The 2018 Dolphins franchise T20 winners Hilton College first XI aim to take it one step further than their predecessors.

This the third time that a Hilton College first XI have qualified for the national finals. The previous Hilton side at nationals lost off the last ball of the final against Menlo Park at Stellenbosch University.

This year’s Coca-Cola Schools T20 Challenge National Franchise Finals take place at Tuks in Pretoria from Friday to Sunday.

Hilton College’s Road to the National Finals was emphatic …

KZN Inland semi-finals:  Maritzburg College 96/9 with the varied Hilton bowling attack dividing the wickets between them. Hilton hauled in the target with only two wickets down, Robbie McGaw unbeaten on 59.

Hilton won by 8 wickets.

KZN Inland final: Hilton 136/5 (Robbie McGaw 57, Gareth Schreuder 42). Michaelhouse 79 all out (James Ritchie 3-11).

Hilton won by 57 runs.

Dolphins Franchise final: Hilton 148/5 (Michael Sclanders 67, Gareth Schreuder 49).

Clifton 86 all out – the Hilton bowlers shared the wickets.

Hilton won by 62 runs.

Hilton have a host of matchwinners –

Some of them…

Michael Sclanders: All-rounder. A top-order batsman who knows how to pace his innings. An off-spinner who opens the bowling at times.

James Ritchie: The captain leads from the front. An opening batsman who scores quickly and a prolific leg-spin strike bowler.

Robbie McGaw: A hard-hitting opening batsman who can score extremely quickly.

Gareth Schreuder: A keeper adept at standing up or back. An accomplished batsman. A clean hitter exceptional in rotating the strike.

* A host of other players also have the know-how to turn a match on its head.

Young leg-spinner Colby Dyer is already harvesting a rich haul of wickets. Opening bowler John Turner has been outstanding. Seamer Tom Dixon gets better and better.

Michael Booth, Jared Venter, Suubi Mugerwa-Sekawabe, Joshua Watt, Michael Frost and Kanya Dandala all have the talent to fulfil the role assigned to them.

A feature of this Hilton College team is their catching, throwing and ground fielding. It will stand them in good stead.

In coach Dale Benkenstein and manager Sean Carlisle, the Hilton College 🎓 first XI have loads of expertise and hard-earned experience.

Taking into account all of the above, Hilton College have got what it takes to win the tournament and its trophy 🏆

* To engage with the tournament online, search #WhereHeroesAreMade on Twitter or visit @CocaCola_ZA and @OfficialCSA

CAPTION

Hilton College opening batsman Robbie McGaw scores quickly : Photo Martin Ashworth 

In wicketkeeper/batsman Gareth Schreuder the Hilton College 🎓 first XI have a gamebreaker.

An impressive skill set behind the stumps and with bat in hand ✋coupled to a never-say-die spirit make Gareth a key figure in Hilton’s quest for the 2018 Coca-Cola Schools T20 Challenge National Franchise Finals trophy 🏆 at Tuks in Pretoria from March 16 to 18.

Schreuder (18) is a cricketer who makes things happen.

“I would like to think I’m viewed as very reliable behind the stumps and a batsmen who can handle pressure,” says Gareth.

His best T20 performances on the road to Nationals?

“A 49 off 32 balls against Clifton in the Dolphins 🐬 franchise final and 2 catches plus 2 stumpings against Michaelhouse in the KZN Inland final.”

So who does Gareth look to for cricketing inspiration?

“My role model has always been AB de Villiers… The way he goes about playing cricket is exactly what I aspire to.”

And what of Hilton’s chances at the T20 National Finals?

“I personally believe we have one of the best teams in the country and I really hope we can go on to win the T20 National Finals.

“Not only would it mean a lot to the team, it would mean a lot to our school, our KZN Inland province and our Dolphins 🐬 franchise.”

So how does Gareth see his role, what would this young man with enviable X-Factor personally like to achieve ?

