10 January 2025
Rain played havoc with the early parts of the 2025 iHlobo Festival, but some creative scheduling of matches by Kearsney College created playing opportunities for most of the teams. Durban High School (DHS), whose matches were all set to be played at home, unfortunately, was unable to play a game.
Monday’s play was rained out and Tuesday’s conditions were iffy, but two games were played, followed by four matches, of which two were completed, on Wednesday, and four finished contests on Thursday.
Both Clifton College and Maritzburg College produced unbeaten records, with Clifton, who convincingly beat St John’s College (Harare) in a warm-up match in blazingly hot conditions on Saturday, winning one and drawing one, while College went two for two in their outings.
With only two frontline players from their 2024 1st XI having moved on, Clifton will have high expectations of themselves this year. They played some outstanding cricket towards the end of last season, and they will be focussed on building upon that foundation.
In their first outing, a 30-over game against Falcon College on Wednesday, they did a good job in the field to remove their opposition, rated by St John’s (Harare) coach David Mutendera as the team to beat in Zimbabwe this year, for 123.
It was no surprise to see Shiraz Perumal, who set a Clifton 1st XI record for the most wickets in a season last year, leading the way, and he’s in grade 11 this year. He bagged 4/26 and three other bowlers picked up two wickets each.
They almost let it slip, though, with what appeared to be a simple running chase stalling and when rain intervened the game was delicately poised, with Clifton on 106/8, still needing 18 to win.
On Thursday, they showed what they’re capable of, rolling to a 49-run victory over St Alban’s College, who had won their previous two matches, which included a 15-run win over Falcon College on Tuesday.
Captain Tim Saulez, Clifon’s top scorer, with 34, in their game against Falcon, raised the bar against the Pretoria school, making 75 and sharing a 109-run partnership with Zach Williamson (34) as the Durban boys withstood a stern examination up front and, eventually, took charge, posting 197/5 in their 40 overs.
Then, another bowler was to the fore as they bowled out St Alban’s for 148, with Blake Johnson doing the damage by capturing 5/23.
That appears to be a strength of the Clifton side: they don’t rely on a small core of players to succeed, and their contributions can come from many different sources.
Maritzburg College, meanwhile, exhibited similar qualities. They didn’t have smooth starts when batting first in both of their matches, against Kearsney and St John’s respectively, but they batted all the way down their order, displaying typical College tenacity.
In their T20 against Kearsney, the Red, Black, and White recovered from 29/4 in the tenth over to post 113/5, with Akhil Barath making 53 and Tian van Niekerk 34 not out. Then, from 7/2 against St John’s, and later 92/5, they tallied 250 all out. This time, Sphamandla Dzanibe, batting at 10, top scored with 50, while Karl Dedekind, who made some notable contributions at the end of 2024, weighed in with 42.
If anything, though, College’s bowling was more consistent than their batting. Dzanibe, who represented the Tuskers at the Khaya Majola Week, was superb against Kearsney, knocking over 3/4 in four overs with good pace and bounce, while Dom du Toit snagged 4/18. Against St John’s, it was opening bowler Samuel Hughes who led the way, claiming 5/54 and Nathan Pembridge captured 2/32 in 10.
The biggest question for College to answer will probably be about their batting. Replacing the all-round excellence of 2024 captain Chad Mason won’t be possible, but teamwork and everyone chipping in could get the job done.
Kearsney won one and lost two. They’ve said goodbye to many top performers from their outstanding 2024 side, with SA Schools’ standout Ross Coetzee, Cameron Veenstra, Jack O’Donovan, and Matt de Oliveira, among others, lost from the batting ranks, and SA Colts fast bowler, Sandiswa Yeni, opening bowler Ryan Browning, and sharp leg-spinner Asavela Khambule, no longer in their bowling ranks. They’re going to have to do some rebuilding.
They have a solid new ball pair in the left-right combination of Litha Gonya and Michael Groom, and some decent bowling to follow, but their batting lacked consistency during the iHlobo Festival, and that was a calling card of the 2024 side. The Botha’s Hill boys have some experience in their ranks, but the load last year was mostly carried by the players who have departed, so those returning players will have to adjust to taking on additional responsibilities.
Asher Hollister is a player to keep an eye on. He’s been a consistent and prolific run scorer ever since his days at Highbury and a fine 64 on the last day against Falcon College showed he’s ready for the step up to the 1st XI.
