16 October 2023
Westville Boys’ High produced the goods on Sunday morning in Pretoria at the Westvaal North-South T20, recording an emphatic six-wicket victory over Saint Andrew’s School, with five overs to spare, and without the in-form Max Robertson taking to the crease.
Saints were guilty of making starts but not pushing on. Four of their batsmen made it into the twenties, but they failed to exit into the thirties. A further three players reached the teens.
Naude Botha top scored for the Bloemfontein boys, with 29, while Jordan van den Bergh weighed in with 27 and captain Connor Nel, fresh off of a century against Selborne on Saturday, contributed 27.
Blake Simpson was the pick of the Westville bowlers, snaring 2 for 18 in four, while three run outs put the skids under the Saint Andrew’s effort. They managed 157 for 8 in their 20.
Match-winning innings
Wicketkeeper James Kruger was moved up the Griffins’ batting order and made full use of the opportunity, striking an unbeaten 73 from only 45 deliveries, with seven big sixes and three fours.
Blake Simpson, Kaeden McAllister and Seth Simpson departed for not many, but Aryan Gopalan then seized the bull by the horns and deposited five deliveries over the boundary in a quickfire 44 not out from just 17 balls. Together with Kruger, the left-handed all-rounder decided the match.
Leg-spinner Schalk Liebenberg did a tidy job for Saint Andrew’s, claiming 1 for 21 in four, but that did little but slow Westville’s victory charge.
SCORES
Saint Andrew’s 157 for 8 (N. Botha 29, J. van den Bergh 27, C. Nel 26, S, Liebenberg 23, B. Simpson 2 for 18)
Westville 158 for 4 (J. Kruger 73*, A, Gopalan 44*)
Westville won by 4 wickets
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