3 October 2023
The format on Tuesday, the final day of the 63rd Oppenheimer Michaelmas Cricket Week, turned to the T20 and, for the most part, the Gauteng schools ruled the roost against their KZN opposition.
Kearsney College vs Affies
In a meeting of two unbeatens, Affies stopped the Kearsney machine, with their spin-heavy attack being particularly suited to keeping opposing batsmen in check in the shorter form of the game.
Kearsney managed to score at a decent tempo in the early going, but the loss of too many wickets undermined their ability to post a big score. In fact, they were bowled out in the final over for 137.
Jack O’Donovan held the Botha’s Hill boys’ innings together, making 41 from 38 balls, with three fours and a six, but Hayden Bishop’s 18 from 13 was next best, which wasn’t going to cut it against a quality outfit like Affies.
Bishop, though, will exit the Michaelmas Week with the Kearsney record for the most runs scored in a season. When he made an unbeaten 72 in a win over Waterkloof, he took his tally to 1 257 runs for the year, an outstanding accomplishment.
Three Affies bowlers – Divan de Villiers, Petrus Rautenbach and Nicolai Bester – picked up three wickets each.
Affies then went about their run chase with aggression, which was exactly what was required. At the top of the order, Jorich van Schalkwyk, who enjoyed a superb all-round week, anchored his side’s reply, striking 45 not out from 46 balls.
He received good support from Janco Purchase (28* from 16), Divan de Villiers (23 from 15), and Ruben Groenewald (21 from 8) as Affies claimed a seven-wicket win with 4.4 overs in hand.
Hilton College vs Saint David’s Marist Inanda
At Hilton, the home team was in rampant form against Saint David’s Marist Inanda.
Opener Luke Watt blasted seven fours and four sixes in a swashbuckling knock off 85 from 48 deliveries, while Matthew Stewart’s 19-ball stay produced 35 runs, including three fours and one six.
After 20 overs, they had posted a big 207 for 8. The pick of the Saint David’s bowlers was Morteza Manack, who took 2 for 26 in his four overs.
Then, Hilton skipper Ross Boast, who was the victim of a run out, ripped into the Johannesburg school’s batting to reduce them to 4 for 2 in the third over. They were on the ropes, and they never managed to escape them.
Seven batsmen made it into double figures, but only one of those made it into the twenties, with Kamogelo Phiri top scoring with 29 at better than a run a ball. There simply was insufficient support, however, and Saint David’s were held to 132 for 9.
Nic Chantler picked up 2 for 16 with his leg-spin, while Ross Boast finished with 2 for 21.
Maritzburg College vs Cornwall Hill College
At Maritzburg College, on Goldstone’s, the hosts faced Cornwall Hill College.
Batting first, they put up 124 for 5, which was always going to be a tough total to defend. Captain Bryn Brokensha top scored with 52 from 41, while Oliver da Costa contributed 24.
Jason Jansen picked up 1 for 11 in three overs, while Richard Williams was miserly, returning figures of 1 for 13 in four for Cornwall Hill.
The Pretoria side replied with 128 for 5, winning with two overs to spare.
Gerhard Lock top scored with 54, while Ryan Herselman did his bit by adding 35. Brokensha and Da Costa, the pick of the College batsmen, were also the pick of the College bowlers, with the skipper capturing 2 for 13 in three, and Da Costa taking 2 for 26 in four.
Northwood School vs Grey College
Up on Barns’, Grey College, with three wins under their belt, engaged in a terrific battle with Northwood.
The Bloemfontein boys mustered 149 for 6 in their 20 overs, with Dale Williams leading the way with an undefeated 34 from 27 deliveries. Samu Lephoto (26 from 16) and Casper Troskie (26 from 17) also made telling contributions.
Liam Peverett shone for the Knights, capturing 3 for 9, while Nqobani Mokoena was a little expensive, but removed two batsmen at a cost of 42 runs.
Northwood, in reply, tallied 150 for 9, winning off the last ball by one wicket, to tarnish Grey’s previously clean Michaelmas record.
James Nielsen led their successful run chase, making 46, while Nqobani Mokoena demonstrated his all-round ability with a vital 43.
Juan Viljoen, with 3 for 25, and Darion Rabie, with 2 for 27, were the best of the Grey College bowlers.
Glenwood High vs Jeppe High
Another excellent contest unfolded at Collegians between Glenwood and Jeppe.
The Johannesburg school owed plenty to their captain, Jaydon Brooker, whose innings was of 78 was 60 runs more than their second highest run getter, Kai van Aardt. In just 50 balls, Brooker also smashed four fours and four sixes.
Bandile Mbatha went for 40 in his four overs, but did send three batsmen packing. Ntando Soni, meanwhile, picked up 2 for 30 in his four.
In reply, Glenwood came up just five runs shy of victory. They completed their 20 overs on 164 for 5, with Jandre Fourie striking six fours in his 34 from 24, and Bandile Mbatha making 34 from 32. Ntando Soni contributed 31 from 30, and Cameron Laing hit 25 from 22, but it was not quite enough.
Tsepo Stafa led the Jeppe bowlers, taking 2 for 29 in his four overs.
Westville Boys’ High vs Waterkloof
At Eston, Westville didn’t put enough runs on the board against Waterkloof.
