Victor Mpitsang
Encyclopedia
Phenyo Victor Mpitsang is a fast bowler who has played two One Day Internationals for South Africa
in 1999. He has represented Free State
and subsequently the Eagles
franchise since 1998.
, and was spotted as a youngster by Corrie van Zyl
. A bursary
was arranged for him as part of the UCB's development programme, enabling him to be educated at Grey College, Bloemfontein
.
He played in three under-19 Test match
es and eight under-19 ODIs in 1997 and 1998. He was a member of the South African squad for the 1998 Under-19 World Cup
, taking seven wickets in five appearances at an average of 26.57, with best figures of 3/27 against India. His first-class
debut for Free State came in the 1997-98 SuperSport Series
when he was selected for the fixture against Border
in East London.
. According to Ray White, president of the UCB at the time, this decision was taken to "broaden his cricket experience and give him the benefit of touring with the national team". Following the announcement of the squad for New Zealand, he was given his senior debut in an ODI against the West Indies at Springbok Park
, Bloemfontein
. He opened the bowling and took 2/49, dismissing Nixon McLean
and Daren Ganga
with consecutive deliveries. He remains the youngest ODI debutant for South Africa at the age of 18 years and 314 days.
He did not feature in the international fixtures on the New Zealand tour, although he did play in the games against Northern Districts and New Zealand A. His next international opportunity came during the LG Cup
in Kenya
later in 1999, when he played against the host nation in Nairobi
. He failed to take a wicket in his three overs on that occasion.
He has not been selected for the national side since then, although he has appeared for South Africa A against Sri Lanka
A in 1999-2000 and also on a tour of the West Indies in 2000-01.
in Bloemfontein) and his highest first-class innings (23 against Western Province in Cape Town
). He took a total of 33 first-class wickets during the course of that 2000-01 domestic season, a tally which he equalled in 2007-08.
In 2005-06, he was a member of the Eagles side that defeated the Cape Cobras
in the final of the Standard Bank
Pro20 series.
During the 2008 English season
, he appeared as an overseas professional for Knypersley CC in Staffordshire
.
South African cricket team
The South African national cricket team represent South Africa in international cricket. They are administrated by Cricket South Africa.South Africa is a full member of the International Cricket Council, also known as ICC, with Test and One Day International, or ODI, status...
in 1999. He has represented Free State
Orange Free State cricket team
The Free State cricket team is the first-class cricket team representing the province of Free State in South Africa....
and subsequently the Eagles
Eagles cricket team
The Chevrolet Knights is the name used by the combined Free State cricket team and Griqualand West first class cricket teams in South Africa. The team previously competed as the Diamond Eagles...
franchise since 1998.
Early years
Mpitsang was born in Kimberley, Northern CapeKimberley, Northern Cape
Kimberley is a city in South Africa, and the capital of the Northern Cape. It is located near the confluence of the Vaal and Orange Rivers. The town has considerable historical significance due its diamond mining past and siege during the Second Boer War...
, and was spotted as a youngster by Corrie van Zyl
Corrie van Zyl
Cornelius Johannes Petrus Gerthardus van Zyl in Bloemfontein, Free State is a former South African cricketer who played two One Day Internationals in 1992...
. A bursary
Bursary
A bursary is strictly an office for a bursar and his or her staff in a school or college.In modern English usage, the term has become synonymous with "bursary award", a monetary award made by an institution to an individual or a group to assist the development of their education.According to The...
was arranged for him as part of the UCB's development programme, enabling him to be educated at Grey College, Bloemfontein
Grey College, Bloemfontein
Grey College is a public school for boys located in Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa, one of the 23 elite, historically significant and prestigious Milner Schools...
.
He played in three under-19 Test match
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
es and eight under-19 ODIs in 1997 and 1998. He was a member of the South African squad for the 1998 Under-19 World Cup
Under 19 Cricket World Cup
The ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup is an international cricket tournament contested by national Under-19 teams. The event was initially staged as a one-off event in Australia in 1988, and has been held every two years since 1998.-1988 :...
