South Northumberland is delighted to announce the signing of South African run machine Tshepang Dithole for their 2022 North East Premier League campaign.

In great nick!

Dithole is in the form of his life, currently dominating the run charts for KwaZulu-Natal in the CSA 4-Day Series. At the point of writing (04/02/22), he tops the Province’s run charts and sits amongst the leading domestic run scorers this summer with 335 runs at 83.75, including a career-best 162.

South African honours

Courtesy of his exploits over the years for the Dolphins and KwaZulu-Natal Inland, Dithole earned selection for the National Academy and South Africa Emerging Players in 2016. The wicket-keeper batter played 6 matches for the latter in July/August and he’s hoping this experience will push him towards higher honours in future.

Alvin’s journey…

An explosive opening batter and wicket-keeper by trade, “Alvin” as he’s known is currently on contract with KwaZulu-Natal, following the 2021/22 domestic restructuring. His journey, though, began with Gauteng with whom he represented through the age groups. He also starred for Border Country culminating with South African Rural selection.

Alvin finished third on Gauteng’s run charts (152 runs at 38) behind Quinton de Kock (South Africa) and Shaylen Pillay (Lions) during the CSA Under-19 Three-Day Competition in November/December 2010. He then topped Gauteng’s aggregates during the National Under-17 tournament in the same month.

He played a second year for the Gauteng Under-19’s in December 2011, before an outstanding CSA Rural tournament in 2012/13, topping the run charts for Border Country including scores of 116 from 107 (vs. Border Alloes), 62 from 71 (vs. Border Village) and 125 from 122 (vs. Eastern Province Midlands) in succession.

After a couple of lean seasons, Dithole has come into his own in first-class cricket over the past few summers, hitting 411 runs at 27.40 (2017/18), 329 runs at 27.41 (2018/19), 391 runs at 32.88 (2019/20), 47 runs at 47 (2020/21), and now sits on 335 runs at 83.75 in 2021/22.

Now set for South North

Alvin is a fantastic talent, who whilst known for his destructive batting, is also a front-line keeper and useful off-spinner. He is looking to finish his domestic season in strong fashion before embarking on his maiden UK stint having recently signed with Newcastle powerhouse South Northumberland for their 2022 North East Premier League campaign.