SuperSport Schools Plus | Maphaka becomes youngest Protea debutant in T20 Internationals
There were signs that young Kwena Maphaka could be the next big thing to come out of South Africa’s fast bowling structures and now those signs are turning into concrete reality.
The left arm quick recently returned to the West Indies where, just a couple of years ago, he made his debut for South Africa in the u19 Cricket World Cup, at the tender age of 15.
Three years later, Maphaka has become the Proteas’ youngest-ever T20 international debutant at just 18 years and 137 days of age.
In doing so, he broke the record of fellow St Stithians’ old boy, Kagiso Rababa, who debuted at 19 years and 164 days back in 2014 against Australia.
Although he picked up one only wicket in the two matches he played for the Proteas, Maphaka impressed with his pace, clocking as high as 148 km/h on the speed gun on numerous occasions.
In the second T20, he also showed off his big match temperament when he was entrusted to be the bowler at the death and, bowling the 19th over, he conceded only four runs against the renowned West Indies power hitter, Romario Shepherd.
Maphaka has also been retained by the Paarl Royals for next year’s SA 20 competition. He missed out on this year’s event because he was on duty for South Africa in the u19 Cricket World Cup, where he received the accolade of Bowler of the Tournament.
The Proteas are still chasing a T20 win over the West Indies, after beating the islanders 1-0 in a Test series earlier this month.
Tristan Stubbs has been a standout performer for the South African side, coming to the team’s rescue in the first T20 with a memorable 76 from only 42 deliveries, which he followed up with 28 in the second match.
Patrick Kruger, at 29, has made a smooth transition to the international game’s shorter format. He’s displayed his all-round talents, making 44 in the first T20 at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy Ground in Trinidad and Tobago, and then capturing two wickets in the second T20 at the same venue.
Summarised scorecards
1st T20
South Africa 174/7 (Tristan Stubbs 76, Patrick Kruger 44; Matthew Forde 3/27, Shamar Joseph 2/40); West Indies 176/3 (Nicholas Pooran 65*, Shai Hope 51, Alick Athanaze 40; Ottniel Baartman 2/30, Kwena Maphaka 1/25). West Indies won by seven wickets.
2nd T20
West Indies 179/6 (Shai Hope 41, Rovman Powell 35, Sherfane Rutherford 29, Alick Athanaze 28; Lizaad Williams 3/36, Patrick Kruger 2/29); South Africa 149 (Reeza Hendricks 44, Tristan Stubbs 28, Ryan Rickelton 20; Romario Shepherd 3/15, Shamar Joseph 3/31, Akeal Hosein 2/25). West Indies won by 30 runs.
Franco is a sports fanatic from Tzaneen, a small town in Limpopo. Obsessed with both cricket and rugby, he still does the sport at club level when given the chance. Combining the rush of sports with his other passion, writing, gives him the fix any sport-crazy fan needs. In his spare time, he spends quality time with family and friends, preferably around a braaivleis fire.