Westville in nail-biting Schools SA20 win over Kearsney

(Feature photo by Hannah Shirley)

In a cracking contest that did justice to their great rivalry, Westville Boys’ High edged out Kearsney College by a single run in their Schools SA20 quarterfinal showdown on the AH Smith Oval in Botha’s Hill on Thursday.

The match didn’t start too well for the visitors. They won the toss and elected to bat but lost Kyle McGough in the second over. His replacement in the middle, Seth Simpson, wasn’t about to let the Kearsney bowlers dictate matters, however, and he immediately went after them.

He and Bhaskar Sewlal combined for a productive partnership of 63 from 33 balls before Simpson was caught by Jason De Gryse off the bowling of Bonga Maphanga for an entertaining 44 from 23 balls, which had featured four sixes and three fours.

As often happens when a good partnership has been broken, the other partner, in this case Bhaskar Sewlal, soon followed, run out by Nic Comrie, with only one more run added to the total, for 21 from 20.

Sean McGough contributed 16 from 15 before falling to James Bishop. McGough was, then, replaced by Tristin Delvin, who proceeded to deliver a decisive knock, making an unbeaten 52 from 34 balls, which included six fours and a six.

Miz Nair added 11 off eight, and Aiden Baudach made 18 not out from 18 to see Westville to 169/5 from their 20 overs.

Keegan de Jager captured 1/12 from two overs for Kearsney, while Bonga Maphanga bowled tidily to claim 1/24 from four. Litha Gonya picked up 1/26 from three.

Kearsney’s reply started in a similar fashion to the Griffins’ innings, when they lost one of their openers, Jonty Wiggett, early on. Then, a strong second-wicket partnership followed.

Jason De Gryse and Keegan de Jager hastened the home side’s innings along, putting together a 70-run stand in only 45 balls before De Gryse was caught by Caleb van Loenen off Ashton Kidgell for 26 from 25, having struck four fours.

De Jager and Cole Young added 33 runs for the third wicket, but they also lost some momentum, with those runs coming up off a more leisurely 27 deliveries. Their partnership was broken when De Jager was run out for 50 by Chad van Breda. He had cracked two sixes and four fours in 33 balls.

Young and Aaron Blackburn, next, added 51 from 34 deliveries before Young became the second batsman to be run out, this time by Caleb van Loenen. Crucially, it happened in the last over, from the second-last ball of the innings. He had chipped in with 46 from 38, smashing three sixes and a four.

On 167/4, Kearsney needed three runs to win. They managed one only and Westville, to their relief, advanced to the semi-finals with a one-run victory.

Blackburn was undefeated on 24 from 15 balls at the end, which included two sixes and a four.

Only two wickets went the way of Westville bowlers, with Dayalan Boyce knocking over 1/38 in four, and Ashton Kidgell picking up 1/15 in two. The other two to fall, by run out, were, however, key plays in the Griffins’ tight victory.

SCORES

Westville Boys’ High 169/5 (Tristan Delvin 52*, Seth Simpson 44, Bhaskar Sewlal 21, Keegan de Jager 1/12, Bonga Maphanga 1/24); Kearsney College 168/4 (Keegan de Jager 50, Cole Young, 46, Jason De Gryse 26, Ashton Kidgell 1/15).

Westville Boys’ High won by one run.