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MARKRAM PRAISES ST STITHIANS STAR MAPHAKA'S 'X-FACTOR'
St Stithians College's fast bowling sensation Kwena Maphaka became the youngest player ever to be capped by the Proteas last night in the first T20I against the West Indies in Tarouba, Trinidad.
Maphaka, who was 18 years and 137 days old, has superseded former fast bowler and national convenor of selectors Victor Mpitsang. Mpitsang was 18 years and 314 days and also made his Proteas debut against the West Indies at Bloemfontein way back in February 1999.
The youngster’s first taste of international action was coming out to bat at No 9 for the last delivery of the innings, managing to cut it into the covers and run through for a single to close the Proteas’ innings at 174/7.
Kwena Maphaka missed out on making his SA20 debut with Paarl Royals in 2024 due to the Under-19 World Cup, where he claimed the Player of the Tournament award.
However, the real excitement came when Maphaka was introduced into the Proteas’ attack for the first time in the third over of the West Indies run chase.
He showed a touch of nerves by delivering two wides in his opening over, but charged in with good pace and was fairly economical by conceding nine runs in the midst of an onslaught by the Windies openers Shai Hope (51) and Alick Athanaze (40) in the Powerplay, who managed 75 without loss in the first six overs.
Captain Aiden Markram displayed good judgement by keeping the youngster out of the eye of the storm and only reintroduced him in the 10th over.
Maphaka was solid in his return to the attack, conceding five runs and a further seven in the 15th over.
The St Stithians matriculant - who will play for Paarl Royals in 2025 after missing this year's edition while starring at the Under-19 World Cup - was rewarded for holding his nerve on the night and showing good control when he had West Indies captain Rovman Powell caught at extra cover to claim his maiden international wicket in his final over.
Maphaka celebrated with a fist pump, but it was nothing over elaborate as the Windies were by that stage one stroke away from victory.
Maphaka eventually finished with the commendable T20I debut figures of 3.5-0-25-1.
Despite the disappointment of the defeat, Proteas captain Aiden Markram remained excited about the birth of a potential superstar in Maphaka.
“Maphaka has a lot of X-factor and is really young. Raw pace. He has hunger when you speak to him off the field. He is here to compete and win games for South Africa. Fantastic signs for us as a team,” he said.
