6 February 2023
Through the first two weeks of the 2023 school year, the Hilton College 1st XI staked a strong claim, along with Kearsney College, to be the KZN team to beat following impressive wins over DHS and Westville. On Saturday, at Maritzburg College, however, they almost lost, escaping with a nail-biting one-wicket victory.
College opted to bat after winning the toss, but lost Liam Armstrong early when he was bowled by left-arm paceman Matt Stewart for five, with the total on seven.
His fellow opener, Creedon Smith was the next man to fall, victim of a superb low caught and bowled catch by Matipa Denenga for 10.
Caleb Thomas and captain Bryn Brokensha then settled the innings with a 35-run partnership for the third wicket before Thomas was LBW to leg spinner Nic Chantler when he missed an attempted sweep. His 44-ball stay produced 15 runs, but no boundaries.
Excellent direct hit
Brokensha and Chad Mason steered the College innings to 99 runs, but when they tried for a quick single to bring up the innings’ century the skipper was run out by an excellent direct hit from Charles Swart. Brokensha’s 35 proved to be the top score of the College innings. It included three fours.
Mason was out soon after for 24. He and Brokensha, the two highest scorers for College, were both run out, which was devastating to the home side’s cause, but also indicative of a very good effort in the field by Hilton.
The dismissal of the Mason and Brokensha led to the innings losing impetus as off-spinner Brett Cutting nabbed three wickets in succession, on his way to a return of 3 for 27 from 10 overs.
Only Oliver Da Costa, among the remaining batsmen, with 13, managed to make it into double-figures as College slipped to 140 all out after 45.2 overs.
Chantler did well to pick up 2 for 33 in 10, but, undoubtedly, the crucial wickets came through run outs.
Bad start
Hilton’s batsmen, the previous weekend, had looked very comfortable and convincing at the crease in a win over Westville, but their innings against College started disastrously.
The very first ball of the innings, Brokensha cleaned bowled Luke Watt. He then knocked over Ivan Lockem’s stumps, with the batsman leaving the ball, to reduce Hilton to 10 for 2.
Three runs later, Asanda Khumalo was bowling, but Brokensha was again involved, catching Charles Swart when the batsman failed to roll his wrists over the ball and keep it down when on the pull. At 13 for 3, Hilton were in unfamiliar trouble.
In a similar manner to the College innings, Matt Stewart, batting at four, and Ross Boast, in at five, set about repairing the innings. They took the total to 61 before Stewart fell, sharply caught by wicketkeeper Rhett Quin off of the bowling of Oliver Da Costa for 14.
The Quin and Da Costa combination paid dividends just two runs later again, with S. Strydom departing for a single.
Nic Chantler stuck around a while for seven before he, too, was removed, caught by Quin off the bowling of Da Costa.
Crucial blow
College captain Bryn Brokensha then struck a crucial blow, trapping Hilton skipper Ross Boast in front for the highest score of the match. He had made 49 off of 69 deliveries, with one six (an impressive pull off of Sphamandla Dzanibe) and four fours.
With Hilton on 97 for 7, the contest hung in the balance. But one run later it swung in College’s favour when Wian Liebenberg was run out for five, thanks to a direct hit from Asanda Khumalo.
College were buoyed, but Brett Cutting and Matipa Denenga scrapped and scrambled to help Hilton back into favourable position. Together, they helped the visitors to within sight of victory, but Denenga then attempted a lofted drive, didn’t get enough on it, and was caught by Khumalo off of Dzanibe’s bowling for a crucial 16.
One more wicket and College would win. Seven more runs and the game was Hilton’s.
Natenzi Denenga, the last man in, managed three runs off of three balls, while Cutting stuck it out to finish with a defiant, undefeated 18 from 61 deliveries to see Hilton to a thrilling victory. He sealed the win with a crisp cut off of M. Gibson, punching the air in delight after rescuing his side from jaws of defeat.
The razor-thin difference between the two teams might have been in the extras; College bowled 14 wides, while Hilton sent down nine.
Bryn Brokensha and Oliver Da Costa were superb with the ball for the red, white and black. Brokensha sent down 10 overs, four of which were maidens, and captured 3 for 12. Da Costa’s 10 overs included three maidens, and three wickets at a cost of only 15 runs.
SCORES
Maritzburg College 140 all out (B. Brokensha 35, C. Mason 24, B. Cutting 3 for 27, N. Chantler 2 for 33)
Hilton College 143 for 9 (R. Boast 49, B. Cutting 18*, B. Brokensha 3 for 12, O. Da Costa 3 for 15)
Hilton won by one wicket
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