NEW: South Africa Emerging on tour of Zimbabwe

Sports Reporter

THE South Africa Emerging men’s cricket side has arrived in Zimbabwe for a two-format tour that is set to begin on Saturday in Bulawayo.

Zimbabwe Emerging and South Africa Emerging will first meet in the first four-day match set to begin this Thursday.

The second will be played on August 7 to 10, followed by one-day fixtures scheduled for August 13, 15 and 17.

Cricket South Africa has sent a 14-member squad for the tour.

The team is captained by World Sports Betting Western Province all-rounder Mihlali Mpongwana in the two four-day matches and three one-day matches, all to be played at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.

The 24-year-old, who struck a match-winning hundred and grabbed three wickets for Western Province in their victorious One-Day Cup final against North West Dragons, represented South Africa A against West Indies A in three first-class matches last season.

He was also named in the Proteas One-Day International squad against India in December and toured with the national side to New Zealand for a two-match Test series in February.

DP World Lions seamer Codi Yusuf and Dafabet Warriors batter Andile Mogakane are also among those included in the squad.

Head coach Malibongwe Makete commented: “We’ve spent the last three months together as a group training at the Centre of Excellence in Pretoria and we’re now ready to go and play some competitive cricket.

“We’ve got a great squad that covers all bases and this tour presents an opportunity for those players to showcase their abilities against international opposition and make a name for themselves through their performances.

“I am also very confident that Mihlali will thrive with the additional responsibility of leading the side across both formats.”

South Africa Emerging squad:

Mihlali Mpongwana (captain, Western Province), Jade de Klerk (Border), Dian Forrester (Free State), Valentine Kitime (Western Province), Tristan Luus (Dolphins), Dewan Marais (Easterns), Litheko Modiri (Titans), Andile Mogakane (Warriors), Nipho Mpungose (Free State), Caleb Seleka (North West), Lesego Senokwane (North West), Andile Simelane (Dolphins), Codi Yusuf (Lions), and Ntando Zuma (KZN Inland).

Management

Malibongwe Maketa (Head Coach), Blanche Conradie (Team Manager), Mandla Mashimbyi (Bowling Coach), Jimmy Kgamadi (Batting Coach), Tumi Masekela (Strength and Conditioning Coach), MJ Sebetlela (Physiotherapist) and Abram Ndhlovu (Performance Analyst).

Tour Itinerary

Four-Day Matches