First XI School Cricket Rankings: 10/03/2025

Sportsmans Warehouse SA School Sports First XI Cricket Rankings –  Standings for the First Half of 2025

As the curtain falls on the school cricket season for the first half of 2025, one thing remains certain: Rondebosch is still the undisputed king of the hill. With an incredible unbeaten run of 16 matches, they have solidified their place at the top of the Sportsmans Warehouse SA School Sports First XI Cricket Rankings for this week. 

This past week saw a thrilling top-of-the-table clash between Rondebosch and their closest challengers, Bishops. While the early exchanges hinted at a potential upset, Rondebosch proved why they have been the dominant force this season, securing a comfortable victory over their Cape Town rivals.

Rondebosch’s openers, Eli Aufrichtig and Heyns, set the stage with a solid 108-run partnership for the first wicket, giving their team a commanding start. However, just when it seemed they would post a massive total, Bishops struck back in dramatic fashion, ripping through the batting order and dismissing the next nine batsmen for just 50 runs.

Despite the collapse, Aufrichtig remained unbeaten on 61, ensuring Rondebosch posted a defendable 158-run target. Bishops’ Julian Pilkington was the star with the ball, delivering an outstanding performance with figures of 5/29 in a marathon spell of 20 overs.

However, Bishops could not capitalize on their momentum with the bat. Their batting lineup crumbled under the pressure, with only six batsmen managing to reach double figures. Rondebosch’s bowling attack, led by Tim Short and Hlumelo Mgweba, proved too strong. Both bowlers claimed four wickets apiece, dismantling Bishops for a modest 113 all out.

The dominant display from Short and Mgweba was a testament to their exceptional seasons. Short finished with an impressive 37 wickets at an average of 12.3, while Mgweba’s 26 wickets came at an astonishingly low average of 8.8, underlining Rondebosch’s supremacy with the ball.

As most of the players take a well-earned break before the second half of the year, we want to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who followed and supported the rankings throughout the season. The Sportsmans Warehouse SA School Sports First XI Cricket Rankings continue to highlight the talent and passion within school cricket, and we look forward to bringing you more exciting action when the season resumes.

Until then, congratulations to Rondebosch and all the teams who made the 2025 season one to remember!