Mark Pearse

Mark Pearse is quite the prospect who made an immediate impression in South African first-class cricket during the 2022/23 summer.

On debut for Easterns, in the CSA 4-Day Series against KwaZulu-Natal Inland, the opening batter struck a brilliant century. Chasing 327 to win, Pearse blasted his side to victory hitting 115 from 105 balls against an attack featuring the likes of Keith Dudgeon, Stefan Tait, Tiaan Koekemoer, Malcolm Nofal, and Mark Erlank.

Pearse went on to register another destructive century (116) and finished the first-class campaign with 352 runs at 39.11 in his 5 matches, all with a strike rate of 107.31.

Unfortunately, Pearse was unable to replicate his success last summer (2023/24), but remains in the Easterns squad and is looking to make amends throughout the current season.

The youngster, who has excelled at club level for Christian Brothers College Old Boys (CBCOB) in the Easterns Premier League, has also impressed abroad. After two dominant season (2022-23) racking up runs aplenty, plus his fair share of wickets (1,528 runs at 37.27 and 43 wickets at 26.72) for Pelsall in the South Staffordshire County League (Premier Division), he spent last summer with Penkridge in the same League.

Whilst less prolific last summer, hitting 418 runs at 24.59, courtesy of his exploits both on and off the field for the club, Penkridge have re-signed the South African for a second stint in 2025.