15 October 2023
Saturday brought Westville Boys’ High a win at the Westvaal North-South T20, but they began the day with a narrow loss to Grey High School, despite another superb innings from Max Robertson.
He may not have reached triple figures in Pretoria, narrowly missing out with 98 off of only 48 balls against Affies, but he has, undoubtedly, been the most consistent batsman of the tournament.
Robertson smashed three sixes and three fours in a 30-ball 50, which was exactly a third of the Westville total of 150 for 9. Roxton Payne, with an unbeaten 26 from 20 deliveries, provided a late boost for the Griffins.
Zander Nutt, with 4 for 30 from his four overs, and Krain Cambier, with an economical 3 for 18 in four, did most of the damage for the Eastern Cape side.
Grey needed all but two balls of their 20-over allocation to finally overhaul the Westville total. That success had plenty to do with opener Marco Giaconi, who struck 66 from 60 balls, while Xander Ellington saw his side over the line to a five-wicket win with an undefeated 44 from only 33 deliveries, which included five fours.
Dominating performance
In the afternoon, Westville produced the kind of dominating T20 performance they’re capable of against Nelspruit.
Nellies batted first but struggled to get anything going against the Griffins’ attack. Dawico Kruger stood out with 38 from 40, but Luke Poisson, with only 21, was their second highest scorer, as Westville dismissed their opponents for 130, with two balls remaining in the innings.
Opening bowler Dayalan Boyce was the pick of the Westville bowlers, knocking over 4 for 20 in 3.4 overs. Chad van Breda snapped up 2 for 13 in two, while the wickets were shared around by the rest of the attack.
A strong opening stand set Westville up for the much-needed win. Max Robertson was brutal, crushing three sixes and four fours in a decisive 15-ball stay, which yielded 37 runs. Blake Simpson also took to the Nelspruit bowling, striking two sixes and five fours in his 39 from 24 deliveries. From there, it was easy.
Westville took only 13 overs to surpass the Nelspruit total to record a comfortable six-wicket win.
SCORES
Westville 150 for 9 (M. Robertson 50, R. Payne 26*, Z. Nutt 4 for 30, K. Cambier 3 for 18)
Grey High 152 for 5 (M. Giaconi 66, X. Ellington 44*)
Grey High won by 5 wickets
Nelspruit 130 all out (D. Kruger 38, D. Boyce 4 for 20, C. van Breda 2 for 13)
Westville 134 for 4 (B. Simpson 39, M. Robertson 37)
Westville won by 6 wickets
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