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