PAARL ROYALS’ VAN BUUREN TO LEAD SA EMERGING XI

Paarl Royals batter Mitchell van Buuren has been appointed captain of the South Africa Emerging Men’s squad for the five-match 50-over series against Zimbabwe. The series will run from 13 – 23 August in the nation’s capital, Tshwane.

Van Buuren, 25, showed excellent promise during last season’s inaugural Betway SA20 season where he thrived in the company of senior internationals such as Proteas star David Miller and England’s World Cup-winning trio Jos Buttler, Jason Roy and Eoin Morgan.

He has since been pre-signed by the Royals for Season 2 on the basis after showing good composure during a successful run-chase against the Pretoria Capitals at Boland Park where he supported Miller to take the Royals over the line. 

He will be joined by another young Betway SA20 talent in Sunrisers Eastern Cape batter Jordan Hermann. 

The stylish left-hander initially joined the Sunrisers as a wildcard and made an immediate impression with two half-centuries in Season 1.

The defending champions had no hesitation in pre-signing the 21-year-old for Season 2, especially after Proteas legend AB de Villiers was left “really impressed” after watching the youngster in Season 1. 

All six franchises will also be keeping a close eye on the SA Emerging series against Zimbabwe as the 15-man squad boasts a handful of former SA U19 stars such as George van Heerden (19), Liam Alder (19), Matthew Boast (20), Michael Copeland (21) and Valentine Kitime (20) who could potentially join their former teammates Dewald Brevis and Kwena Maphaka in the Betway SA20.

The addition of the new rookie player – any uncapped South African-born player under the age of 22 that has yet to play in the Betway SA20 – which has been introduced for Season 2 puts all these youngsters firmly in the shop window ahead of the much-anticipated auction on 27 September. 

All five matches will be played at the Groenkloof Oval, with the first encounter set to get underway on Sunday, 13 August from 10am The series will be streamed live via the official CSA YouTube channel.

South Africa Emerging squad against Zimbabwe Emerging: Mitchell van Buuren (captain), Liam Alder, Matthew Boast, Okuhle Cele, Michael Copeland, Jordan Hermann, Valentine Kitime, Andile Mogakane, Peter Nqaba, Siya Plaatjie, Joshua Richards, Daniel Smith, Musa Twala, George van Heerden, Nealan van Heerden.