Medium fast bowler Anda Dilima was the only cricketer from Cape Town to make the schools T20 All-star team which played in the finals in Pretoria in March.
Dilima, 17, is slowly making his presence felt in SA cricket, playing for his school, South African College Schools (SACS).
His selection to the All-star team, which only played one match in Pretoria and were not part of the main tournament, came on the back of his school’s impressive run in the T20 competition where they lost in the finals of the Cape Cobras franchise to Paarl Gymnasium.
A win in that match would have seen Dilima and his school representing the Cobras franchise in the national finals.
The right arm bowler’s tall and muscular physique alone should be enough to scare the opposition batters as he runs down the pitch for his bowling spell.
Dilima travels more that two hours a day from Parklands to attend school in Newlands because he believes SACS is the one school that can give him the kind of development he needs to take his game to the next level.
The school has a rich history of producing national team players such as Peter Kirsten and current Proteas spin bowler, Dane Piedt.
Dilima looks up to third ranked ICC test bowler, Kagiso Rabada.
He says Rabada’s fiery attitude is what makes him a fun bowler to watch.
However, it is his big brother, Khanya who influenced his game from a young age.
Khanya plays for Maties and like Anda, also played for SACS.
“No one in my family played cricket, it’s just me and him. I started playing at the age of nine and he influenced me a lot. After my primary school in Blouberg Ridge I followed him to SACS because they are one of the top cricket schools,” says Dilima.
He opens the bowling for his school and the stiff competition at high school level means he always has to stay on top of his game.
“I enjoyed my game in the T20 competition so it was great to be recognised because I think I bowled really well. For now, I am focusing on being the best that I can be but in the future I definitely am working towards Proteas colours.”
Before a national call up, however, he still has to make his way through the provincial leagues.
He says missing out on the national under-17 side last year is another motivation to keep on working hard.
“When we go to national week I will be looking to take as many wickets as I can so I can finally make the A side.” Â
Besides school cricket Dilima says he is in search of a club that will give him the necessary experience to compete at a higher level.
The grade 11 pupil says as much as bowlers need to contain the number of runs scored, taking wickets with each and every ball is the main thing on his mind every time he begins a bowling spell.
