Tag: Omphile Ramela

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Kyle Simmonds Crowned Overall Division 1 SACA MVP

The 2025/26 domestic cricket season concludes with Western Province all-rounder Kyle Simmonds named Division 1 Overall SACA MVP. Simmonds earned…

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Liam Alder Named Overall SACA MVP for Domestic Division 2

Following the completion of all domestic fixtures, Liam Alder of the Garden Route Badgers finished at the top of the…

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TWELVE YEARS OF RESEARCH-BASED PLAYER SERVICE

Over the past 12 years, the South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) has cemented its dedication to evidence-based practice through a…

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SACA CALLS ON CSA BOARD TO STAND DOWN

South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) today called on the CSA Board of Directors to stand down following the Notice of 14 October 2020 advising of Government Intervention from the Minister of Sports, Art and Culture (DSAC), Minister Nathi Mthethwa.

The crises that have engulfed the CSA Board of Directors over the past 18 months have culminated in a situation where there is no longer confidence in their ability to govern the organization and provide guidance on resolving many of the crises that remain.  

SACA believes that an interim Board of Directors must be established to stabilize the organization.  This interim Board should include a SACA player’s representative as well as a representative from the remaining stakeholders in the game (sponsors and broadcasters).  Furthermore, the interim Board should appoint an experienced Administrator to assist in the operational work that is required at CSA, ensuring a link between the interim Board and operational staff.

Andrew Breetzke, SACA CEO stated, “Cricket is in an existential crisis, and the intervention of Government will result in the International Cricket Council (ICC) reviewing CSA’s position as an ICC Member, and will furthermore jeopardise the England Tour scheduled for next month.  Players will suffer, development will suffer and the future of the game will be prejudiced.  However, as has been recognised by DSAC and SASCOC, the current Board has no credibility to resolve the crises, and it is clear that the current impasse between Government and CSA will not be resolved until such time as the Board stands down.”

“We therefore implore the CSA Board to stand down and thereby take a decision that will be in the best interests of cricket,” added Breetzke.

“As we have stated previously, CSA is not able to self-correct, and the intervention of Government is further evidence of this.  The current governance structure of CSA must be reviewed, and this has been acknowledged by CSA.  The interim Board must facilitate the implementation of the Nicholson Recommendations through amendments to the MOI, as this will allow for an effective Board of Directors to ultimately take over the responsibility of the governance of the game.  The Fundudzi Forensic Report has identified various failures in governance, failures that have consistently been highlighted by SACA, and this is the opportunity to remedy these for the sake of the game and ensure that experienced personnel are recruited into key executive positions,” concluded Omphile Ramela, SACA President.

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VAN DER DUSSEN FRUSTRATES KNIGHTS WITH ASSISTANCE OF THE RAIN

Rain and Rassie van der Dussen played a central role in helping the bizhub Highveld Lions escape from Kimberley with a draw from their Sunfoil Series round eight encounter against the VKB Knights on Sunday.

The weather meant that only 69 overs were possible on the final day at the Diamond Oval with the visitors reaching 194 for four in their second innings.

Right-hander Van der Dussen struck an unbeaten 64 (116 ball, 9 fours, 1 six) to lock up one end, before rain intervened and repeated what it did on day three when just 46.2 overs were sent down.

The Lions had begun the final day with the odds against them, a poor first-innings batting performance and an innings difference of 283.

Reeza Hendricks (16) fell cheaply, but there were then useful 30s from Stephen Cook (36), Omphile Ramela (36) and Dominic Hendricks (33) that helped frustrate the home side.

It was then the rain that arrived after tea further hampering the Knights as the Lions held on.

The result meant the Central Franchise moved on to 112.56 points on the table, with the bottom-of-the-table Gauteng side moving to 76.82 points. Only two rounds remain in the 2017/18 competition.

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COBRAS END LOSING SEQUENCE WITH WARRIORS DRAW

Jason Smith and Aviwe Mgijima joined the PPC Newlands run fest on the final day of the Sunfoil Series clash between the BuildNat Cape Cobras and the Warriors as the match in Cape Town ended in a high-scoring draw on Sunday.

