30 October 2024
Clifton College bounded into the semifinals of the Dolphins’ Schools SA20 competition on Wednesday after overwhelming Grantleigh High School at the Riverside Sports Club.
The home team batted at almost 10 runs to the over in setting the visitors 197 to win and then skittled the Richards Bay boys for only 59 in response.
Clifton’s innings was built upon an excellent foundation laid by Byron Ward and Hayden Drieselmann, who partnered for 92 runs for the first wicket. Drieselmann was the first to go, caught by captain Luca Olivier off Dillen Pieterse‘s bowling for 37 from 36 deliveries, which included five fours.
Ward, though, continued to take the game to the Grantleigh bowlers. It took a run out to end his assault, but by then he had raced to 64 from just 39 balls, launching two of them for six while also striking eight fours. Together with Tim Saulez, he shared a partnership of 45 runs before exiting with the total on 137.
Saulez also took a liking to the visiting team’s bowlers. He stuck around for just 17 balls, but three of those went for six and two more to the boundary as he lashed 35 from 17 before Olivier bagged another catch, this time off Arnaav Singh.
A useful unbeaten 25 from 17 by Muhammed Malik helped boost Clifton to 196/5 from their 20 overs, setting Grantleigh a tough target on a ground that usually doesn’t see runs scored at a rapid rate.
Dillen Pieterse nabbed a tidy 1/8 from two overs, while Tristan van Rooyen picked up 1/27 from four.
The Richards Bay school began their reply steadily, with their openers, Van Rooyen and Luca Olivier scoring 16 runs before Tim Saulez knocked over Van Rooyen’s stumps, sending him on his way for eight. Unfortunately for Olivier and his team, that was as good as it got. Once Saulez had his first he made a mess of Grantleigh’s batting, knocking over an outstanding 5/13 in four overs.
Gabriel Vermeulen sent two batsmen packing at a cost of 22 runs, while Shiraz Perumal‘s introduction hastened the end for the visitors. He snared 2/10 in 1.5 overs as Grantleigh was bowled out in the 11th over.
Kian Topham, with nine, was their top scorer.
After a straightforward win, Clifton will have to brace themselves for a serious examination on the coming weekend. They face Durban High School (DHS), the team they beat in the previous round of the Schools SA20 last week to end Schools’ 10-match winning streak. No doubt, DHS will be champing at the bit, excited to have an opportunity so soon to avenge that defeat.
SCORES
Clifton College 196/5 (Byron Ward 64, Hayden Drieselmann 37, Tim Saulez 35, Muhammed Malik 25*); Grantleigh High School 59/10 (Tim Saulez 5/13, Shiraz Perumal 2/10, Gabriel Vermeulen 2/22).
Clifton College won by 137 runs.
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