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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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BOKAKO AND BURGER BOWL SA EMERGING TO NARROW VICTORY

Tladi Bokako and Nandre Burger shared six wickets as South Africa Emerging held off a late fightback to secure a 28-run win over Sri Lanka Emerging and go 1-0 up in their two-match four-day series late on day four in Potchefstroom on Sunday.

The pair helped the hosts bowl out the tourists for 302, chasing a victory target of 331 at Senwes Park.

Burger claimed three for 38 in 16 overs and Bokako nabbed three for 70 in 21.1 overs – the away side dismissed in 94.1 overs.

It means the Sri Lankans will now need to win the second match starting later this week in order to earn a share of the series, although they were relatively easy winners in a Triangular One-Day competition that ended a week ago when they beat University Sports South Africa (USSA) in the Final.

Their slow start to this game ultimately proved costly after the hosts amassed 382 in the first innings thanks to Matthew Breetzke, with the reply being an under-par 241.

They then restricted Shukri Conrad’s side to just 189 in the second innings and appeared to be the favourites heading into the final day after reaching stumps on day three at 145 for one.

But the South Africans managed some early blows, particularly the first one that accounted for the set Minod Bhanuka 14 runs into the morning when Bokako had him caught behind by Sinethemba Qeshile for 89 (134 balls, 12 fours).

Captain Charith Asalanka (9) and Ashen Bandara (1) then followed as Bokako again struck, along with Marco Jansen (2/58), who got rid of the former, suddenly leaving the Asians on 173 for four.

Dayyaan Galiem (1/37) tilted things more in the hosts’ favour when he had the other key man, Pathum Nissanka (47), also edging to Qeshile.

And, when Burger trapped Kamindu Mendis (17) and Chamika Karunaratne (10) leg before wicket, the end looked near – Sri Lanka slipping to 214 for seven.

A 58-run eighth-wicket stand between Mohamed Shiraz (49) and Nishan Peiris (25) had helped their side roar back, but when the stand was eventually broken, the fast bowlers wrapped up the tail to give the South Africans a morale-boosting win.

The second and final match of the tour begins in Pretoria from Thursday.

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SA EMERGING READY FOR SRI LANKA 4-DAY SERIES

The South Africa Emerging team head into a two-match four-day series against their Sri Lanka counterparts in Potchefstroom on Thursday, keen to make amends for a disappointing one-day triangular series.

Shukri Conrad’s side has shown glimpses of what they can do through the tour thus far, with some outstanding individual performances from the likes of Janneman Malan and Raynard van Tonder with the bat and Thando Ntini with the ball.

But they have not really clicked as a collective and missed out on the final, won by the tourists against the University Sports South Africa (USSA) team on Sunday.

The hosts will now be looking to make amends against a Sri Lanka side that will be further strengthened by some reinforcements and they are wary of the challenge that awaits them at Senwes Park.

“They will be stronger because they have one or two experienced guys flying in for the series and that will make it tougher for us,” coach Conrad said. “I think this team that they brought here is closer to an ‘A’ side rather than an emerging team.”

Nonetheless, the SA coach says he welcomes the tougher competition. “That is something I am extremely comfortable with because it gives our players a great opportunity to test themselves,” he explained. “And if we don’t past the test, then there are still great learnings for everyone involved.

“I want us to be playing against top opposition and this is as good a chance as our players can ask for. All in all, I have every confidence that we can play a lot better in the series.”

The one-day leg of the tour was played in Pretoria having started in early July and the team will now be looking forward to a change of venue for the first four-dayer.

Conrad continued: “We arrived in Potch on Monday after having the weekend off and we’ve been preparing ourselves well so that we can hit the ground running on Thursday. We want to be competitive in these two games, and like I did in the one-day series, I’ll be hoping to give the entire squad a go in these longer games as well.”

Reflecting on that one-day series where the South Africans managed two wins in six, Conrad said it was a good learning curve for his charges.

“It was hugely disappointing to miss out on the final,” he added. “But that was not what the series was all about, it was also about development.

“We have guys that are working on their games here and we’re trying to take them in a certain direction. Especially on the batting front where we have players we are trying to guide, there’s a certain way we want them to play and to a large extent, there have been some winnings on that front.

“But yes, it is disappointing because you want to be playing in finals but, at the end of the day, we just weren’t good enough to do that.

“In saying that, I’m happy with where the group is at. We’re now moving to a different format and we have to make sure we’re really switched on for this week.”

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