13 October 2023
For a third Westvaal North-South T20 match in succession, Max Robertson paced Westville’s batting and the Griffins put up a decent score, but it wasn’t enough as they suffered a seven-wicket defeat to St Stithians College at Pretoria Boys’ High Old Boys on Friday afternoon.
Robertson opened the innings for Westville in their first two games, but this time he slotted in at number three. The results were still outstanding. The left-hander crushed four sixes and four fours in a 36-ball innings of 67 to provide his side with some strong momentum.
Catch the action live on SuperSport Schools
Get the SuperSport Schools App!
Google Play Store 📲: SuperSport Schools – Apps on Google Play
IOS App Store 📲: SuperSport Schools on the App Store (apple.com)
Web đź’»: https://live.supersportschools.com
Nicandro Kistna provided a late boost, with 35 not out from 20 balls, including five fours, while Aryan Gopalan added a useful 28 from 27.
Soaring scores
Unfortunately for the Griffins, with the pitches having flattened out after the morning games, scores soared in the afternoon session and their 177 for 7 against a very talented St Stithians line-up was simply not enough.
Westville did manage to get after SA u19 quick, Kwena Maphaka, who took two wickets but also went for 47 in his four overs. Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who opened the innings with Maphaka, was the pick of the Saints’ attack, though, snaring 3 for 16 in four overs.
Bosch’s bashing batsmen too much for Westville | Pinnacle Schools (pinnacle-schools.com)
In response, the Johannesburgers, who beat Westville during the Oppenheimer Michaelmas Cricket Week, got away to strong start. Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who was recently signed by the SA 20’s Paarl Royals, was the first to fall, caught and bowled by Sean McGough for 26.
Decisive innings
The problem was that the dismissal of Pretorius brought SA Schools’ batsman, Richard Seletswane, to the middle. His stay lasted only 23 balls, but it was telling. Four times he cleared the boundary, and he added a further four fours, in a decisive knock of 52, which took St Stithians to within sight of victory.
Aryan Gopalan grabbed Seletswane’s wicket and then removed Emile Odendaal the very next ball, but that only delayed the inevitable and Saints duly recorded a win with a huge eight overs in hand.
Opening batsman Aiden van der Westhuizen more than played his part in his team’s victory, finishing unbeaten on 61 after 29 deliveries, which, astonishingly, included six sixes and just one four.
SCORES
Westville 177 for 7 (M. Robertson 67, N. Kistna 35*, A. Gopalan 28, L. Pretorius 3 for 16)
St Stithians 182 for 3 (A. van der Westhuizen 61*, R. Seletswane 52, A. Gopalan 2 for 40)
St Stithians won by 7 wickets
Leave a Reply