GEORGE NEWS - Cape Town-based Rondebosch Boys High has qualified to represent the World Sports Betting Cape Cobras and the Multiply Titans at the Coca-Cola Schools T20 Challenge national finals in March.

Rondebosch took on Outeniqua High School and Paul Roos Gymnasium in the Cobras Coca-Cola Schools T20 Challenge franchise finals at their home ground last Saturday.

Outeniqua and Paul Roos were no match for a well-drilled Rondebosch team that had standout performances by Reese Scheepers with the ball, Justin Broad and Quinton Oordt with the bat, and their wicketkeeper, Ethan Nates, who made 3 stumpings and was involved in 2 runouts as well.

In the encounter against Rondebosch, the home team posted 140/6, to which Outeniqua in reply were bowled out for only 88 for a defeat of 52 runs.

After the franchise final, four players were selected to be part of the Coca-Cola T20 All-Star team to take on the Cricket South Africa Development team at the national finals. 

This new addition to the Coca-Cola Schools T20 Challenge is aimed at spreading the talent search net wider and will see a team of cricket experts attend all franchise finals in search of outstanding players in the teams that do not qualify for the national finals.

Outeniqua all-rounder Matthew Thorn was selected during the Cobras Franchise finals. 

Thorn's performance with bat and ball throughout the day impressed the Coca-Cola T20 All-Star selectors, earning him a spot in the team.

"I have mixed emotions today; on the one hand I am very happy that I was picked for the All-Star team but on the other hand I would have loved it if my school had qualified for the national finals. It is now up to me to represent my school in a curtain-raiser at the Coca-Cola Schools T20 Challenge finals," said Thorn.

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