Smith hit 63 (99 balls, 8 fours, 1 six) and Mgijima made 54 (104 balls, 5 fours) – the pair both playing in the fourth franchise matches of their careers – as the hosts amassed 567/7 in reply to the visitors’ 525/7 declared.

Both totals were the highest against each other, in a match where bat dominated ball and only 14 wickets fell over the course of the four days.

There were three centurions – Colin Ackermann (146), Andrew Puttick (124) and Omphile Ramela (170) – to go along with six half-centurions.

Amongst the bowler, Basheer Walters was the most successful with 2/79, while Simon Harmer took 2/176 from a marathon 69 overs of spin.

The result at least provided some respite for the Cobras, who had lost both previous matches of the season to date. The Capetonians, who had resumed the final day on 374/3, took 2.82 points from the game.

The Warriors secured 4.98 points after one loss and one win from their first two matches.

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RAMELA PUTS SA A IN A COMMANDING POSITION

An unbeaten century by Omphile Ramela put South Africa A in a commanding position before Zimbabwe A fought back by the close of day two of the first four-day Test in Harare on Sunday.

The Cape Cobras Sunfoil Series captain made 101 (224 balls, 9 fours) to take the tourists to 455/6 declared, with the hosts then replying with 107/1 in the 45 overs they faced in reply.

Ramela’s eight career first-class ton was all about patience as it took nearly five and a half hours to amass.

Contrastingly, there was an excellent lower-order blitz by all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius, who fell 11 short of a century after smashing 89 (83 balls, 10 fours, 4 sixes).

Ramela and Pretorius put on 125 for the sixth wicket, with the latter falling to the pick of the bowlers, Shingirai Masakadza (3/83).

The two other wickets to fall in the South African innings on day two were that of Test duo Stiaan van Zyl for 73 (183 balls, 5 fours) and Dane Vilas (1).

When it was time for the South Africans to bowl, the visitors managed just the wicket of Tino Mawoyo (30) in the final hour – the opener dismissed by Dane Piedt (1/23).

Vernon Philander’s return in national colours failed to produce any wickets, but his nine overs came at a cost of just 15. The Proteas’ seamer is playing his first game for his country since sustaining an ankle injury in November.

Zimbabwe’s hero of the day was Brian Chari with his 71 not out (152 balls, 9 fours, 2 sixes) as they closed 348 runs behind.

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RAMELA RELISHING SA A CHANCE

Cape Cobras batsman Omphile Ramela is relishing the opportunity of representing the South Africa A team during their forthcoming assignments in Zimbabwe and Australia.

A group of national hopefuls have been in Pretoria over the past few days preparing for their tours to both countries.

The SA A team will play a two-match, four-day, Test Series against Zimbabwe A in Harare from 9-18 July 2016, before they head out to Australia for two four-day Tests and a triangular series that also involves India A.

“I think it’s a stepping stone to trying to get closer to playing for the Proteas,” Ramela said. “I think these tours are important and if one performs, it adds another feather to your cap and gets you closer to playing for the national team. That’s why everyone is here and what they are hoping for.”

Ramela is part of a strong batting contingent named for both trips, alongside others like captain Stephen Cook, Qaasim Adams, Heino Kuhn and Stiaan van Zyl, to name a few.

He said he was hoping to learn from the experience.

“It’s about imparting knowledge to other players, but it’s also about learning from them,” the 28-year-old said. “You can learn from each and I think it’s important to learn from each other.

“Even myself, I’m still growing as a player, but I’ll definitely be trying to help where I can and where my advice will be needed.”

Ramela, who captained the Cobras in the Sunfoil Series last season, recorded 592 runs at an average of 42.28. He also scored two hundreds and two 50s and is hoping to build on that form in 2016/17, starting with the A tours for his country.

He added: “I think the preparation more or less stays the same, you just try and improve on your weaknesses and really make sure your strengths always shine.

“So there’s nothing more different, but I think you really just try and tighten up your game and get better with the focus of trying to excel in the domestic season as well.”

