Rising school cricketing talents Jason Niemand and Akhona Mnyaka received a massive nod to their growing reputations after they were included in the Border semi-professional team for their CSA One-Day Cup match against South Western Districts at Buffalo Park on Sunday.
Niemand and Mnyaka, who are in matric and Grade 11 respectively at Hudson Park High School, turned out for the South African U19 team in the recent Tri-series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe earlier this year.
Their superb school, Coke Week and Cubs Week form has clearly not gone unnoticed and they will now have the opportunity to impress at senior level with their possible debuts on Sunday.
“We have included them in the squad for this weekend’s one-day,” said Border coach Frank Plaatjes.
“They have been on our radar for a while and we are looking to phase them in to our system now.
“It is a fantastic opportunity for them. They are quality players and I believe that they can go very far in their cricketing careers.”
First, however, Border will take on SWD in their Sunfoil 3-Day Cup match which gets under way at Buffalo Park this morning.
The team will have to deal with the sudden retirement of star batsman Martin Walters, who has left a big whole in the team after his last match against Western Province this past weekend.
“It is a big blow, especially at this stage of the season, but we wish him all the best for the future,” said Plaatjes.
Mkululi Calana is also out of the team with an injury, and the team are still waiting on the availability of Jerry Nqolo, but Thandolwethu Mnyaka makes a return to the fold after missing last week’s game due to a family bereavement.
“Calana is out with a shoulder injury, so we have lost two key batters, which will make things quite tough, but I have full confidence in the guys who will be stepping in and expect them to do well,” said Plaatjes.
This is Border’s second last three-day match of the season and coming off a loss to WP and sitting in the bottom half of the table, the team will want to put in a top performance to make amends and finish the season strong.
It will also be the team’s final matches of the 2016-17 season at Buffalo Park and they will want a big win to end off on.
“After the three-day disappointment last week we had a long chat and the guys responded well,” said Plaatjes.
“They want to end the season off well and we will be playing positive cricket and going all out for the win.”
Today’s match gets under way at 10am, while Sunday’s one-dayer will start at 9.30am.
Hudson talents in the frame for Border debuts
Niemand and Mnyaka, who are in matric and Grade 11 respectively at Hudson Park High School, turned out for the South African U19 team in the recent Tri-series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe earlier this year.
Their superb school, Coke Week and Cubs Week form has clearly not gone unnoticed and they will now have the opportunity to impress at senior level with their possible debuts on Sunday.
“We have included them in the squad for this weekend’s one-day,” said Border coach Frank Plaatjes.
“They have been on our radar for a while and we are looking to phase them in to our system now.
“It is a fantastic opportunity for them. They are quality players and I believe that they can go very far in their cricketing careers.”
First, however, Border will take on SWD in their Sunfoil 3-Day Cup match which gets under way at Buffalo Park this morning.
The team will have to deal with the sudden retirement of star batsman Martin Walters, who has left a big whole in the team after his last match against Western Province this past weekend.
“It is a big blow, especially at this stage of the season, but we wish him all the best for the future,” said Plaatjes.
Mkululi Calana is also out of the team with an injury, and the team are still waiting on the availability of Jerry Nqolo, but Thandolwethu Mnyaka makes a return to the fold after missing last week’s game due to a family bereavement.
“Calana is out with a shoulder injury, so we have lost two key batters, which will make things quite tough, but I have full confidence in the guys who will be stepping in and expect them to do well,” said Plaatjes.
This is Border’s second last three-day match of the season and coming off a loss to WP and sitting in the bottom half of the table, the team will want to put in a top performance to make amends and finish the season strong.
It will also be the team’s final matches of the 2016-17 season at Buffalo Park and they will want a big win to end off on.
“After the three-day disappointment last week we had a long chat and the guys responded well,” said Plaatjes.
“They want to end the season off well and we will be playing positive cricket and going all out for the win.”
Today’s match gets under way at 10am, while Sunday’s one-dayer will start at 9.30am.
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