Onke Nyaku

Onke Nyaku is a highly talented and promising young all-rounder from Port Elizabeth in South Africa. A patient, right-handed middle order Batsman, Onke is also a handy right-arm medium/fast seamer. Originally an Eastern Cape lad, he was born in Umtata and represented his home province of Border from the U13 age group through to U19 level before switching to the Port Elizabeth-based, Eastern Province set up.

Having first appeared in senior men’s provincial cricket for Eastern Province in the 2013/14 CSA T20 competition, he would not make his First Class debut until the following summer against a powerhouse Gauteng side, batting at No. 6 in an uneventful drawn game. Whilst pursuing his cricket career, he has managed to juggle studies at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University successfully and having concluded his studies is now free to focus on his game.

After a solid 2017-18, Onke was selected in the South African Emerging players tour to Sri Lanka and made two appearances on the tour, his handy medium/fast bowling proving useful and he made a decent 29 (37) in a One-day game.

In summer 2021, Onke ventured to the UK for the first time, joining Two Counties Powerhouse, Witham CC as they chased promotion to the ECB East Anglian Premier League and he did not disappoint. Aside from being an exceptional human being, Onke ploughed through 711 runs @ 59.25 with an incredible best of 150* (77) and chipped in with 18 wickets @ 26.17. He returned to WCC in 2022, scoring 903 runs @ 45.15 and picked up 29 wickets @ 33.93.

Onke headed north in 2023, signing for Treeton CC in the ECB Yorkshire South Premier League. His season was cut short, playing just 15 games, scoring 410 runs @ 31.54 and picking up 9 wickets.

Seeking a return to the UK next summer, Onke will be an excellent pick up for a club seeking a highly capable middle-order Batsman and medium/fast bowler that has shown he can do the business in the UK.