Selborne U13A edge Queen’s in well-fought Komani encounters

Strong batting and disciplined bowling give Selborne the edge

The Parry Field at Queen’s College hosted two exciting junior cricket encounters this past weekend as Selborne U13A travelled to Komani to face Queen’s Junior U13A in back-to-back fixtures — a T20 clash on Friday and a 50-over match on Saturday.

The visitors from East London came out on top in both formats, combining solid batting depth with disciplined bowling to secure a 31-run win in the T20 and a 42-run win in the 50-over match.

Friday, 7 November – T20 Match (Selborne won by 31 runs)

Selborne U13A batted first after winning the toss and set a competitive total of 140 all out in 20 overs.

Top performer Luke Lategan led from the front with a fluent 60 off 41 balls, striking 12 boundaries at a brisk strike rate of 146.3. He was supported by Jake Weber (29 off 29) and Siyo Gxobole (16 off 17), helping their side post a defendable total.

Queen’s Junior U13A bowled with purpose, with Christiaan Viljoen starring in an exceptional spell of 4/13 in 3.5 overs, backed up by Hugh Hansen (2/18) and Logan Edwards (1/21).

In reply, Queen’s made a steady start but fell short of the target, reaching 109/4 in 20 overs.
Ruairi Hansen top-scored with an excellent 46 off 46 balls, striking seven fours at a strike rate of 100. He was supported by Hugh Hansen, who remained unbeaten on 19 off 27, and Daniel Bredenkamp (10 off 24).

Selborne’s bowling attack worked cohesively, with Carter Hobbs (1/12) the most economical. Lategan (1/21), Elliott (1/26) and Rothbart (1/31) also chipped in, ensuring Selborne claimed a 31-run victory.

Saturday, 8 November – 50-Over Match (Selborne won by 42 runs)

In Saturday’s longer-format encounter, Selborne once again batted first and compiled a solid 221/9 in 50 overs.
Zac Leighton anchored the innings with a patient and composed 60 not out off 113 balls, striking eight fours. He was well supported by captain Brody Schemel (42 off 70), while James van Heerden (27 off 29) and Siyo Gxobole (15 off 23) added useful runs in the middle order.

Queen’s bowlers kept their discipline for long periods, with Balilethu “Bali” Mhlekwa delivering a fine spell of 3/21 in six overs, while Ruairi Hansen impressed again with 3/31 in 11 overs, and Christiaan Viljoen provided control with 1/36 from nine overs.

In reply, Queen’s battled bravely but were restricted to 179/9 in their full 50 overs, falling 42 runs short.
Christiaan Viljoen top-scored with a composed 50 off 83 balls, striking five boundaries. He was supported by Jayden Russell (27 off 34) and Alizwa Sixaba (20 off 35), who both showed fighting spirit in the middle order.

Selborne’s bowlers maintained tight lines throughout, sharing the wickets evenly. James van Heerden (2/3) was outstanding in his short spell, while Leighton (1/7), Rothbart (1/10), Hobbs (1/13) and Gxobole (1/25) all contributed to a well-rounded bowling effort that secured the win.

Weekend Summary

Across both fixtures, Selborne U13A displayed balance, depth, and discipline.
Lategan’s explosive T20 fifty and Leighton’s unbeaten 60 in the 50-over match were defining performances that highlighted Selborne’s batting strength, while Van Heerden’s 2/3 and Viljoen’s 4/13 underlined the quality of bowling on display.

For Queen’s Junior, Viljoen and Hansen stood out with consistent all-round performances — both scoring runs and taking key wickets across the weekend. The contests were played in excellent spirit, offering valuable experience for both sides and underscoring the strong cricketing culture thriving in the Eastern Cape schools circuit.

Top Performers

Selborne U13A

• Luke Lategan: 60 (41) & 1/21

• Zac Leighton: 60* (113) & 1/7

• Brody Schemel: 42 (70)

• James van Heerden: 27 (29) & 2/3

Queen’s Junior U13A

• Christiaan Viljoen: 50 (83) & 4/13

• Ruairi Hansen: 46 (46) & 3/31

• Balilethu Mhlekwa: 3/21

• Hugh Hansen: 19* (27)