Marvellous Maphaka headlines band of SA U-19 stars primed for senior cricket in T20 Challenge

Kwena Maphaka, South Africa's new bowling sensation, looks set to headline the group of "graduates" from the national Under-19 vintage that reached the semi-finals of the ICC World Cup on home soil last month who will appear in the upcoming CSA T20 Challenge.

The 17-year-old left-arm seamer, who was expected to make an impression from the outset, given his junior pedigree and having gained a rookie contract in the SA20 with Paarl Royals, exceeded all those expectations by ending as the tournament's leading wicket-taker by some distance.

He ended with 21 wickets, at a freakish average of 9.71, and incredible strike rate of 15.78, claiming three five-wicket hauls and displaying the type of pace and skill that was streets ahead of most of his compatriots.