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Familiar territory for Menlopark as they host inaugural rain SA20 Derby Series opener

20 Sep 20263 mins

Die Hoërskool Menlopark will be the inaugural hosts of the rain SA20 Derby Series, with their 22 September fixture against near-neighbours Hoërskool Waterkloof marking a new era in South African schools cricket.

As it happens, Menlo are accustomed to 'firsts'. Back in 2010, they were the first winners of the Schools SA20 competition's forerunner, the CSA T20 Schools Challenge. Five years later they also became the first school to win that competition twice, marking them out as an emerging force in South African school cricket.

Menlo Oval will host the first-ever rain SA20 Derby Series match, featuring Die Hoërskool Menlopark and Hoërskool Waterkloof

That has been backed up by the list of senior international cricketers they count among their alumni.

Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen, Theunis de Bruyn and Jacques Snyman all learnt their skills on the Menlo Oval before progressing to the Proteas at various times over the last decade and a half. Dean Foxcroft, meanwhile, played for South Africa Under-19 at the 2016 Junior World Cup but has since gone on to make his international debut for New Zealand.

Being a co-ed school, Menlo's girls' cricket programme has also produced current Proteas Women stars Sune Luus and Delmi Tucker.

Menlo's commitment to cricket, overseen by Petrus Coetzee as Director of Cricket, is also evident in its facilities: a floodlit main oval, an indoor cricket centre and as many as 14 nets, used by both the school and the cricket academy based there.

Their 1st XI coaching is headed by Alex van der Merwe (formerly of Northwood School), assisted by Driaan Bruwer.

The Menlopark vs Waterkloof rain SA20 Derby Series opener takes place on Tuesday, 22 September 2026, and will be broadcast live on DStv Channel 216, the Schools SA20 YouTube channel and SABC+.