“My aim is to contribute to our team, scoring as many runs as possible with the bat – and as quickly as I can – while staying consistent with the bat and behind the stumps throughout the tournament.

“I would really like to make a good impression on the SA U19 selectors. National selection is something that I have dreamt about since I was a little boy.”

Good on you, Gareth… I never tire of watching you play cricket.

All the best to you and the Hilton College 🎓 first XI at the Big Show.

Outstanding wicketkeeper/batsman Gareth Schreuder is a talisman for the high-flying Hilton College 🎓 first XI cricket team, who won 3 from 3 in emphatic fashion at the Independent Schools Cricket Festival hosted by St Albans College from Thursday to Sunday.

An extremely competitive nature coupled with an inherent attacking instinct and considerable skill both with bat and wicketkeeping gloves, the Hiltonian has match-winning qualities that will stand the Dolphins 🐬 franchise champions in good stead at the Coca-Cola Schools T20 National Challenge Franchise Finals at the University of Pretoria from March 16 to 18.

Coca-Cola Schools T20 Challenge Dolphins franchise champions Hilton College 🎓 first XI have hurdles to negotiate on their road to the Coca-Cola Schools National T20 Challenge Franchise Finals trophy 🏆 match.

First up in Pool B, on Friday morning, March 16, on Tuks C field are Cobras champs Rondebosch, followed by Knights champs St Andrews School Bloemfontein on Tuks Oval in the afternoon.

Saturday morning, March 17 sees Hilton face Inland Focus winners Prestige College on Tuks D field.

The cross-pool fixtures begin Saturday afternoon and end Sunday morning, March 18.

Who Hilton College first XI play in the cross-pool fixtures Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning depends on where they finish in what is a tough Pool B.

The finalists will be the two ✌ teams (they could both be from the same Pool) with the most points after the two ✌ rounds of fixtures (Pool and cross-pool).

The gold medal 🏅 match to decide who the 2018 Coca-Cola Schools National T20 Challenge Franchise champions will be is on Sunday afternoon, March 18.

School first XI’s in Pool A: Lions champs King Edward VII School (KES), Titans champs St Albans College plus the Warriors winners and Coastal Focus winners (both have still to be determined).

Best wishes to Hilton first XI.

by Jono Cook

Hilton College 🎓 first XI captain James Ritchie (17) will be leading the Coca-Cola Schools T20 Challenge Dolphins 🐬 franchise winners at the Coca-Cola Schools T20 Challenge National Franchise Finals at Tuks in Pretoria from March 16 to 18.

“To be captain of Hilton College first XI is a great honour. Hilton College has a proud cricket tradition.

I’m a bowling all-rounder. My passion is my leg-spin, in which I take a lot of pride.

“I was given the opportunity to open the batting in the latter part of the 2017 season and with a few good scores I kept my position up front.”

In the Coke T20 KZN Inland final vs Michaelhouse, the Hilton matric lad’s 4 overs, 3 wickets for 11 runs was his best T20 performance to date in this year’s event.

“My batting hero is Quinton de Kock, as I am also a left-handed opening batsman. De Kock’s carefree attitude when he bats is inspirational to me as he makes it seem as if most of the world’s best international bowing attacks are within his reach.

“My bowling hero is Shane Warne, as his ability to be so accurate and get so much turn as a leg-spinner is unbelievable.”

James says that Hilton College are hoping to come out on top in the Coke T20 finals at Tuks.

The last time Hilton College represented the Dolphins at the Big Show was in 2015 when they lost to Menlo Park off the last ball of the final.

Some of the Hilton College cricketers in that final were Angus Curtis, Matthew Dahl, Craig Krog, Dan Hirschowitz and Tim Copland.

“We are hoping to go one better this year. We as a team have had a good run of results in the T20 format and are looking to continue that momentum at Tuks.”

James, best wishes to you personally and to the team.