18 December 2023
KwaZulu-Natal claimed two significant scalps on the opening two days of the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Cricket Week in Makhanda, while KZN Inland also went two for two.
On day one, Saturday, KZN were presented with a tricky opener against a talented Titans line-up, but they responded well to record a 25-run win.
Hayden Bishop led the batting effort, making 88, while Evan Fouché, with 68, and Blake Simpson, with 27, also made important contributions as KZN posted 254 for 9 in their 50 overs.
Steve Stolk led the Titans’ attack, picking up 3 for 43, while Hernus Marais captured 3 for 46, and Marcus Bakker 2 for 61.
In reply, the Titans mustered 229 all out. Jorich van Schalkwyk just missed out on a century, scoring 96, while Dumisane Motshwene weighed in with 32. Crucially, KZN dismissed the talented Stolk cheaply and ran out the dangerous Bakker before he had faced a ball.
Ntando Soni led the KZN bowlers with an excellent return of 4 for 39, while Bandile Mbatha picked up 2 for 32.
It didn’t get any easier for KZN on Sunday as they tackled Western Province. Once again, it was a hard-fought contest, but it went KZN’s way by 22 runs in the end.
Blake Simpson played a pivotal role in the team’s success, making 103 out of their total of 207, with Ross Coetzee‘s 28 the second highest score of the innings.
Raeeq Daniels led the Province attack, knocking over 4 for 41, while Mbuleko Dube lent strong support, picking up 3 for 35.
Western Province, in reply, were bowled out for 185. Benni Hansen top scored with 42 and Daniels, with 32, was a valuable contributor once more. Sibulele Sibuzana made 31.
Simpson snared 2 for 17 and was well backed up by Sandiswa Yeni‘s 2 for 23, Nqobani Mokoena‘s 2 for 36, and Ross Coetzee’s 2 for 44.
In their opener, KZN Inland faced Free State. Batting first, Inland tallied 222 for 8, with Ross Boast making 83 and Caleb Thomas 61. Johnathan Muller was the pick of the Free State bowlers, claiming 3 for 20, while Juan Viljoen took 2 for 59.
The Free Staters were dismissed for 169 in response, with Viljoen top scoring with 60 and Connor Nel making 38.
Thabiso Ndlela sent four batsmen packing at a cost of 31 runs, while Ivan Lockem, who scored 20 with the bat, conceded 20 runs with the ball, but also removed three batsmen, as Inland won by 53 runs.
Up against Boland in their second outing, KZN Inland cruised to an emphatic 125-run win.
Lockem led the charge, scoring 100 as Inland put up 262 for 7 in their 50 overs. Murray Baker shone with 78, and Bryn Brokensha finished on 22 not out.
Callum Appolis was the best of the Boland bowlers with a return of 2 for 27.
The Bolanders never really got going with the bat and were bowled out for 137. Josh Jordaan fought hard and made 45, while Riley Norton was unbeaten on 33, but Caleb Thomas, with 2 for 12, and Ross Boast, with 2 for 18, set the Winelanders on the back foot.
The loaded Central Gauteng Lions, as expected, appear to be the team to beat. They handed Boland an eight-wicket loss on day one and followed that up with a 10-wicket thrashing of Free State.
Easterns‘ leg-spinner Parth Patel provided a big highlight on day two, snaring 7 for 15, the best figures yet at the Khaya Majola Week, to bowl his team to victory over Northern Cape.
The record previously belonged to Maritzburg College’s Daryn du Pavillon who captured 7 for 18 for KZN Inland against North West in 2012.
Apart from Ivan Lockem and Blake Simpson, centuries have also been scored by Ludwich Schuld (117 for North West vs Kei), Muhammed Bulbulia (115 for North West vs Kei) and Tre Gilbert (107 for Border vs Kei).
SCORES
Day One
KwaZulu-Natal 254/9 (Hayden Bishop 88, Evan Fouché 68, Blake Simpson 27; Steve Stolk 3/43, Hernus Marais 3/46, Marcus Bakker 2/61); Titans 229 (Jorich van Schalkwyk 96, Dumisane Motshwene 32, Extras 22, Modise Maloka 21; Ntando Soni 4/39, Bandile Mbatha 2/32). KwaZulu-Natal won by 25 runs.
KwaZulu-Natal Inland 222/8 (Ross Boast 83, Caleb Thomas 61, Ivan Lockem 20; Johnathan Muller 3/20, Juan Viljoen 2/59); Free State 169 (Juan Viljoen 60, Connor Nel 38; Thabiso Ndlela 4/31, Ivan Lockem 3/20). KwaZulu-Natal Inland won by 53 runs.
Western Province 264 (Benni Hansen 58, Siyabonga Venge 46, Oliver Whitehead 30, Kashief Joseph 29, Raeeq Daniels 29, Mbulelo Dube 21*, Paul James 20; Hamza Khan 4/39, Simnikiwe Soyaya 2/23, Jean Upman 2/37); Eastern Province 188 (Olwakhe Goqoza 66, Matthew Poole 39, Harry van Heerden 21, Extras 21; Sibulele Sibunzana 3/32, Fayvaad Davids 3/42, Raeeq Daniels 2/31). Western Province won by 76 runs.
