6 September 2023
Clifton College and Maritzburg College had the opportunity over the course of four days to test their skills at the Fasken St David’s Time Cricket Festival where 12 of South Africa’s best cricket schools met in double-innings matches.
With so much of the focus nowadays on shorter forms of the game, it was a rare opportunity for the sides to challenge themselves in a more traditional manner.
Clifton vs Jeppe
Clifton, featuring a team of stayers, took on Jeppe in their opening match and proved that were up to the task, even though Jeppe had the advantage of being familiar with conditions on the highveld.
Batting first, Jeppe mustered 175 all out, thanks mainly to Kyle Jackson, who made 72. Ryan Young lent good support with 33, while Zack Williamson led the Clifton bowling attack with a sharp return of 3 for 10. Tim Saulez picked up 2 for 18.
Clifton then put up 161 all out in reply, falling just 14 runs shy of the Jeppe total. Aalok Beharie top scored with 50, while Tino Mutekwa knocked over 3 for 15 and Jaydon Brooker claimed 3 for 20.
The second time out in the middle, Jeppe enjoyed a better time with the bat, putting up 268 all out, led by Christopher Ellson’s unbeaten 58. Jaydon Brooker, their SA Schools hockey drag flick ace, made 41, and Kyle Jackson followed up his first innings ‘ 72 with 36.
Shazhaad Perumal, who recently attended Cricket South Africa’s National under-17 Camp, starred for Clifton, claiming 5 for 94.
Clifton reached 127 for 4 in their second innings, when time was called. Muhammed Malek was undefeated on 47.
Maritzburg College vs Saint David’s Marist Inanda
College, meanwhile, battered the Saint David’s bowlers in their first innings, tallying 359 for 3.
Caleb Thomas went big, cracking 166, and Liam Armstrong also went well into triple-figures, making 133. Bryn Brokensha was 38 not out.
College then claimed a large first innings lead of 141 runs after the hosts put up 218 for 8 in their reply. Three of their players, Oliver Botha, Matthew West and Kabir Battacharjee made fifties.
Thomas and Armstrong were again among the runs for College in their second innings, with Thomas contributing 60 and Armstrong 76. Ryan McKenzie top scored with 78 as College posted 264 for 6.
Saint David’s, needing a massive 406 for victory, were never going to challenge that total. They were 246 for 5 in their second innings when the game was called. Reece Reddy had made 85 and Matthew West hit 68.
Clifton vs KES
In their second match, Clifton faced KES, an established powerhouse of the game, and one of the most consistent schools at producing South African Schools players.
Batting first, Clifton posted 248 for 6, with Tim Saulez falling just four runs shy of a century. He received excellent support from Jayden Roux, who weighed in with 87.
KES, in response, made 217 for 4, led by Callum Ritchie, who scored 84.
Batting a second time, Clifton put together another solid innings, with Cohen Naidoo’s 66 and Rivan Moodley’s 60 helping the Durban boys to 307 for 7. Ritchie captured 4 for 61 for KES.
He then made 47 as KES finished on 233 for 5 in their second innings, resulting in the match ending in a draw. Eric Southey was undefeated on 55 and Zieg Roos contributed 40.
Maritzburg College vs Saint John’s College
Liam Armstrong continued his torrid form in College’s match against Saint John’s, weighing in with another century, this time 109, as the Pietermaritzburg side cruised to 293 for 5.
Caleb Thomas was again among the runs, making 65, while Bryn Brokensha was 50 not out, and Chad Mason weighed in with 42.
Saint John’s were dismissed for 244 in their first innings, leaving them 49 runs behind College. Spin did the trick for the KZN school, with Oliver Da Costa snaring 4 for 64 and Chad Mason 3 for 50. Joe McRobert offered stern resistance, making 110, while Nkosana Sibiya tallied 45.
After three strong batting efforts at the festival, College lost their way in their second innings as Alec Loveland, with a return of 6 for 30, destroyed their innings. Caleb Thomas stood firm with 38, but received little support as College were knocked over for 118.
McRobert was once more to the fore for Saint John’s, making 70, as they reached 168 for 7 to take a three-wicket win. Chad Mason did his best to stop them, snapping up 4 for 6, but it was not quite enough.
RESULTS
Jeppe 175 all out (K. Jackson 72, R. Young 33, Z. Williamson 3 for 10, T. Saulez 2 for 18)
Clifton 161 all out (A. Beharie 50, T. Mutekwa 3 for 15, J. Brooker 3 for 20)
Jeppe 268 all out (C. Ellson 58*, J. Brooker 41, K. Jackson 36, S. Perumal 5 for 94)
Clifton 127 for 4 (M. Malek 47*)
Match drawn.
Maritzburg College 359 for 3 (C. Thomas 166, L. Armstrong 133, B. Brokensha 38*)
St David’s 218 for 8 (O. Botha 53, M. West 52, K. Battacharjee 51)
Maritzburg College 264 for 6 (R. McKenzie 78, L. Armstrong 76, C. Thomas 60)
St David’s 246 for 5 (R. Reddy 85, M. West 68, G. Phiri 33)
Match drawn.
Clifton 248 for 6 (T. Saulez 96, J. Roux 87)
KES 217 for 4 (Callum Ritchie 84)
Clifton 307 for 7 (C. Cohen 66, R. Moodley 60, C. Ritchie 4 for 61)
KES 233 for 5 (E. Southey 55*, C. Ritchie 47, Z. Roos 40)
Match drawn.
Maritzburg College 293 for 5 (L. Armstrong 109, C. Turner 65, B. Brokensha 50*, C. Mason 42)
St John’s 244 all out (J. McRobert 110, N. Sibiya 45, T. Ievers 34, O. Da Costa 4 for 64, C. Mason 3 for 50)
Maritzburg College 118 all out (C. Thomas 38; A. Loveland 6 for 30)
St John’s 168 for 7 (J. McRobert 70, C. Francis 33, C. Mason 4 for 6).
St John’s won by 3 wickets.
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