17 February 2024
Rain cast a damper – pun fully intended – on day two of the Clifton T20 Tournament. Only two matches were played on Saturday, but both were good contests.
Clifton College eked out a narrow 13-run win over St John’s College (Harare), while Michaelhouse handed Durban High School (DHS), so impressive on the opening day, a 12-run defeat.
At the Riverside Sports Club, St John’s put Clifton in, to bat, which was understandable decision given the deep clouds that hung overhead. Early on, that decision brought rewards as the home team slid to 17/3, with the Rams‘ skipper, Toana Zimhunga, responsible for two of those dismissals.
Tim Saulez and Cohen Naidoo (17) then steadied the Clifton innings. Saulez was also punishing on any misdirected bowling and smashed three sixes and three fours, with his 33-ball stay producing 49 runs.
Zach Williamson matched Saulez, also cracking three sixes and three fours in his 47, which came from 30 balls, before he became Zimhunga’s third victim.
Rivan Moodley added another two sixes, making 26 from 18 deliveries, as Clifton posted a solid-looking 173/9.
Zimhunga finished with 3/39 from his four overs, while Kian and Michael Blignaut returned identical figures of 2/25 from four, and John-Mark Benadie picked up 2/37.
In reply, St John’s lost Takudzwa Nduku cheaply, but Tyde Stirrup and Kian Blignaut then shared a stand of 32 for the second wicket to get the Harare school’s innings going.
While Blignaut made 24 from only 15 balls, with four fours, his innings resembled three other Rams’ batsmen’s knocks in that he reached 20 but was out shortly after that. Tyde Stirrup weighed in with 23, while John-Mark Benadie and Goven Dhaneel contributed 20 each. They needed to press on.
Khulekani Nduku did that, top scoring with an entertaining 36 from just 14 balls, with four of those being sent for the maximum, and two fours added into the mix.
Clifton, though, kept stacking the wickets and St John’s were bowled out with eight balls left.
Preston Govender sent down only two overs but claimed 3/16, while Tim Saulez followed up his batting heroics with 2/27, and Callum Watson captured 2/24.
Crucially for the tournament hosts, their win lifted them above St J0hn’s in the Group A standings.
At the Crusaders Sports Club, Michaelhouse, after a disappointing first day, showed what they’re capable of by tallying 170/3 against DHS, with all of their batsmen getting among the runs.
Hayden Hewlett was the leading run-scorer, finishing on 48 not out from 38 balls, with three fours and a six, while Dylan Hewlett made 38 from 36. There was also 35 off 20 from Ethan Muir, 20 not out from Nicholas Baker, and another 20 from Michael Spencer.
Dhilan Naraidu was the best of the DHS bowlers, claiming 2/23 in three.
School, in their response, lost Sibusiso Msibi without a run on the board, but Sfundo Mthembu and Semal Pillay quickly righted the ship, putting on 72 for the second wicket. Pillay was then caught by Ethan Muir off the bowling of Harry Vickery for 40 from 27 balls, with two fours and a six.
Mthembu saw the total to 98, but he was then run out in a big blow to the DHS run chase. He had made 42 from 30 balls, with a pair of four and sixes.
Josh van Biljon added 23 runs to the DHS total and Taine Havemann made 13 before he, too, was run out. That proved costly as the DHS innings lost steam.
From 127/3, they tumbled to 156/9, and eventually to 158/9, as Michaelhouse secured a deserved win.
Captain Cameron Strudwick snapped up 2/22 in four overs, while the rest of the bowlers each picked up a wicket.
Group A finished with Glenwood on 12 points, St Charles on 10, Clifton on eight, St John’s on six, and Hilton College on four. Meanwhile, DHS edged out Maritzburg College on net run rate to finish top of Group B. Northwood finished in third place, followed by Michaelhouse, who finished ahead of Westville Boys’ High on net run rate.
The rained-out matches were tough on those teams who needed to make a move on Saturday.
In Sunday’s first semi-final, Glenwood will take on Maritzburg College at the Riverside Sports Club at 08:30. The second semi, between DHS and St Charles, starts at 11:30.
An exciting spectacle and lively atmosphere are expected at Riverside for the semis and the final. For those who cannot make it to the matches, those games will be broadcast live on DStv SuperSport Channel 216.
Follow the Clifton T20 Tournament action live on SuperSport Schools
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The remainder of the playoff matches all start at 08:30.
Clifton takes on Northwood at Crusaders in the 5th/6th playoff. Also at Crusaders, St John’s College (Harare) do battle with Michaelhouse, with 7th place on the line.
Durban North College hosts the 9th/10th playoff between Westville Boys’ High and Hilton College.
Scores
Clifton College 173/9 (Tim Saulez 49, Zach Williamson 47, Rivan Moodley 26; Toana Zimhunga 3/39, Kian Blignaut 2/25, Michael Blignaut 2/25, John-Mark Benadie 2/37) St John’s College 160/10 (Khulekani Nduku 36, Kian Blignaut 24, Tyde Stirrup 23, John-Mark Benadie 20, Goven Dhaneel 20; Preston Govender 3/16, Callum Watson 2/24, Tim Saulez 2/27) Clifton College won by 13 runs.
Michaelhouse 170/3 (Hayden Hewlett 48*, Dylan Hewlett 38, Ethan Muir 35, Nicholas Baker 20*, Michael Spencer 20; Dhilan Naraidu 2/23); Durban High School 158/9 (Sfundo Mthembu 42, Semal Pillay 40, Josh van Biljon 23; Cameron Strudwick 2/22) Michaelhouse won by 12 runs.
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