SERIOUS PACE South Africa's Kwena Maphaka celebrates after the dismissal of Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan (unseen) during the first T20 international cricket match between South Africa and Pakistan at the Kingsmead stadium in Durban on December 10, 2024. Picture: Marco Longari/AFP
Image: Marco Longari / AFP
One of the most encouraging aspects of the first T20 International between South Africa and Pakistan was the extreme pace that 18-year-old Proteas fast bowler, Kwena Maphaka, demonstrated.
Opening the bowling for South Africa in the match at Kingsmead on Tuesday evening, the left-arm pacer delivered the fastest ball of over 150km per hour during his four overs.
Though he was the second most expensive SA bowler on the night with his figures of 2/39, the express pace that he bowled at during his spells was encouraging in what was a good win for the Proteas.
Not only is Maphaka unique in that he is a left-arm quick of which there are not many in South Africa, the fact that he can already bowl so quickly at such a young age speaks to his massive potential.
Imagine a Proteas lineup featuring Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje and Maphaka. All three bowlers can bowl around the 150km/h mark, and would certainly strike fear into any opposition batting lineup.
Maphaka made his Proteas debut earlier this year against the West Indies in their T20I series in Tarouba. That series went horribly for an inexperienced Proteas team as the hosts romped to a 3-0 victory.
However, Proteas limited overs coach Rob Walter had made it his mission to experiment with a number of fringe players to test the depth of SA cricket at the moment.
Therefore not too much could be read into the results, although Maphaka claimed just one wicket in the three matches at the cost of 88 runs.
Flash forward to the first T20 in Durban and it was a vastly improved performance from the young man.
In fact, Maphaka was also included in the Proteas Test squad for the second clash against Sri Lanka which ended in Gqeberha on Monday.
Though he didn’t crack the nod in the playing XI, it’s clear that Test coach Shukri Conrad wanted the youngster to get a feel of the longest form of the game before he makes his debut in the format.
Such is Maphaka’s inexperience due to his age, he has only played three First Class games to date.
It’s clear then, Maphaka is an incredible talent and he hasn’t even really started to show what he can do yet.