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PARNELL DELAYS TITANS TITLE BID

Wayne Parnell followed up his 12 wickets in the previous game with another five on the opening day of the Sunfoil Series clash between the Cape Cobras and The Unlimited Titans in Paarl on Thursday.

The Proteas’ left-arm quick bagged 5/62 as the log-leaders were shot out for just 168 at Boland Park.

Parnell, whose 12/105 set up victory against the Sunfoil Dolphins last weekend, was again in lethal form as he easily ran through the batting of the visitors. He was then one of the unbeaten batsmen at the close, which the home side reached on 172/5, thanks mainly to captain Omphile Ramela’s 84 not out (145 balls, 16 fours).

That gave them a lead of eight and capped a good day overall. The Cape side had won the toss and chose to bowl first with Parnell dismissing Heino Kuhn for a six-ball duck in the second over – the competition top-scorer still left stranded on 999 runs this season.

Dane Paterson (3/36) also helped Parnell dismantle the Titans, who had captain Henry Davids to thank for even getting any sort of meaningful total after he made 74 (96 balls, 8 fours, 1 six).

Davids was the second last wicket to fall with his side rolled over in 43 overs.

The Cobras were in early trouble on 10/2 thanks to twin Ethy Mbhalati (2/43) strikes, but recovered thanks to a 95-run fifth wicket stand between Ramela and Cebo Tshiki (47), the latter playing in just his second franchise game.

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HENDRICKS AND COOK LEAD LIONS VICORTY

Centuries from Dominic Hendricks and opener Stephen Cook underpinned an innings-and-78-run victory for Lions over Cape Cobras in Potchefstroom.

Having chosen to bat, Lions lost Rassie van der Dussen early, but Stephen Cook and Hendricks combined well in a 261-run partnership to propel their side. Cook and Hendricks fell for 150 and 160 respectively, but there was no respite for Cobras. Yassar Cook, wicketkeeper-batsman Nicky van den Bergh, and Dwaine Pretorious all stroked fifties as Lions stacked up 580, before declaring the innings. As it turned out, they did not have to bat again.

The Cobras, who had managed only 258 in their first dig, fared worse, after being asked to follow on. Left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin finished with a match haul of six wickets to clean up the lower order. Fast bowler Hardus Viljoen, who made light work of the top order, claimed figures of 4 for 42 to dismiss Cobras for 244.

Omphile Ramela Stiaan van Zyl, Wayne Parnell all had starts, but failed to push on. Parnell had a start in the first innings as well, which he converted to 62 before being pinned lbw by pacer Pumelela Matshikwe. Andrew Puttick scored 73 at the top of the order, but the middle order fell away. Lions ultimately walked away with 19.1 points to narrow the gap at the top of the table. Cobras, on the other hand, remained rooted to the bottom half of the table with just a solitary win in six matches.

 

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RAMELA SECURES COBRAS DRAW

Omphile Ramela scored a century as the Cape Cobras batted out the final day of their Sunfoil Series clash against the Sunfoil Dolphins at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead in Durban on Sunday.

The visiting captain, who scored 89 in the first innings, made 107 with his side following on, helping them reach 361 for six before shaking hands with opposite number Khaya Zondo on the stroke of tea.

Only 64 overs were bowled on the final day, with the match seemingly going nowhere on a slow pitch and the Cape side 202 ahead.

It was only Ramela’s seventh career century and first of the season, while both his scores in the match improved on his previous best score of 46 during the current campaign.

He did not do it all by himself though, with the Cobras having good contributions from Justin Ontong (74), Dane Vilas (54) and an unbeaten 53 from 22-year-old Keegan Petersen.

Andile Phehlukwayo (2-37) and Keshav Maharaj (2-130) picked up two wickets apiece – the latter collecting seven in the match from a mammoth 93.2 overs.

Ramela was named man of the match and his Cobras side walked away with 5.2 points compared to the 7.9 for the Dolphins.

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BEHARDIEN PUTS TITANS IN CHARGE

Farhaan Behardien’s brisk half-century guided The Unlimited Titans out of a sticky situation and took them to a 26-run victory over the Cape Cobras in Sunday’s RAM SLAM T20 clash at SuperSport Park.

