Young star heading for the top
Sinethemba Qeshile can possibly become a world-beater.
These were the sentiments shared by Protea Test player Temba Bavuma, who had a front-row seat to the 19-yearold Qeshile’s maiden franchise century against his Lions side at Buffalo Park on Friday night.
The unbeaten 121 was a sparkling knock that proved to be decisive as the Warriors just held on for a tight seven-run win, and he backed his performance up with another superb effort, hammering a 62-ball 88 in a losing cause against the Titans on Sunday.
“He is a super talent. I have only come to know him this season and have really been impressed with how he goes about his business, particularly his batting,” Bavuma said.
“He was consistent in the four-day competition and here in the one-day stuff, he is showing he is more than just a red-ball cricketer.
“I do believe that in the near future he will be donning the green and gold.
“For me he is the kind of guy that whenever I see him playing on TV, I sit down and watch.
“I think the scary thing about him is that if he can improve, I believe he could be a world-beater.”
It has been a sudden rise to stardom for the humble Qeshile, playing in his first full season for the Warriors.
The former Hudson Park High School captain matriculated in 2017 with a superb final Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Week in which he was named player of the tournament.
He was then surprisingly left out of the SA U19 team that competed at the U19 World Cup in New Zealand in January and February 2018, with many admitting that his inclusion could have helped the side get further than their disappointing loss in the quarterfinals.
The rest of 2018, however, saw Qeshile go from strength to strength as he first made his List A debut for Border in January and then his first-class debut for them in February.
His Warriors debut then came in their final game of the 2017/18 season where he scored a half-century in a rainaffected four-day match against the Dolphins in Durban.
He finally received his SA U19 colours on a tour to England during the off-season.
The 2018/19 season has thus been one to remember.
Qeshile scored seven halfcenturies during the Warriors’ four-day campaign, including falling agonisingly short of a first century with 99 against the Knights.
His first-class average of 48.11 after 13 matches is very impressive and is even bettered by his List A average of 52.71 after 10 games.
“It has actually taken a couple of games to reach the milestone, so I am really chuffed that it came in an important game while we are top of the log,” Qeshile said after the Lions win.
“The season has gone very well, but there are certain areas I can improve on to go to the next level.
“I just keep things simple: see ball, hit ball.
“My main goal is to support the team and not worry about my individual performance – just bat for the team and help take them over the line.”
With still much to come from the budding young talent and whispers of a Proteas selection not far down the line, Qeshile, however, just wants to remain in the moment.
“I don’t want to look too far ahead, especially with something like the Proteas.
“I just want to stay in the present and do my job – and if it comes, it comes.” –