UKZN Shines at Blind Cricket Tournament in Stellenbosch

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) played a significant role in the South African final single-division T20 Blind Cricket Tournament in Stellenbosch recently.

With staff leadership, athlete development and representation organised by the University in cooperation with the Hollywoodbets’ Dolphins squad, UKZN’s commitment to advancing blind sports was on display in what was the end of an era for Blind Cricket SA.

Hosted by Boland Blind Cricket, the tournament brought together all ten affiliates for the final time before a new two-tier system is introduced in 2026. Competing teams included the Hollywoodbets Dolphins (KZN), Free State, Eastern Province, Titans, Inyathi, Limpopo Impala, DP World Lions, North West Dragons, Western Province and hosts Boland.

Despite financial constraints which meant the Hollywoodbets Dolphins team was determined to excel. The KZN team opened the tournament with an impressive 16-run victory over the DP World Lions, followed by a competitive match against the Titans.

On 7 October, the Durban-based team lost narrowly to Boland, regaining momentum with an eight-wicket win over Western Province.

The semi-finals saw the DP World Lions defeat Free State by 129 runs, while the North West Dragons edged out Boland by 6 runs. In the final, the Lions claimed the 2025 championship title with an 8-wicket win over the Dragons.

The Dolphins entered the tournament under the leadership of newly-appointed captain Mr Sphamandla Mnguni, who praised the guidance received from UKZN technical staff. “I didn’t feel that much pressure thanks to the coach and technical team who supported me,” said Mnguni. “Our bowling and fielding are strong, but our batting needs improvement. We’ll come back stronger next year.” A standout achievement for the team was Mr Anathi Xelelo receiving the Best B2 Bowler award.

Tournament administrator and UKZN representative Dr Khumbuzile Khumalo highlighted the challenges facing the Dolphins, including limited access to training facilities and sponsorship shortages. Khumalo reaffirmed her vision to expand blind cricket within municipalities, integrate it into SALGA teams, and strengthen development of the sport at UKZN to produce future national players.

As the sun set over the Stellenbosch mountains, UKZN’s contribution ‒ from athlete support to leadership – stood out in a tournament that honoured tradition while ushering in a new era for blind cricket in South Africa.