Final countdown to T20 cruncher

Selborne out to repeat last year’s showpiece feat

TWO of the Eastern Cape’s top cricketing schools clash in a massive Coca-Cola Schools T20 Eastern Cape final when Border champs Selborne College take on Eastern Province champs Grey High School in Port Elizabeth tomorrow.

The stakes will be high as both teams go all out for victory to become the Warriors’ representative at the national finals taking place in next weekend.

It is the last franchise final to take place – with all five other franchise sides having been picked already and the two focus school sides also decided for the eight-team tournament that looks to crown the best T20 side in the country.

“We are really looking forward to the match,” said Selborne coach Ryan Koekemoer.

“The guys have worked hard, we had a good session against Dale this past weekend and there is a really good vibe in the team.”

Selborne will be no stranger to the challenge of an EC final. They are the current Warriors defending champs after defeating St Andrews in last year’s showpiece game, before going on to the nationals held in Stellenbosch. Pretoria They will have enjoyed that experience and are hoping to replicate that form in tomorrow’s final.

But with the team having had a solid season to date, beating fierce rivals Hudson Park in both the Border final of the Coke schools competition and the Algie Cup final, they will be confident going into the match.

“I am very happy with the effort they have put in this season so overall the guys have done very well this season,” said Koekemoer.

“I think last year was maybe a turning point for a lot of the boys, they realised that we are good enough and can compete at the highest level.

“So the experience has been great and the guys are definitely keen to get back there.”

Selborne have played Grey High once already this season.

They struggled in a two-day match that was washed out in the end, so they know what to expect from them and will be eager to rectify that performance this time round.

“I think they will definitely have a point to prove; that poor effort from a few weeks ago where we were having a really bad game against them before it was washed out, I think it stands them in better stead going into the final,” said Koekemoer.

“I think we just have to go through the processes, do what we’ve done and the result will come if we can stick to what’s worked for us.”

In all, it has been a top team effort this season from Selborne but their senior guys will need to come to the party in tomorrow’s final.

“I think its been a fantastic team effort, obviously the senior guys, Matt Dewar, Matthew Ferrent, Tristan Alexander,Thomas Bursey and Sebastian Dennison-Brown have done really well, while we have a bit of an unknown quantity of a youngster who has come through quite nicely in Jordan Coles,” claimed Koekemoer

“We want to play top quality cricket at Selborne and by making the national finals we ensure that we play top quality opposition so we really want to win.”

Selborne squad is: Matthew Ferrent, Thomas Bursey, Matt Dewar, Ethan Boucher, Stuart Els, Aiden van Wyk, Austen Brandt, Sebastian Dennison-Brown, Matthew Fourie, Tristan Alexander, PJ Sizani, Jordan Coles, Sazi Mgqabisa