Double-whammy deal for Oakhill cricketer

KNYSNA NEWS - Worldwide cricket magnate Gray-Nicolls has sponsored Oakhill School learner JC Kolbee, recipient of the Barry Richards Cricket Bursary, with new cricketing equipment for the 2019/20 season.

The Barry Richards Cricket Bursary was set in up in 2017 by the SA cricket legend in order to sponsor and develop a talented young cricketer at Oakhill School in Knysna.

Kolbee was the worthy recipient, starting at Oakhill in Grade 9 in 2017. Since then, the young sports star has embraced many aspects of the school, internalising the ethos of "the joy of learning" and expanding his learning experiences well beyond the cricket pitch.

Kolbee is currently in Grade 11 and started this year on a positive note by being selected as vice captain of the first team, which has since translated into "fiery opening bowling spells, picking up wickets and maintaining a decent batting economy rate in his matches earlier this year", according to Oakhill master in charge of cricket, Chicco Ponela. He adds, "JC has also taken this cricket growth further by joining the local club team, Knysna Cavaliers, where he continues to extend himself as a cricketer by playing against older and more experienced players, where he gets to learn and observe from ex-semi-professional players and being more involved in the wider community."

Kolbee has shown much growth as a cricketer and has also matured tremendously throughout this time at Oakhill. Whether it is on the academic front or performing in music concerts, or learning new skills as a hockey goalie, JC has committed to all his endeavours.

Kolbee also said how "exceptionally grateful" he is for the state-of-the-art kit from Gray-Nicolls, including a bat, thigh pad, gloves, and bag.

He received the kit during a handover at Oakhill, and he said he is "super excited" to open the season with his bat signed by Richards.

JC Kolbee in action.