Hilton crowned Tuskers’ Schools SA20 champions

3 November 2024

The Hilton College 1st XI has taken some lumps during the fourth term of 2024. On Friday, though, when the chips were down, they admirably rose to the challenge to win the Tuskers’ Schools SA20 title.

There was no let-up on the day as the title decider followed the semi-finals, which were played in the morning.

SEMI-FINALS

Hilton took on their old rivals, Michaelhouse, in one of those semis, with ‘House having recently scored a narrow three-run T20 win over Hilton in Balgowan. This time, though, the match was played at Hilton College.

In another tight contest, the home side prevailed, with Hilton winning by four wickets, with four balls to spare.

Graydon Leslie led Michaelhouse’s batting effort, scoring 52 from 39 balls, with six fours, while James Mallett weighed in with an undefeated 44 from 48 as the visitors totalled 143/4. Sechaba Gude led the Hilton attack, capturing 2/26 in four, while Jayden Roux picked up 2/35 in four.

Robert Burman (feature photo, courtesy Justin Waldman Sports Photography), who was arguably the best batsman on the day, with two telling contributions, played the key knock for Hilton in their successful run chase, making 59 from 38 deliveries, which included two sixes and five fours. Alex Pitman contributed a useful 20, and three other batsmen making it into the teens further boosted the home team’s response.

Liam O’Dwyer did a fine job with the ball for Michaelhouse, snaring 2/21 in four.

The other semi-final, between Maritzburg College and St Charles College, was a low-scoring affair.

Batting first, Saints mustered only 100/8. Each of their top four batsmen made starts, but three of them were out before reaching 20.

Thando Zama top-scored, striking 29 runs from 24 balls, with four fours. He was, however, one of two batsmen run out, and that hurt Saints’ chances of victory.

Karl Dedekind knocked over 2/15 in three for College, while Reece Willson claimed 2/22 in four.

In reply, the Red, Black, and White scored 104/8 in 18.3 overs, aided by 17 extras, which was the second highest contributor to their innings. The highest scorer, Sphamandla Dzanibe, doubled up that mark, scoring 34 from 44, with three fours and a six.

Keegan Vermaak bowled well for St Charles, returning the splendid figures of 3/13 from four. The speedy Rowen Rajah knocked over 2/20 in four, and Covhan Baaitjies claimed 2/12 in 2.3.

FINAL

The toss went Hilton College’s way in the final, and they opted to bat. The opening pair, Ben Hockly and Alex Pitman, delivered the response the hosts were hoping for, sharing a 58-run stand for the first wicket before Pitman was out in the eighth over, having scored 17 from 18.

Hockly and Robert Burman added another 27 runs in 23 balls before Hockly was bowled by Nathan Pembridge for 47 from 37. His exciting knock had included three sixes and a couple of fours.

Burman took over from where Hockly left off, partnering with Jayden Roux to add 57 from 36 before Burman was caught by Dzanibe off Sam Hughes for 41 from 31, which had included three fours and a six.

A couple of lusty blows from Simon Steyn, who finished with 13 not out from 10, helped Hilton to a competitive 160/7 from their 20 overs.

Sphamandla Dzanibe picked up 2/22 in three for College, while Karl Dedekind returned 1/12 in two, and Nathan Pembridge did a tidy job, taking 1/22 from his four.

Needing to bat at just over eight runs an over to win, Maritzburg College made a good start to their run chase, with Daniel Nadasan and Tian van Niekerk putting up 54 for the opening partnership. Van Niekerk, then, fell to a combination of Jayden Roux and the spin of Luke Campbell.

The next ball, Campbell struck a big blow, when Dzanibe tried to pull him through leg, but instead picked out Sechaba Gude, who gratefully pouched the catch. Karl Dedekind prevented a hat-trick and went on to play a fine innings. Unfortunately for him, he didn’t find solid support.

Nadasan stuck around for a while, seeing the total to 72 before he was bowled by Benoit Rey for 30 from 29. With his departure, College suffered a collapse, going from 72/2 to 100/7 in just over five overs.

Campbell added a third wicket, while Rey bagged two more as the two spinners turned the contest in their side’s favour.

Dom du Toit, in at nine, at last stopped the rot for College, but only for a short while. He chipped in with 12 from 10 balls before losing his wicket in the 19th over.

Dedekind fought a valiant losing battle, but he, at least, finished with an unbeaten 50, which came from only 33 balls. He launched two of them over the boundary and three into it.

In the end, College finished on 142/8, leaving Hilton the winners by 18 runs.

Benoit Rey, with 3/19 in four, and Luke Campbell, with 3/23 in his four, made all the difference for the home team in their defence of 160.