Batting first, they managed 134 for 7, with openers Chad van Breda and Aryan Gopalan both making it into the thirties. Van Breda top scored with 33 from 36, while Gopalan launched a six and five fours before he was out for a merry 32 from 17 deliveries.
Franco Cronje stood out for the Pretoria boys, snaring 3 for 16 in four, while Marcus Bakker returned 2 for 24 from four.
The Klofies hit out early and often in their reply. Marcus Bakker was out in the eighth over for 21 from 20, but Waterkloof already had 76 on the board, and at the other end Wian Ruthven was laying waste to the Westville bowling.
He finished on 85 not out, from only 51 balls, with eight four and four sixes, while Divan Behrens added an unbeaten 28 from 25, as Waterkloof roared to a nine-wicket win with four overs to spare.
Saint Charles College vs St Stithians College
At Saint Charles, St Stithians wrapped up an imperious showing at the Michaelmas Week with their fourth convincing victory in succession.
The home side visited the middle first and totalled 121 for 8. Connor Riley top scored with 35, and Brendon Sunguro tallied 32, but Kwena Maphaka’s pace undid four Saint Charles batsmen for just 17 runs.
The Joburg powerhouse had few problems reeling in the Pietermaritzburg school’s total for the loss of just two wickets. Richard Seletswane played the pivotal innings, making 64, while Emile Odendaal weighed in with 28.
DHS vs Saint John’s College
At UKZN, Saint John’s College rolled to a big win over DHS, who have struggled for form with the bat.
The Horseflies aggregated just 92 all out, with Semal Pillay top scoring with 25, but they were undone by Oliver Tait’s 3 for 18 and 3 for 19 from Cole Francis.
Joe MacRobert then struck 50 and Luke Francis contributed 30 as Saint John’s cruised to a nine-wicket win.
Michaelhouse vs Pretoria Boys High
Out at Richmond, there was another loss for a KZN school, although it was a close one.
Michaelhouse managed only 116 for 9, batting first against Pretoria Boys High, with Ethan Muir, who opened the batting, making the biggest contribution of 28 from 27. Seb Hofmeyer made 22 and Nathan Hoatson 20.
PBHS, in response, reached 117 for 9 in 18.3 overs to seal a narrow victory.
Michael Thornton more than did his bit to stop them, knocking over 5 for 15 in four, but even his outstanding effort was not quite enough to stop the opposition getting to the low victory target.
Clifton College vs KES
The scheduled match between Clifton College and King Edward VII did not take place.
SUMMARISED SCORES
Maritzburg College vs Cornwall Hill College, Goldstone’s
Maritzburg College 124 for 4 (B. Brokensha 52, O. da Costa 24, J. Jansen 1 for 11, R. Williams 1 for 13)
Cornwall Hill College 126 for 5 (G. Lock 54, R. Herselman 35, B. Brokensha 2 for 13, O. da Costa 2 for 26)
Cornwall Hill won by 5 wickets
Northwood vs Grey College, Barns’
Grey College 149 for 6 (D. Williams 34*, S. Lephoto 26, L. Peverett 3 for 9, N. Mokoena 2 for 42)
Northwood 150 for 9 (J. Nielsen 46, N. Mokoena 43, J. Viljoen 3 for 15, D. Rabie 2 for 27)
Northwood won by 1 wicket
Clifton College vs KES, Lynwood
Cancelled
Glenwood vs Jeppe, Collegians
Jeppe 168 for 8 (J. Brooker 78, K.van Aardt 18, B. Mbatha 3 for 40, Soni 2 for 30)
Glenwood 164 for 5 (J. Fourie 34, B. Mbatha 34, T. Stafa 2 for 29)
Jeppe won by 4 runs
Westville vs Waterkloof, Eston
Westville 134 for 7 (C. van Breda 33, A, Gopalan 32, F. Cronje 3 for 16, M. Bakker 2 for 24)
Waterkloof 137 for 1 (W. Ruthven 85, D. Behrens 28)
Waterkloof won by 9 wickets
Hilton College vs Saint David’s Marist Inanda
Hilton 207 for 8 (L. Watt 87, M. Stewart 35, M. Manack 2 for 26)
Saint David’s 132 all out (K. Phiri 29, N. Chantler 2 for 16, R Boast 2 for 21)
Hilton won by 75 runs
Saint Charles College vs St Stithians College
Saint Charles 121 for 8 (C. Riley 35, B. Sunguro 32, K. Maphaka 4 for 17)
Saint Stithian’s 122 for 2 (R. Seletswane 64, E. Odendaal 28)
Saint Stithians won by 8 wickets
DHS vs Saint John’s College, Varsity 1
DHS 92 all out (S. Pillay 25, O. Tait 3 for 18, C. Francis 3 for 19)
Saint John’s 94 for 1 (J. MacRobert 50, L. Francis 30)
Saint John’s won by 9 wickets
Kearsney College vs Affies, Varsity 2
Kearsney 137 all out (J. O’Donovan 41, N. Bester 3 for 12, D. de Villiers 3 for 26, P. Rautenbach 3 for 27)
Affies 142 for 3 (J. van Schalkwyk 45, J. Purchase 23)
Affies won by 7 wickets
Michaelhouse vs Pretoria Boys High, Richmond
Michaelhouse 116 for 9 (E. Muir 28)
Pretoria Boys High 119 for 9 (M. Thornton 5 for 15)
Pretoria Boys High won by 1 wicket
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