Kwena Maphaka has had one of the quickest rises in South African cricket. At just 19, he has already gained a lot of international experience and has been one of the key figures in the Proteas’ bowling attack.

However, it’s been a challenging few months for the teenager, coming off the back of some difficult games in Zimbabwe. He seemed to bounce back instantly, taking 4-20 in the first T20 against Australia this past Sunday. This saw him become the youngest Proteas men’s player to achieve this accomplishment.

When asked how he felt after achieving this, he said:

“Just coming off a few bad performances in Zimbabwe, it feels really good to put in a good performance for the team and make history while doing it.”

During the first couple of overs of Sunday’s game, Australia looked to play very aggressively, scoring as quickly as possible.

When asked what he does in a situation like that, Maphaka said:

“I think it’s really just about reading the game. Obviously, when a team is coming out all guns blazing, there are a few more opportunities to take wickets. It’s just about being smart and understanding what you have to do when you’re faced with those situations. It depends on the wickets and the batters that you’re playing against.”

Despite only being 19, Maphaka plays with so much confidence that he rarely looks nervous or unsettled on the field.

When talking about where he gets his confidence from, he said:

“I have a lot of belief in my skill, and I back my skill quite a bit. I think I’ve always been quite a confident guy, and I’ve always been a real competitor.

“I never like losing. I always want to come out on top in the fight. I think it’s been something that’s been instilled in me since I was young.”

Maphaka also spoke about his struggles in the Zimbabwe series and what he thought was missing for him.

“I think belief is a massive part in performance, and I think I might have been a little bit short on belief in Zim, so that’s probably one of the big takeaways from that series.”

Kwena Maphaka’s ability to bounce back from setbacks, especially at such a young age, shows just how strong he is mentally. In just a few years, he has gone from a promising schoolboy talent to a genuine match-winner for South Africa.