Kei cricket team

Kei were a South African first-class cricket team based in the Eastern Cape city of Mthatha.

Playing history

When Cricket South Africa decided to expand the Provincial Three-Day Challenge in 2006, Kei were one of five provincial teams (along with KwaZulu-Natal Inland, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and South Western Districts) elevated to first-class status.^{[citation needed]}

Kei played seven first-class matches in the 2006–07 season, losing them all by large margins, five of them by an innings. They also lost all six of their matches in the Provincial One-Day Challenge by large margins. None of their matches were played on their home ground in Mthatha.^{[citation needed]}

Their most successful batsman in the first-class matches was Sivuyile Duda,^[1] who scored 265 runs at an average of 18.92 including the team's only century, 102 against KwaZulu-Natal Inland.^[2] Keeping wicket, Duda also made four catches and a stumping in that match, and finished the season with 12 catches and two stumpings. He played one match for KwaZulu-Natal Inland in 2007–08.^{[citation needed]}

In a competition that was itself of borderline first-class status, Cricket South Africa considered Kei's performance, along with those of Limpopo and Mpumalanga too weak to justify their place, and after one season, all three teams were omitted.^[3] Key have played no further first-class cricket. Limpopo and Mpumalanga returned as first-class teams for the 2022–23 season following a further restructuring of top-level cricket in South Africa.

Since 2010–11 Kei have competed in the Cricket South Africa Rural League, coastal division, a 50-over competition.^[4]

List of players

Kei played seven matches at first-class level, all during the 2006–07 season of the South African Airways Provincial Challenge.^[5] The team used 18 players during this period, three of whom (Sivuyile Duda, Mdngezi Nabe, and Junior Yoli) played in each match.^[6] Key:

• ‡ – served as captain
• † – served as wicket-keeper
• No. – order of appearance

No.	Name	Matches	Runs	Wickets	Ref
1	Khabele Moerane ‡	6	209	4	[7]
2	Junior Yoli	7	165	8	[8]
3	Sivuyile Duda †	7	265	0	[9]
4	Andile Hlahleni	6	124	6	[10]
5	Madoda Ntsekwa	3	67	2	[11]
6	Thulani Kraai †	3	104	2	[12]
7	Clement Mvovo ‡	5	179	3	[13]
8	Mdngezi Nabe	7	172	7	[14]
9	Terry Ngqolo	3	88	5	[15]
10	Manzini Tshomela	4	44	3	[16]
11	Nkululeko Badi	3	84	3	[17]
12	Bonelela Mgudiwa	1	33	–	[18]
13	Vuyisile Ngqolo	5	85	–	[19]
14	Dumane Rashe	2	31	2	[20]
15	Andile Blom	5	109	1	[21]
16	Makabongwe Dunjwa	4	59	2	[22]
17	Mziwamaxolo Songca	3	72	4	[23]
18	Sonnyboy Nontshinga	3	38	0	[24]