4 February 2024
CRICKET
Visiting Glenwood on Saturday, the Clifton College 1st XI extricated itself from a perilous position to post a battling 140 runs. Then, with some bowling magic from Shahzaad and Shiraz Perumal, they defended that total, recording a nail-biting four-run victory.
Dixon’s Field proved challenging for the batsmen in both teams, and the problems started early on when Bandile Mbatha got rid of Clifton opening batsman Zach Williamson with only four runs on the board.
Cohen Naidoo, Rivan Moodley and Shahzaad Perumal all made starts for Clifton, reaching the upper teens, but none pressed on beyond that. Clifton’s innings had appeared to be progressing steadily when they reached 51/2, but Daniel Gunawardena and Kyle Bryan removed two batsmen each in quick succession, resulting in the visitors sliding to 58/6.
The departure of Lawson Dinsdale, the sixth man out, brought Callum Watson to the crease, and he played a crucial innings, which enabled Clifton to rebuild. Gabriel Vermeulen provided Watson with steady support and the pair put on 45 for the eighth wicket before Vermeulen was out for 20 from 57 balls.
Watson went on to top score with 39 from 59 deliveries, six of which he dispatched for four. His strong effort altered the trajectory of the Clifton innings and helped the boys from Morningside to 140 all out, which had looked unlikely earlier in the day.
On a challenging pitch, and playing on a very big outfield, it gave Clifton a chance, and that’s all they wanted and needed.
A number of Glenwood bowlers shone, with Daniel Gunawardena snapping up 3/21 from his 10 overs. Up front, Bandile Mbatha bowled tidily to claim 2/19 from his 10 overs, and off-spinner Kyle Bryan delivered wickets and economy, picking up 2/23 from 10.
When Glenwood began their run chase, Shahzaad Perumal immediately made a mess of their top order, removing three of the top four, to have the Green Machine wobbling on 30/4.
Then, Sibonelo Phewa joined Bandile Mbatha out in the middle and they shared a stand of 33 runs before Phewa departed for 20 from 27 balls, which included four fours.
Kyle Bryan stuck around for 30 balls and hit two fours, before Shahzaad Perumal claimed his wicket, too.
Mbatha stood tall, but his partners came and went, and the all-rounder was the last man out with the total on 136, bowled by Tim Saulez for 52 after a 98-ball stay.
Shahzaad Perumal’s excellent 4/26 from 10 overs led the Clifton attack, while Shiraz Perumal stood out, too, snaring 3/27 from his 10.
Rivan Moodley was economical, picking up 1/30 from his 10 overs, while Tim Saulez struck the final blow for Clifton and finished with figures of 1/13 from 4.3 overs.
Scores
Clifton College 140/10 (Callum Watson 39, Gabriel Vermeulen 20, Rivan Moodley 19; Daniel Gunawardena 3/21, Bandile Mbatha 2/19, Kyle Bryan 2/23); Glenwood 136/10 (Bandile Mbatha 52, Sibonelo Phewa 20; Shahzaad Perumal 4/26, Shiraz Perumal 3/27) Clifton College won by 4 runs.
The competition between Clifton and Glenwood was very even, with both schools bagging four wins apiece. There was next to nothing in it in the 1st team game, as outlined above, while Glenwood took the u15A honours after another hard-fought contest. Clifton were emphatic winners in the u14A game.
Results
Friday
3rd XI
Glenwood 158/5
Clifton 85/10
Glenwood won by 73 runs.
4th XI
Clifton 97/10
Glenwood 98/3
Glenwood won by 7 wickets.
u15B
Glenwood 190/2
Clifton 104/5
Glenwood won by 86 runs.
u14B
Clifton 109/8
Glenwood 92/10
Clifton won by 17 runs.
Saturday
1st XI
Clifton 140/8
Glenwood 136/10
Clifton won by 4 runs.
2nd XI
Clifton 175/10
Glenwood 160/10
Clifton won by 15 runs.
u15A
Clifton 89/10
Glenwood 91/6
Glenwood won by 4 wickets.
u14A
Clifton 213/10
Glenwood 69/10
Clifton won by 144 runs.
BASKETBALL
The Clifton 1st team had produced some encouraging showings against tough opposition early in the season, without getting over the hump, but against Glenwood, on Saturday, they delivered the goods and came away with a victory.
Clifton’s 2nd team also won, scraping by Glenwood by only two points.
In the u16 age group, the Green Machine went two-for-two, but Clifton doubled-up Glenwood’s points’ output in the u15A game. The other two u15 games were split one-one. At u14 level, Clifton picked up two wins to Glenwood’s one.
Results
1st: Glenwood 25-34 Clifton
2nd: Glenwood 17-19 Clifton
16A: Glenwood 30-17 Clifton
16B: Glenwood 26-9 Clifton
15A: Glenwood 16-32 Clifton
15B: Glenwood 21-23 Clifton
15C: Glenwood 12-6 Clifton
14A: Glenwood 6-10 Clifton
14B: Glenwood 3-25 Clifton
14C: Glenwood 18-0 Clifton
WATER POLO
If there were any results that Clifton could bank on in their clashes with Glenwood in the three summer sports, it was in water polo, and they duly won all three open age group games, with the 1st team, the best of the KZN schools at the recent SAC Shield, running out the winners by a large 21-goal margin.
Tuesday
1st: Clifton 22-1 Glenwood
2nd: Clifton 16-2 Glenwood
3rd: Clifton 19-1 Glenwood
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