10 January 2024
Kearsney College vs Clifton College
In a battle of the unbeatens, Kearsney College defeated Clifton College by 50 runs on Wednesday at the iHlobo Cricket Festival, being hosted by Kearsney in Botha’s Hill.
Keegan de Jager, who represented KZN at under-15 level last year, showed that the step up to the 1st XI was not too big for him by top scoring with 76 as Kearsney totalled 218, batting first.
Cameron Veenstra continued his good form by making 35 before he became one of two stumping victims. Matthew Lamplough scored 23 at the top of the order, while fast bowler Sandiswa Yeni showed he can wield the willow, too, weighing in with 21.
Shiraz Perumal was the most successful bowler for Clifton, claiming 3 for 48 in 10. Rivan Moodley was tight, picking up a fine 2 for 28 in 10, while Simon Hill took 2 for 41 in his 10.
Kearsney, with most of their bowling attack from last year’s successful 1st XI returning, including opening bowlers’ Ryan Browning and Sandiswa Yeni, made quick inroads into the Clifton batting, with Byron Ward caught and bowled by Browning for two and Muhammed Malek LBW without scoring to Yeni.
The Durban school toiled manfully to break the shackles Kearsney had thrown upon them, but they could never quiet escape their clutches. Tim Saulez, a classy presence in their top order, managed 19 before he fell. Then, with Kearsney comfortably on top, the lower order staged an impressive fightback.
Lawson Dinsdale, in at nine, led the way with 33 not out, and Caleb Naicker made 21, batting at 10, but Clifton’s top order had not made enough of an impact, and they were dismissed for 168.
Yeni captured 2 for 27 in eight, while his new ball partner, Browning, knocked over 2 for 39 in six. Matt Lamplough ensured his was a solid all-round contribution by picking up 2 for 27 in seven.
Durban High School vs St Alban’s College
A 70-run stand for the second wicket was the highlight of St Alban’s College‘s innings against DHS. Kyle Block was then dismissed for 47 from 52 deliveries, with two fours and two sixes.
Patrick Weir, his partner in that crucial effort, went on to make exactly 50 from 58 balls. When he fell, with the total on 113, the St Alban’s innings lost momentum as only two more batsmen made it into the teens. After 33.5 overs, the boys from Pretoria were all out for 155.
Jared Havemann knocked over four batsmen to finish with 4 for 35 from his eight overs, while Sfundo Mthembu captured 3 for 23, and Ethan Cooper took 2 for 30 from seven.
The DHS reply resembled their opponent’s innings in that it was based mostly on the contributions of only two batsmen, and their partnership. Josh van Biljon top scored with 52 from 62 balls, with six fours and a six, while Ethan Cooper made 21, and together they produced a stand of 53 for the third wicket.
Van Biljon was run out, as was Taine Havermann, and that hurt the DHS batting effort.
Jared Havermann, batting eighth, delivered an unbeaten 19 from 20 balls, but there was nothing more of substance as DHS were bowled out for 129, leaving St Alban’s the victors by 26 runs.
Liam Basch led from the front for the Pretoria school, snapping up 3 for 30 in 6.3 overs, while his opening partner, Rohan Govind, took 2 for 27 in seven. Tim Garnett claimed 2 for 31 in his seven, and Christian Visagé put the batsmen under pressure with a return of 1 for 9 from five.
Michaelhouse vs Falcon College
Michaelhouse kept their clean record intact by overwhelming Falcon College.
The Zimbabweans batted first but struggled to come to terms with the bowling of the tall left-arm spinner Cameron Strudwick, who turned out for KZN Inland in the Khaya Majola Week. Strudwick ripped apart the Falcon innings, sending down 8.4 overs, four of which were maidens, and snaring 4 for 10.
Nicholas Baker was also extremely effective with the ball, picking up 3 for 5 in three overs.
Liam Nel, with 20, was the best of the Falcon batsmen. But their innings fell apart at the end of the 21st over when the fourth wicket went down with the total on 87. Only eight runs later, Falcon were all out for 95.
Michaelhouse came out aggressively, in pursuit of a low total, and their efforts were helped by Falcon, who grassed a number of catches.
Ethan Muir struck an unbeaten 49, with three fours and a six, while Tomas Baguley contributed two fours and a six in a quickfire 11-ball knock, which brought him 21 not out and saw House to a nine-wicket victory. Opener Michael Spencer weighed in with 20.
St John’s College (Harare) vs Uplands College
St John’s College ensured there was a Zimbabwean success as they cruised to a six-wicket win over Uplands College.
Visiting the crease first, the team from White River put up 125 all out, led by Tristan Rijkenberg‘s 34, while Bruce Nel grafted hard for 29 at the top of the order, but there was not much support for the duo.
Kian Blignaut went for 4.9 runs per over, but also got in among the wickets, to finish with 4 for 49 from his 10 overs. New ball bowler John-Mark Benadie shone with a return of 3 for 9 from six, and Michael Blignaut also removed three batsmen at a cost of 31 runs from 9.4 overs.
St John’s then took 19.2 overs to overhaul the Uplands’ total. Opening batsmen Khulekani Nduku combined with Kian Blignaut for a second wicket stand of 61 runs, which set their side on course for victory. Nduku then fell for 32 from 34 balls, which included four fours and two sixes.
Blignaut advanced the total to 110 before he was out for 45 after striking four fours and three sixes in a 39-ball stay. John-Mark Benadie was dismissed two runs later for 14, but Michael Blignaut and Luca Spagnuolo then saw the Rams to victory.
Summarised scorecards
Kearsney College 218/10 (Keegan de Jager 76, Cameron Veenstra 35, Matthew Lamplough 23, Sandiswa Yeni 21, Shiraz Perumal 3/48, Rivan Moodley 2/28, Simon Hill 2/41); Clifton College 168/10 (Lawson Dinsdale 33*, Caleb Naicker 21, Sandiswa Yeni 2/27, Matthew Lamplough 2/29, Ryan Browning 2/39) Kearsney College won by 50 runs.
St Alban’s College 155/10 (Patrick Weir 50, Kyle Block 47, Jared Havermann 4/35, Sfundo Mthembu 3/23, Ethan Cooper 2/30); DHS 129/10 (Josh van Biljon 52, Ethan Cooper 21, Liam Basch 3/30, Rohan Govind 2/27, Tim Garnett 2/31) St Alban’s College won by 26 runs.
Falcon College 95/10 (Liam Nel 20, Cameron Strudwick 4/10, Nicholas Baker 3/5); Michaelhouse 99/1 (Ethan Muir 49*, Tomas Baguley 21*, Michael Spencer 20) Michaelhouse won by 9 wickets.
Uplands College 125/10 (Tristan Rijkenberg 34, Bruce Nel 29, Kian Blignaut 4/49, John-Mark Benadie 3/9, Michael Blignaut 3/31); St John’s College 129/4 (Kian Blignaut 45, Khulekani Nduku 32, Leam van Zyl 2/25) St John’s won by 6 wickets.
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