OUDTSHOORN NEWS - For the first time in the history of the South African Schools cricket team, this elite team was captained by a player of the Garden Route Badgers (formerly known as South Western Districts).
The left arm spin bowler from Thembalethu High School in George was presented with the captain’s arm band after the conclusion of the Khaya Majola National tournament that came to an end in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
He captained the SA Schools team in their annual match against the SA Colts that was played at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein.
Kitshini was one of the top wicket takers in the tournament , he bagged 12 wickets at an average of 23.5.
On top of this achievement, he became the first player from the Cricket South Africa Hub development program to captain the SA Schools team.
In 2023 after the national tournament in Makhanda he was picked for the SA Colts team and last year after the Cape Town tournament he made the SA Schools team. Armaan Manack from Gauteng was the only other player from last year’s SA School team to be re-selected.
The SA Schools 151/2 were victorious in this T20 fixture with an 8 wicket victory against the SA Colts (148/9).
Kitshini who represented the Garden Route Badgers since the age of 11, for the U1.3 tournament in all possible national age group tournaments made his first-class debut for the senior Badgers team last season and he will also in January and February next year represent the SA U.19 team in the ICC U1,9 Cricket World Cup in Namibia and Zimbabwe.
Micheal Eksteen, the President of SWD Cricket, has congratulated Kitshini on his appointment and selection as captain of this elite team. “This is an historic landmark in our history books, and we are extremely proud on his achievement and hard work and dedication”. He further confirmed that the Board has already approved pro-active measures to retain his services in the province.
Shirwin Plaatjies from the Bridgton Hub was included in the Southern Superstars team (from the Western Cape) for the Cricket SA National Cubs tournament that will be hosted in Stellenbosch in January 2026.
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