The six teams who will battle it out for glory are King Edward VII School (Kes), Ho?rskool Menlo Park, Woodridge College, Wynberg Boys High School, Northern Cape High School and Maritzburg College.

 

Former Northern Cape High School star and Chevrolet Diamond Eagles batsman, Reeza Hendricks said: "Good Luck to Northern Cape High School. This is Pro20 cricket, anything can happen, stick to the basics but more importantly enjoy every moment."

 

Schools cricket is about the pride and honour of playing for the badge, and where the dreams of representing your country gather momentum. Nashua Cape Cobras and former SA U19 player, Richard Levi, says he used his days at Wynberg Boys High School as a platform to plant his dreams, and has encouraged the new crop to use the competition in the same light.

 

 "It was always a great privilege and experience to play for Wynberg Boys High School. With the school having such a heavy cricketing tradition, I always knew that each game that I played was a seed being planted with the hope of it blossoming into a plant one day. Wynberg is known for its attacking cricket which will come in handy in the Pro20 format. All of the best to the First XI, you are role models for all the younger scholars, keep doing what you have been doing throughout the competition and enjoy your cricket to the fullest."   

 

Chevrolet Warriors’ explosive batsman, Colin Ingram, stole the show during the recent Standard Bank Pro20 Series and hopes his Woodridge College “mates” can follow in similar fashion and make the school proud. Ingram matriculated in 2003, a year he capped off by captaining the SA Schools side at the Coca Cola Khaya Majola Under-19 Week in KwaZulu-Natal.

 

" I have very fond memories of playing cricket at Woodridge College. It is a small and close knit school with a jovial spirit and never-die attitude. We are prized as one of the stronger cricketing schools in the Eastern Cape and it is great to see the young guys carrying on with that tradition. I am extremely excited that they have made it into the Finals and hopefully they can do the Warriors proud."

 

Hoërskool Menlo Park’s motto is Excelsa Petamus, meaning We Strive For the High Values, Boland batsman, Uwe Birkenstock captained Menlo Park for three years and has urged the current captain to lead his troops according to the high values they are taught.

 

“It was a great honour to captain and to play for Hoërskool Menlo Park. The stepping stone that the school gives to young players to reach the next level is a compliment to both coaches and management. Being captain comes with its privileges and challenges so i hope the current captain will lead by example. I’m very proud of them for getting so far in the competition and good luck and all of the best. Excelsa Petamus!”

 

Jonty Rhodes is perhaps one of the most talented cricketers to school at Maritzburg College. Rhodes captained the First XI from 1986, in his first year of open cricket, to 1987. He holds the school record of 1384 runs in 21 innings and has left a inspiring legacy for the young cricketers following in his steps.

 

"Playing for Maritzburg College always came with a lot of pride and honour and it is an experience I always hold dear to me. I hope the boys keep up the key values of honesty, integrity, courage, self-discipline, commitment and respect that are encouraged at the school. Other than that i hope they keep the College flag sky high on the field and play the game with the same kind of spirit that spurred me on when i was part of the First XI." 

 

The King Edward VII School received wise words from bizhub Highveld Lions player, Richard Cameron: "Some of my fondest cricketing memories were made at KES and I learnt a lot about my cricket there. It's always wise to remember where you come from, KES has a proud culture and heritage so take that with you where ever you go. Keep the KES and Gauteng flag flying high at the competition but do not forget, it’s only a game so go out there and enjoy it."

 

The top six schools will battle it out in the pool phases on Saturday, with the top two teams in the respective pools playing for the R100 000 prize money in the final on Sunday afternoon. Pay channel, SuperSport, will be providing extensive television coverage and live streaming on their website, www.supersport.com, while both Standard Bank and CSA will be keeping the fans up to date on Facebook and Twitter.

 

Standard Bank Pro20 Challenge Final

High Performance Centre, 27-28 March 2010

Morning Matches start at 09H00 and finish at 12H00. Afternoon Matches start at 14H30 and finish at 17H30

ENDS