Girls and Boys U16 Weeks show the future is bright

The 2025 Cricket South Africa U/16 Girls National Week Tournament brought together the young talents in cricket. Over the course of the tournament, teams battled fiercely, showing-off their abilities and striving for greatness.

In the Gold Group, Tuskers emerged as champions, demonstrating consistency and resilience throughout the tournament. SWD Badgers put up an impressive fight, securing second place with commendable performances and Border Linyathi clinched the third position, displaying competitive spirit in every match.

Western Province topped the Platinum Group with a stellar performance. Central Gauteng Lions finished strong, proving to be worthy contenders throughout. Dolphins secured third place, rounding out a competitive top tier. Titans & EP retained their Platinum Group status, ensuring continued participation at this level.

The standout performer of the tournament in the Gold Group was Jeze Campher (SWD), who was honoured in multiple categories.

Campher was announced Batter of the Week, she excelled with an impressive tally of 206 runs across six innings, including a top score of 73 not out.

She was also Bowler of the Week, making her mark with the ball, taking 16 wickets in 25.5 overs, with a best performance of 3/7.

Campher earned her title of All-rounder of the Week for contributions both with the bat and the ball.

Her outstanding all-around performance rightfully earned her the overall Olayer of the Tournament award.

In the Platinum Group, Miya Lalor stood out as a crucial player. She was named Batter of the Week. She scored 146 runs in six innings, with a highest score of 46.

Laylor’s contributions also earned her recognition as All-rounder of the Week.

Her consistent performances secured her the title of Player of the Tournament in the Platinum Group.

Anelisa Mhlongo from the Dolphins earned Bowler of the Week. She took an impressive 20 wickets in 31 overs, achieving a remarkable best of 6/11.

The 2025 CSA U/16 Girls National Week Tournament highlighted individual brilliance and the essence of teamwork.

The sportsmanship displayed by the players was commendable, setting a positive example for future tournaments. Congratulations to all teams and players for their outstanding performances and contributions to a thrilling tournament.

The 2025 Cricket South Africa (CSA) Boys U16 National Week wrapped up in Paarl after five exciting days that highlighted the impressive depth of emerging cricketing talent across South Africa.

Hosted at various venues, the tournament featured remarkable team performances, record-breaking individual feats, and fiercely competitive matches characterized by skill, discipline and resilience.

Batters dominated the week, with several monumental innings setting a high standard for the competition. The standout performance came from Border’s Josh Wilky, who delivered a breathtaking 334 runs off just 174 balls, smashing 35 fours and 18 sixes.

Reflecting on his remarkable innings, Wilky expressed heartfelt gratitude, stating, “I want to start off thanking my Lord Jesus Christ for giving me the gift and talent of cricket.”

His game plan was meticulously crafted, focusing on attacking during the PowerPlay.

“There were only two fielders out on the boundary, so I aimed to go hard up front and then settle into ones and twos, with the occasional boundary”.

His strategy proved effective, as he transitioned into an aggressive mode during the last 10 to 15 overs, capitalizing on the momentum he had built.

Concentration played a significant role in his success. “Sticking to the plan I had from the beginning really helped me”.

The presence of supportive teammates was crucial; they kept him hydrated and focused throughout the innings. Of mention was his No 5 batsman, Amyoli, who provided the stability needed to allow Wilkie to express his game fully.

“My teammates played a big role as they were always supporting every run of mine.”

Looking back at his innings, Wilky expressed satisfaction with his approach, saying, “I don’t think I would change anything.” This confidence reflects his skills and understanding of the game and his ability to execute under pressure.

Wilkie’s extraordinary performance at the U16 National Week Tournament has cemented his status as a rising star in cricket. With a blend of talent, hard work and the unwavering support of his teammates, he has set the bar high for future competitions.

As he continues to develop his game, the cricketing world will undoubtedly be watching closely for what this young talent will achieve next.

His extraordinary effort set Border to a commanding total of 518/7 against Kei, marking the highest score of the tournament and a truly unforgettable display of batting skills.

South Western Districts (SWD) showcased their batting firepower, led by Daniel du Preez with a stellar 174 off 114 balls. He received valuable support from Hanno Swart and Keaton Lambaatjeen, helping SWD post an imposing 414/4.

Easterns also had their moments of dominance, particularly with Anthony Stockigt’s century of 108 and Duan Maree’s consistent run-scoring throughout the week.

Western Province’s Ibraheem Taliep emerged as one of the tournament's most dependable batters, notching a superb century (110) along with multiple match-winning contributions.

Gauteng’s Zuan Joubert and Zizi Mkhize consistently anchored their team’s innings, demonstrating their importance in crucial situations.

Despite the batting-friendly conditions, bowlers still made their mark. Several players achieved remarkable five-wicket hauls, showing-off the skill of both spin and seam bowlers.

Notable performances included Oliver Whitaker (5/24) for Eastern Province, Christiano Moffat (6/14) for Easterns and Benjamin Kazandjis (5/25) for Mpumalanga, each delivering decisive spells that significantly impacted their matches.

All-round performances were a highlight of the week as well, with players like Corbin Tidbury, Avethandwa Manyongo, AW van der Merwe and Rulo van der Merwe contributing effectively with both bat and ball across multiple fixtures.

Several unions asserted their dominance with clean sweeps. Border, SWD, Easterns, Gauteng and KZN Inland all recorded commanding wins by substantial margins, reflecting a well-balanced squad depth.

Matches affected by Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) rules added an extra layer of tactical nuance, as teams demonstrated maturity in managing revised targets and handling pressure situations.

The competitive spirit of the week was further emphasized by several nail-biting finishes, such as North West’s narrow two-wicket victory over Border and KZN Coastal’s dramatic one-wicket win against North West on the final day.

Beyond the outcomes, the CSA Boys U16 Week once again served its vital role as a developmental platform. The tournament provided young cricketers with invaluable exposure to high-intensity, multi-day competition.

With performances of such caliber, the next generation of players is poised to continue the tradition of excellence in the sport.

Josh Wilky.