Daniel Miskey (feature photo) produced a couple of exciting innings by playing with intent. There were no half-shots in his innings of 32 against Maritzburg College and 22 against Uplands. He will, however, have to consider the situation and when to rein it in or hit out. But his courageous attacking play, especially against College, impressed.
Finally, very well done to Kearsney College for their outstanding hosting of the iHlobo Festival. It was previously shared around, but Kearsney became the sole hosts in 2024, and that shouldn’t come as a big surprise. The Botha’s Hill school has demonstrated time after time, across numerous sports, that when it comes to hosting events they’re among the best.
A decision, made in conjunction with the other iHlobo Festival participants, to enable the schools that had travelled from furthest away – Falcon College, St John’s College, Uplands College, and St Alban’s College – to play on Tuesday, when only two fields were able to be used, was a fine display of sportsmanship and consideration.
SCORES
Tuesday
T20
Uplands College 68/10 (Leam van Zyl 20, Hayden Saunders 3/4, Shivaan Chouhan 3/14, Connor Lovatt 2/12); St John’s College 70/3 (James Manning 28*, Leam van Zyl 2/10).
St John’s won by 7 wickets.
T20
St Alban’s College 108/10 (Ethan Nel 37, Liam Basch 34, Zane Sibanda 2/6, Reed Merick 2/21, Zach Gover 2/23); Falcon College 93/10 (Callum Orford 48, Mduduzi Mahlangu 3/29, Luke Ward 3/33. Liam Basch 2/8).
St Alban’s won by 15 runs.
Wednesday
T20
Maritzburg College 113/5 (Akhil Barath 53, Tian van Niekerk 34*, Bonga Maphanga 2/23); Kearsney College 102/10 (Daniel Miskey 32, Dominic du Toit 4/18, Sphamandla Dzanibe 3/4, Sam Hughes 2/32).
Maritzburg College won by 11 runs.
T20
Uplands College 60/9 (Luke Barnard 10, Luke Ward 2/4, Christian Visage 2/6, Liam Basch 2/7, Kyle Earle 2/14); St Alban’s College 62/0 (Ethan Nel 30*, Wayne Kruger 23*).
St Alban’s College won by 10 wickets.
30 overs
Falcon College 123/10 (Liam Nel 31, Reed Merick 29, Shiraz Perumal 4/26, Gabriel Vermeulen 2/11, Caleb Naicker 2/15, Tim Saulez 2/25); Clifton College 106/8 (Tim Saulez 34, Muhammed Malik 21, Liam Nel 2/14, Zach Gover 2/15, Zane Sibanda 2/33).
Match rained out.
T10
Kearsney College 124/4 (Jason de Gryse 52, Khulekani Nduku 2/29); St John’s College 1/0 after 0.3 overs.
Match rained out.
Thursday
40 overs
Clifton College 197/5 (Tim Saulez 75, Zach Williamson 34, Byron Ward 26, Christian Visage 2/23); St Alban’s College 148/10 (Liam Basch 37, Blake Johnson 5/23, Shiraz Perumal 2/29).
Clifton College won by 49 runs.
T20
Kearsney 138/7 (Jason de Gryse 45*, Aaron Blackburn 26, Daniel Miskey 22, Leam van Zyl 2/20); Uplands College 56/10 (Michael Groom 3/10, Rivan Moodley 2/5).
Kearsney won by 82 runs.
30 overs
Falcon College 163/9 (Alistair Carle 50, Zach Gover 40, Litha Gonya 3/24, Bonga Maphanga 2/16, Michael Groom 2/24); Kearsney College 129/10 (Asher Hollister 64, Dmitry Fatch 3/18, Zach Gover 2/14, Liam Nel 2/19, Zane Sibanda 2/33).
Falcon won by 34 runs.
50 overs
Maritzburg College 250/10 (Extras 60, Sphamandla Dzanibe 50, Karl Dedekind 42, Ewald Bester 32, Luan van der Merwe 28, Kyle de Bruin 22, Connor Lovatt 3/19, Hayden Saunders 2/26); St John’s 194/10 (Connor Lovatt 40, Riley Ettlin 37, Brandon Kalonga 36, Shivaan Chouhan, Samuel Hughes 5/54, Nathan Pembridge 2/32).
Maritzburg College won by 56 runs.
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