Two local cricketers, Kiandri Bierbaum and Mia vd Merwe, represented the KZN Tuskers Inland Under-19 Girls Team at the CSA Under-19 National Week in Potchefstroom from 14 December 2025, competing against 15 other provincial teams in a tournament of exceptionally high standard.
Mia vd Merwe impressed with consistent performances, most notably against Boland where she scored an unbeaten 20 off 31 balls and conceded only six runs in her bowling over. Kiandri Bierbaum delivered outstanding all-round performances throughout the tournament, contributing with bat, ball and in the field.
Bierbaum displayed remarkable composure under pressure, particularly against the Dolphins when she entered with the team struggling at 7/5. She went on to score 23 valuable runs and recorded bowling figures of 1 for 9 off three overs.
The highlight of the tournament was the KZN Tuskers’ qualification for the third-place playoff in the Gold Group (eight teams), where they faced Mpumalanga, a side boasting two Protea players. A strong collective bowling performance secured victory for the Tuskers, with Bierbaum claiming 1 for 8 off four overs and taking an excellent boundary catch. She concluded the tournament with an impressive economy rate of 2.6.
Both players’ contributions helped the KZN Tuskers finish third in the Gold Group.
Meanwhile, from 4 to 8 December, Stuart Talanda and Dilan Guelpa toured Nelspruit with the Tuskers Under-17 side. The pair competed in several matches against strong opposition, gaining valuable match experience. The tour proved both enjoyable and instrumental in developing their skills and teamwork.