Behardien smashed an unbeaten 61 from just 31 balls in an innings that stood head and shoulders above any other on the surface, allowing the Titans to post 173 for five.

Its quality became increasingly apparent as the Cobras failed to generate any momentum in their reply, which ultimately finished on 147 for six.

The victory left the Titans second on the table with eight points from three games, but it didn’t always look as though it would come as easily as the final margin suggested.

High on confidence after his heroics at the death against the Warriors in Paarl on Friday, Dane Paterson (3 for 31) grabbed the early wickets of Henry Davids and Grant Mokoena to leave the Titans 22 for two.

Behardien then saw the Titans slip to 74 for four just moments after he came to the crease, with Justin Ontong snuffing out a promising stand between Quinton de Kock (34) and Graeme van Buuren (27) when he removed both batsmen in the space of four deliveries.

Behardien put the innings back on track in a 52-run stand with Qaasim Adams (27 off 19 balls), and then made sure that it finished with a bang by taking 26 from the last two overs along with Albie Morkel.

The Titans opened the bowling with Graeme van Buuren in a move that paid off – the spinner allowed just two runs in his opening over and finished with none for 15 in four overs – but a key moment came when Chris Morris won his tussle with Richard Levi.

After being hit for four and then six by Levi, Morris had the last laugh when he ended the second over by having him caught.

Although Andrew Puttick (27) and Keegan Petersen (27) kept the innings ticking over, they weren’t able to inject the level of urgency required before Puttick was trapped lbw by Ruben Claassen.

Fresh from his exploits with Assupol TUKS in the Red Bull Campus Cricket World Finals, the 22-year-old off-spinner went on to grab the wicket of top-scorer Omphile Ramela (38) and finish with figures of 2 for 34 on his franchise debut.

With Albie Morkel and Morris also finishing with two wickets apiece and Van Buuren restricting the Cobras, the visitors’ chase petered out to leave them with just one win from their three matches to date.

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PARNELL SETS COBRAS UP FOR BONUS POINT WIN

Wayne Parnell’s four-wicket bag and brisk half-centuries from Stiaan van Zyl and Richard Levi carried the Cape Cobras up to second on the Momentum One-Day Cup table as they beat the VKB Knights with a bonus point at Boland Park.

Parnell returned figures of 4 for 40 from his 10 overs, nipping out two wickets in one over during his first spell, as the Knights were held to 211 for seven after winning the toss and electing to bat.

Recognising that the total was well below par, Levi and Van Zyl chased the bonus point right from the get-go, putting on 118 for the first wicket in under 24 overs before Levi was bowled by Malusi Siboto for 71.

Van Zyl was then aided by an aggressive Omphile Ramela, who stroked 43 from 41 balls, and finished unbeaten on 90 as the Cobras achieved the target in 38.1 overs to win by eight wickets.

The ease with which the batsmen completed the chase proved that there were no demons in the pitch, and showed just how well the Cobras bowlers had gone about their business.

Although the Knights made a reasonable start with Reeza Hendricks (30) and Rudi Second (23) putting on 47 for the first wicket, they were swiftly pegged back by Parnell’s brace – which claimed the scalps of Hendricks and Diego Rosier – and then another double breakthrough from Robin Peterson, who dismissed Second and Patrick Botha in consecutive overs.

That left Obus Pienaar to rebuild the innings with his captain, Werner Coetsee, and although the pair put on 107 for the sixth wicket, they were unable to inject any urgency into the innings as the Cobras bowlers all showed excellent discipline.

Peterson recorded figures of 2 for 28 in his 10 overs and Vernon Philander conceded just 31 runs in his quota, while Parnell grabbed the wickets of Coetsee (51) and Shadley van Schalkwyk in the final over of the innings to leave Pienaar unbeaten on 73.

With the batsmen grabbing the bonus point that the bowlers had offered up, the Cobras joined the Dolphins on nine points after three games, but sit behind them on net run-rate.

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