Kingswood head for tough finals

KINGSWOOD'S first cricket team will face arguably the most exciting challenge of their season when they compete in the CSA Coca-Cola Schools Twenty20 national finals in Pretoria this weekend.

The Grahamstown school team have shown tremendous resolve in winning the right to represent the Warriors in the finals and coach Gregg van Mollendorf says they are under no illusion about the challenge ahead.

On Friday, Kingswood will be up against Waterkloof (Titans) and Wynberg (Cobras), followed by Grey College (Knights) and St Stithians (Lions) on Saturday, and Westville (Dolphins) on Sunday morning.

The top two sides will contest the final on Sunday afternoon.

"There is massive excitement at this opportunity because these sorts of chances don't come too often for a school of our size," Van Mollendorf said yesterday.

"But the boys are under no illusion about what faces them. We know it will be tough, but we have nothing to lose and I think a lot of the pressure will be on the other schools."

Kingswood, under skipper Brad Haller, first demonstrated their qualities when they chased down a total of 169 in their T20 clash against arch-rivals St Andrew's, and then their bowlers came to the fore in two relatively low-scoring games against Grey High and Selborne.

In the provincial final, Kingswood managed only 132/7 against Grey, but held their opponents to 118/5, while they made just 124/9 against Selborne in the franchise final before effecting a run out to win by one run off the final ball of the game. Both games were played at Kingswood and Van Mollendorf felt this was one way in which everything had fallen into place.

"Our strength has been that all the guys in the team have contributed to the success.

"For example, players have come in at No 8 or 9 and made contributions at crucial stages during the season." -