Boland 122 (Johan Wege 31, Extras 23; Kwena Maphaka 4/37, Cole Francis 3/13, Tjaart Mentz 2/11); Central Gauteng Lions 123/2 (Lhuan-dré Pretorius 37, David Teeger 31, Extras 28, Thebe Gazide 20; Thando Prusent 1/10). Central Gauteng Lions won by eight wickets.
Border 137 (Bevaneo Mayham 32, Extras 25, Ben van der Merwe 24, Osiphesona Mbekwa 21; Davico Kruger 5/28, Kamogelo Sebola 2/14); Mpumalanga 139/6 (Jayden Meyer 51, Davico Kruger 23; Hlumelo Ntlola 2/15). Mpumalanga won by four wickets.
North West 317/4 (Ludwich Schuld 117, Muhammed Bulbulia 115, Extras 27, Tumelo Makume 20*; Chulumanco Soyizwhaphi 2/77); Kei 25 (Tumelo Makume 3/3, Zavier van Rensburg 2/12). North West won by 292 runs.
Easterns 157 (Sabelo Mabanga 59, Ahmed Imran 20; Michael Nel 5/24, Jeandré Strydom 2/35, Masilo Moremi 2/37); Limpopo 128 (Maan Mistry 29, Extras 23; Parth Partel 2/16, Juan Steyn 2/17, Simele Maye 2/22). Easterns won by 29 runs.
Garden Route Badgers 119 (Charl-Francois Marais 33*, Extras 26; Malan Lubbe 3/6, Oratile Jubeni 2/17, Monnapule Jansen 2/22); Northern Cape 120/9 (Simon Liversage 48, Malan Lubbe 47; Sibabalwe Msi 3/5, Enathi Khitshini 3/35, Charl-Francois Marais 2/38). Northern Cape won by one wicket.
Day two
KwaZulu-Natal 207 (Blake Simpson 103, Ross Coetzee 28; Raeeq Daniels 4/41, Mbuleko Dube 3/35); Western Province 185 (Benni Hansen 42, Raeeq Daniels 32, Sibulele Sibunzana 31, Extras 20; Blake Simpson 2/17, Sandiswa Yeni 2/23, Nqobani Mokoena 2/36, Ross Coetzee 2/44). KwaZulu-Natal won by 22 runs.
KwaZulu-Natal Inland 262/7 (Ivan Lockem 100, Murray Baker 78, Bryn Brokensha 22*, Extras 20; Callum Appollis 2/27); Boland 137 (Josh Jordaan 45, Riley Norton 33*; Caleb Thomas 2/12, Ross Boast 2/18). KwaZulu-Natal Inland won by 125 runs.
Eastern Province 226/7 (Harry van Heerden 50, Jean Upman 41*, Matthew Poole 36, Matthew Beamish 33; Lungile Mabuza 2/43); Titans 227/3 (Steve Stolk 69, Jorich van Schalkwyk 53*, Dumisane Motshwene 51, Lukas van Rensburg 33) Titans won by seven wickets.
Free State 70 (Khanyisile Nondwangu 36; Esosa Aihevba 6/26, Sipho Potsane 2/2, Cole Francis 2/20); Central Gauteng Lions 73/0 (Tshepo Stafa 47*, Thebe Gazibe 23*). Gauteng Lions won by ten wickets.
Easterns 213 (Dewan Marais 88, Sheldon van Wyk 54; Simon Liversage 2/2, Oratile Jubeni 2/60); Northern Cape 119 (Extras 29, Malan Lubbe 26, Simon Liversage 21; Parth Patel 7/15). Easterns won by 94 runs.
North West 165 (Ludwich Schuld 50, Thuto Matjoi 44, Extras 34; Luke Poisson 4/29, Davico Kruger 2/26, Dian Eicker 2/34); Mpumalanga 166/6 (Luke Poisson 65*, Ruben Bodemer 22; Berno de Klerk 2/25). Mpumalanga won by four wickets.
Border 324/5 (Tre Gilbert 107, Wayden Plaatjies 76*, Chulumanco Macozomu 44, Extras 35, Bevaneo Mayham 33; Mamve Mditswa 2/68); Kei 72 (Qiqa Nika 24*, Extras 20; Amahle Masiko 5/18, Chad Evans 2/11, Ryan Denston 2/14). Border won by 252 runs.
Garden Route Badgers 321/5 (Enathi Kitshini 86, Zane Greyling 81, Zander Nel 58, Extras 49, Devino Koert 24*; Nsuku Mathye 2/39, Masilo Moremi 2/42); Limpopo 199 (Ruben Vosloo 77, Maan Mistry 38, Extras 20; Enathi Kitshini 4/37, Josh Karelse 2/25, Corné Kennedy 2/50). Garden Route Badgers won by 122 runs.
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