EP player takes Hero of the Day award

JADE de Klerk from East- ern Province has been named the Coca-Cola Hero of the day for day two of the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Cricket Week.

The prestigious CocaCola Hero of the Day award is presented on each day of the tournament in recognition of a game-changing “hero” moment.

De Klerk was selected for the award by a CocaCola-appointed panel of cricket experts after he ran out Muhammed Mayet from Gauteng.

Eastern Province started their game against Gauteng well and initially had them in trouble at 46 for four wickets.

Mayet joined Day One’s Coca-Cola Hero of the Day, Mitchell van Buuren, at the crease, and the two began a partnership that could have easily rescued the game for Gauteng.

This partnership was abruptly stopped when De Klerk, while fielding at extra cover, brilliantly out Mayet for 15.

Gauteng never recovered from the run-out and De Klerk followed it up by taking three wickets in two overs, including the prize wicket of Van Buuren.

The victory was even sweeter as Eastern Province became the first team to beat Gauteng in the last four years of the tournament.

“It is a special feeling to win the Coca-Cola Hero of the Day,” De Klerk said. ran

“Without my teammates and their support I would not be standing here to accept the award.”

“There were a lot of good performances today, however Jade de Klerk’s run out was really special and changed the game for his team, plus with the wickets he took, he really contributed to his team winning the game,” former Proteas player and lead judge of the CocaCola Hero of the Day panel Robin Peterson said. — DDC