, taking seven wickets in five appearances at an average of 26.57, with best figures of 3/27 against India. His first-class
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
debut for Free State came in the 1997-98 SuperSport Series
SuperSport Series
The SuperSport Series is the main domestic first class cricket competition in South Africa, first contested in 1889-90. From 1990-91 it became known as the Castle Cup, and from 1996-97 by its current title...
when he was selected for the fixture against Border
Border cricket team
Border cricket team is the team representing the Border province in domestic first-class cricket in South Africa. The team began playing in March 1898....
in East London.
International cricket
In January 1999, Mpitsang was named in the senior South African squad for the tour of New ZealandNew Zealand cricket team
The New Zealand cricket team, nicknamed the Black Caps, are the national cricket team representing New Zealand. They played their first in 1930 against England in Christchurch, New Zealand, becoming the fifth country to play Test cricket. It took the team until 1955–56 to win a Test, against the...
. According to Ray White, president of the UCB at the time, this decision was taken to "broaden his cricket experience and give him the benefit of touring with the national team". Following the announcement of the squad for New Zealand, he was given his senior debut in an ODI against the West Indies at Springbok Park
Springbok Park
OUTsurance Oval is a multi-purpose stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa. It is currently used mostly for cricket matches. It is the home of the Eagles cricket team...
, Bloemfontein
Bloemfontein
Bloemfontein is the capital city of the Free State Province of South Africa; and, as the judicial capital of the nation, one of South Africa's three national capitals – the other two being Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Pretoria, the administrative capital.Bloemfontein is popularly and...
. He opened the bowling and took 2/49, dismissing Nixon McLean
Nixon McLean
Nixon Alexei McNamara McLean is a West Indian cricketer. He is a right-arm fast medium bowler and a left-handed batsman...
and Daren Ganga
Daren Ganga
Daren Ganga is a West Indian cricketer of East Indian descent. He is a right-handed top order batsman and part-time right-arm offbreak bowler. After debuting as a 19 year old he has found himself in and out of the West Indies team, playing regularly for and at times captaining the West Indies A...
with consecutive deliveries. He remains the youngest ODI debutant for South Africa at the age of 18 years and 314 days.
He did not feature in the international fixtures on the New Zealand tour, although he did play in the games against Northern Districts and New Zealand A. His next international opportunity came during the LG Cup
LG Cup in Kenya in 1999-2000
The LG Cup 1999–2000 was a four team cricket ODI tournament held in Kenya. After the round robin stage, the final took place between South Africa and India. Despite only making his international debut in India's opening game of the tournament, Vijay Bhardwaj won the man of the series award...
in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
later in 1999, when he played against the host nation in Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
. He failed to take a wicket in his three overs on that occasion.
He has not been selected for the national side since then, although he has appeared for South Africa A against Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan cricket team
The Sri Lankan cricket team is the national cricket team of Sri Lanka. The team first played international cricket in 1926–27, and were later awarded Test status in 1981, which made Sri Lanka the eighth Test cricket playing nation...
A in 1999-2000 and also on a tour of the West Indies in 2000-01.
Domestic cricket
The 2000-01 season saw Mpitsang record both his best first-class bowling figures (5/24 against North WestNorth West cricket team
North West cricket team plays first-class cricket in South Africa.For the purposes of the SuperSport Series, North West has merged with Gauteng North West cricket team (formerly Western Transvaal cricket team) plays first-class cricket in South Africa.For the purposes of the SuperSport Series,...
in Bloemfontein) and his highest first-class innings (23 against Western Province in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
). He took a total of 33 first-class wickets during the course of that 2000-01 domestic season, a tally which he equalled in 2007-08.
In 2005-06, he was a member of the Eagles side that defeated the Cape Cobras
Cape Cobras
The Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras often shortened to Cape Cobras or Cobras is the name used since the 2005–06 season by the combined Western Province and Boland first class cricket teams in South African domestic cricket. The joint Western Province and Boland team was named Western Province Boland for...
in the final of the Standard Bank
Standard Bank
The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited is one of South Africa's largest financial services groups. It operates in 30 countries around the world, including 17 in Africa.-History:...
Pro20 series.
During the 2008 English season
2008 English cricket season
The 2008 season of England's county cricket saw the four regular tournaments played: The LV County Championship , Friends Provident Trophy , NatWest Pro40 League and the Twenty20 Cup...
, he appeared as an overseas professional for Knypersley CC in Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
.