain Sine Qeshile, Axola Ngwana, Akhona Mnyaka and Athi Mfazwe (Border U19 Coke Week players), Luke Dallas, Jason Niemand, Siphamandla Kreqwe, Zubhair Safrodien (Border U17 players) and Akhanye Rebe and Luvo Ntsewa (Border U15 players) as well as Marc Hein and Cameron Mackay.
Jason Niemand, Axola Ngwana and Siphamandla Kreqwe all made the SA U17 team for the Franchise Cubs Week while Akhona Mnyaka made the Warriors Cubs side.
Hudson has a very rich cricketing history and they are currently playing great cricket and will be hoping to end the season with a right old bang.
“Expectations were very high this year as last year at the National U17 cricket camp six of the 22 players were from Hudson,” said Alers.
“The guys have really stepped up and are playing some superb stuff.”
Hudson show their batting hand
Hudson, who had defeated all the local sides on the Border to win through to the final, will now play the EP finalists – either Grey High or St Andrews College.
It will then be a massive match between that winner and Hudson to become the Warriors representative at the nationals to be held over the coming school holidays.
This is the fourth 'Warriors' final that Hudson have made and they will be aiming to win it for the first time and represent the Eastern Cape in the Warriors colours at the nationals.
In the match against Mthatha International, Hudson batted first and posted a mammoth 195/1 in their 50 overs.
Both openers, Jason Niemand (52 off 29, 7x4, 1x6) and Athi Mfazwe (48 off 43, 6x4, 1x6) retired, while Sinethemba Qeshile (25no off 23, 2x4) also chipped in.
Axola Ngwana was the only wicket to fall after smashing his way to 46 off 24 balls with four maximums and three boundaries, while Cameron Mackay (8 off 3, 1x6) was unbeaten at the crease at the end.
Mthatha's chase then never got off the ground as they were bowled out for 60 in 15 overs.
All of the Hudson bowlers chipped in, with Mfazwe's 3/17 the pick of the bunch, while Luke Dallas’ 2/0 off two overs was very impressive.
In all it has been another fantastic season for Hudson and they will be aiming to end it on a high.
“We are unbeaten on the Border this year and have been playing some top-class cricket this season,” said Hudson coach Dave Alers.
“We have beaten a lot of good sides comfortably and have been very dominant in most of the games we have played.”
Hudson recently claimed the Algie Cup for an impressive 10th time in the past 13 years, beating Dale College in the final, and have only lost one game all season, against St Andrews at their festival, when four of Hudson’s senior players were at the Cubs Week.
“Our goals this season were to beat the top local sides and win the Algie and Standard Bank T20 competitions which we have done, and lastly we need to qualify for the nationals and all of our goals will have been achieved,” claimed Alers.
The Hudson Park team is laced with 2015 provincial players such as captain Sine Qeshile, Axola Ngwana, Akhona Mnyaka and Athi Mfazwe (Border U19 Coke Week players), Luke Dallas, Jason Niemand, Siphamandla Kreqwe, Zubhair Safrodien (Border U17 players) and Akhanye Rebe and Luvo Ntsewa (Border U15 players) as well as Marc Hein and Cameron Mackay.
Jason Niemand, Axola Ngwana and Siphamandla Kreqwe all made the SA U17 team for the Franchise Cubs Week while Akhona Mnyaka made the Warriors Cubs side.
Hudson has a very rich cricketing history and they are currently playing great cricket and will be hoping to end the season with a right old bang.
“Expectations were very high this year as last year at the National U17 cricket camp six of the 22 players were from Hudson,” said Alers.
“The guys have really stepped up and are playing some superb stuff.”
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