JEPPE OUTCLASS KES IN PHASE 2 SHOWDOWN TO CLINCH GAUTENG/MPUMALANGA FINALS BERTH

Jeppe High School for Boys sealed their place at the Switch Schools SA20 national finals with a convincing 27-run victory over rivals King Edward VII School (KES) in the Phase 2 Gauteng/Mpumalanga Final at St David’s Marist Inanda’s La Valla Oval.

The regional phase brought together the best of Central Gauteng Lions cricket – KES and Jeppe – alongside Mpumalanga representatives Middelburg Hoërskool and Hoërskool Nelspruit. But after a competitive build-up, it was the Johannesburg rivals who once again advanced to the decider, adding another chapter to one of schools cricket’s most storied rivalries... especially with a national finals ticket on the line. The winner now qualifies for the SA20 Volume 2 Finals at the University of Pretoria from 4–7 March 2026.

Jeppe, who had already beaten KES in a low-scoring pool match the day before, carried that belief into the final and delivered a far more complete performance.

Batting first, Jeppe posted a strong 137/7 from their 20 overs. Ryan Young led the charge with an aggressive 47 off 31 balls (5x4, 1x6), setting the tempo through the middle overs. Lincoln Casais added 27 off 21 (3x4) in a crucial 70-run partnership, while Phemelo Sekopane had earlier contributed a valuable 24 off 26 (1x4, 2x6).

KES fought back well with the ball. Tyler Cloete was the standout, taking 4/13 from four overs, while Abdullah Mohammed (2/18) and Luke Clark (1/11) played key roles in keeping Jeppe from running away with the match.

KES’s chase started well enough. Luke Clark struck 45 off 30 balls (6x4, 2x6) and his opening partner Tiago Dias battled for 21 off 28 deliveries (2x4) as they put on 64 up front. However, after that, wickets fell too regularly for KES to sustain a serious push. Steele Grooteman made a start, 10 off 19 (1x4) while Tyler Cloete added a brisk 11 off 10 (1x6) but that was not enough as boys in red were all out in the 19th over for 110.

For Kes, Reza Ayob led the way with the ball, taking 3/18 from three overs, while Zizi Mkhize (2/24) and Sekopane himself (2/9 in four overs) played key roles in keeping Jeppe from running away with the match.

Jeppe’s bowlers were clinical under pressure. Reza Ayob led the way, taking 3/18 from three overs, but it was Jeppe’s collective discipline that ultimately closed the door on KES. Zizi Mkhize claimed 2/24 off three overs and Phemelo Sekopane tightened the screws with 2/9 from his four overs.

Jeppe’s win crowns them Gauteng/Mpumalanga champions and sends them to Pretoria with confidence, momentum, and a point to prove on the national stage.

MATCH SUMMARY

Switch Schools SA20 Volume 2 Gauteng/Mpumalanga Boys Final

Friday, 16 January 2026 at La Valla Oval, St David's Marist Inanda

Jeppe 137/7 - 20 overs (Ryan Young 47; Tyler Cloete 4/13)

KES 110 all out - 18.5 overs (Luke Clark 45; Reza Ayob 3/18)

Jeppe won by 27 runs to secure progression to Switch Schools SA20 Volume 2 Finals. [View the full scorecard.]