Scoring a double century in a 40 over game is impressive by anyone's standards, but when a 12 year-old schoolgirl does it then people do sit up and take notice. Step forward Mignon du Preez, who hit 16 sixes and 25 fours in an innings of 258 with a strike rate of over 200, in a provincial Under-13 match between Gauteng and North Gauteng.

Five years later she broke into the South African national side, called in as a replacement for injured captain Shandre Fritz. She took her chance scoring an unbeaten 55 from 69 balls in the washed-out fifth ODI against Pakistan in January 2007, and followed that up by sharing a South African record partnership of 224 not out (the fourth highest of all time) with Johmari Logtenberg in the third ODI against the Netherlands. Her innings of 81 not out has given her a good chance of maintaining a part in the side and her keeping ability will only help her cause.

Alan Curr September 2007