7 January 2025
While rain prevented play on the first day of the iHlobo Festival at Kearsney College, and Tuesday’s action was limited to two games featuring teams from outside of KZN, St John’s College (Harare) managed to get in two warm-up matches ahead of the event and boy was it warm! Temperatures in the upper-thirties meant both games were tests of endurance and resilience.
On Saturday, they faced a Clifton College 1st XI that looked remarkably familiar. Coach Brandon Scullard‘s line-up has barely changed from 2024, and, considering their late-season successes, they are a team to keep an eye on. Against St John’s, their experience showed as they scored a convincing 88-run win at the Riverside Sports Club in a 50-overs-a-side contest.
After winning the toss, Clifton batted first, but St John’s struck early when Jettas Maramreddy had Muhammed Malek caught with only seven runs on the board. His dismissal, however, brought Byron Ward to the crease and he proceeded to wrest control of the contest for the home side.
Together with Cristiano Borrageiro, Ward added 95 for the fourth wicket before he fell LBW to Sean Price. He had faced 90 balls, struck eight fours and three sixes, and made 76.
Borrageiro, one of the newcomers to the Clifton 1st XI, went on to score an impressive 52 from 82, with four fours and a six, before he was run out.
Shiraz Perumal gave the innings some impetus towards its end, cracking an unbeaten 30 from 31, with three fours and two sixes, while Hayden Drieselmann made a useful 23 near the top of the order. After their 50 overs, Clifton had reached 254/8.
Shivaan Chouhan led the St John’s bowling attack, returning 2/29 from his eight overs.
The visitors’ challenge fell apart early in their reply as their first three batsmen were dismissed for ducks, with Tim Saulez (feature photo) picking up two sticks and Caleb Naicker the other.
Captain Connor Lovatt fought stubbornly and took the fight to the Clifton attack, launching four sixes and nine fours in his quickfire 69 from 52 deliveries. Luca Spanuolo, meanwhile, weighed in with 26 from 32, with five fours, but the damage had been done early and St John’s were bowled out for 166 in the 32nd over, leaving Clifton the emphatic winners.
Clifton captain Tim Saulez finished with 2/8 from four, while Blake Johnson picked up 2/16 in 7.4, and leg-spinner Shiraz Perumal snared 2/17 in five.
The following day, Sunday, Glenwood hosted St John’s on Dixon’s in a 35-overs-a-side clash.
After winning the toss, the home side opted to bowl first, but that didn’t work out too well. All but one of the St John’s batsmen made it into double figures as they posted a good-looking 240/6, leaving Glenwood to score at seven runs per over to win.
Opener James Manning led the way, making 72 from 66 balls, with seven fours and a six, while Luca Spagnualo rocketed to 52 from 33 while exactly matching Manning’s boundary output.
Connor Lovatt added 26 from 17 and Riley Ettlin contributed 25 from 37.
Michael Gunawardena was a touch expensive but picked up 3/54 in six overs for Glenwood.
In response, the Green Machine made their way to 28/1 after five overs, which was when the game was brought to an end by rain. Reehan Jugbathur was unbeaten on 19 from 17 deliveries.
SCORES
Clifton College 254/8 (Bryon Ward 76, Christian Borrageiro 52, Shiraz Perumal 30*, Hayden Drieselmann 23, Shivaan Chouhan 2/29); St John’s College (Harare) 166/10 (Connor Lovatt 69, Luca Spagnuolo 26, Tim Saulez 2/8, Blake Johnson 2/16, Shiraz Perumal 2/17)
Clifton College won by 88 runs
St John’s College 240/6 (James Manning 72, Luca Spagnuolo 52, Connor Lovatt 26, Riley Ettlin 25, Michael Gunawardena 3/54); Glenwood High 28/1.
Match rained out
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