4 February 2025
(Article by Marlowe Bloem)
The hottest month of the year was cooled off by some rain, but the action was hot when Michaelhouse and Maritzburg College hosted one another for a weekend of matches in the summer sporting codes.
CRICKET
Stormy weather closed the curtains on Friday’s fixtures. However, in those matches played on Saturday, Maritzburg College claimed five wins, while Michaelhouse picked up four.
It was interesting to note the correlation between home advantage and winning teams.
The College 1st XI recorded another win on Goldstone’s and probably appreciated Michaelhouse’s decision to bat first because the pitch offers the bowlers plenty of assistance, with good bounce, especially early in the day.
Samuel Hughes removed both openers, Ethan Muir and Kian Blignaut, early, and ‘House’s stuttering start was further compounded when Ben Heuer was run out. They were 19/3 in the seventh over.
Graydon Leslie and Michael Blignaut staged a fightback, partnering for a 47-run fourth-wicket partnership. Nathan Pembridge ended it with a successful LBW shout against Leslie, who had struck four fours in his 32, the visitors’ highest score.
When Blignaut followed on the same total, Michaelhouse lost their way. Dom du Toit was the reason for that. In six overs, he snared 5/9. The visitors lost all momentum and in just over seven overs, they saw their fortunes dip, with the score morphing from 66/3 to 74/7.
After 33.3 overs, Michaelhouse’s innings was done. They were all out for 92. Du Toit, with useful assists from Nathan Pembridge and Samuel Hughes, who both picked up 2/14, saw to it that ‘House didn’t make it to triple figures.
Chasing a moderate total suited College captain Daniel Nadasan‘s game and he bedded in to play the anchor role for his side. Together with Ewald Bester, he put on 26 for the first wicket.
Reece Willson, Bester’s replacement, after the opener was run out for 17, added 44 runs with Nadasan before Willson was caught by Ethan Muir off the bowling of Michael Blignaut for 13 in the 22nd over. That left the home side on 70/2.
Three overs and one ball later, College had scored an eight-wicket victory. Karl Dedekind hadn’t hung around when he arrived the wicket. He faced 11 deliveries, struck three fours, and finished on 17 not out. At the other end, Nadasan was undefeated on 39.
Michael Blignaut, with 1/14 from two overs, was the only Michaelhouse bowler to take a wicket.
Scores
Michaelhouse 92/10 (Graydon Leslie 32, Dom du Toit 5/9, Nathan Pembridge 2/14, Samuel Hughes 2/14); Maritzburg College 93/2 (Daniel Nadasan 39*). Maritzburg College won 8 wickets.
RESULTS
2nd XI
Maritzburg College 109/10
Michaelhouse 110/1
Michaelhouse won by 9 wickets
3rd XI
Michaelhouse 241/8
Maritzburg College 117/10
Michaelhouse won by 124 runs
u16A
Maritzburg College 138/10
Michaelhouse 114/10
Maritzburg College won by 24 runs
u15A
Maritzburg College 76/10
Michaelhouse 77/4
Michaelhouse won by 6 wickets
u15B
Maritzburg College 86/10
Michaelhouse 87/2
Michaelhouse won by 8 wickets
u14A
Maritzburg College 201/9
Michaelhouse 98/10
Maritzburg College won by 102 runs
u14B
Maritzburg College 130/10
Michaelhouse 75/10
Maritzburg College won by 55 runs
u14C
Maritzburg College 166/7
Michaelhouse 47/10
Maritzburg College won by 120 runs
BASKETBALL
Unfortunately, rain resulted in outdoor games being cancelled, but 12 were still played inside the Alan Paton Memorial Hall. College showed some impressive shooting accuracy to pick up wins in nine of those fixtures.
Putting up 118 points against Glenwood and following it up with 93 against Michaelhouse was no mean feat as the home side’s 1st team romped to a big 36-point win.
If one was to be critical of the 2024 1st team, their finishing was patchy at times, and they missed many simple scoring opportunities. However, the numbers posted by College this season are an indication that they’ve improved that aspect of their game.
At the break, College led by 15, 44-29 ahead. At the end, it was 93-57.
Their captain Nkhanyiso Ngcobo led all scorers, bagging 23 for the Red, Black, and White.
RESULTS
1st: Maritzburg College 93-57 Michaelhouse
2nd: Maritzburg College 28-18 Michaelhouse
3rd: Maritzburg College 44-30 Michaelhouse
4th: Maritzburg College 35-20 Michaelhouse
5th: Maritzburg College 41-27 Michaelhouse
6th: Maritzburg College 33-20 Michaelhouse
16A: Maritzburg College 63-41 Michaelhouse
16B: Maritzburg College 33-25 Michaelhouse
15A: Maritzburg College 32-21 Michaelhouse
15B: Maritzburg College 23-22 Michaelhouse
14A: Maritzburg College 43-36 Michaelhouse
14B: Maritzburg College 21-16 Michaelhouse
WATER POLO
Maritzburg College’s 1st water polo team was in Bloemfontein for the ITEC Grey College Water Polo Tournament.
After opening their challenge with three wins – over Pretoria Boys High, Grey College and the Grey College 2nd team – the Red, Black, and White suffered back-to-back losses to Grey High School and Reddam House Constantia in their last two pool matches.
That left them with a quarterfinal clash against Affies in which College went down 6-13 to the eventual champions.
They got back to winning ways against Stirling High, scoring a comfortable 15-5 victory, but lost 6-10 to Grey High in their last outing.
In Saturday’s matches, most of the wins went the way of Michaelhouse. Competition was tight, except in the u14 age group where ‘House won emphatically.
RESULTS
ITEC Grey College Water Polo Tournament
Maritzburg College 8-7 Pretoria Boys High
Maritzburg College 10-8 Grey College
Maritzburg College 23-3 Grey College 2nd
Maritzburg College 5-14 Grey High
Maritzburg College 3-10 Reddam House Constantia
Maritzburg College 6-13 Affies
Maritzburg College 15-5 Stirling High
Maritzburg College 6-10 Grey High
Maritzburg College vs Michaelhouse
3rd: Maritzburg College 4-7 Michaelhouse
4th: Maritzburg College 6-9 Michaelhouse
5th: Maritzburg College 2-6 Michaelhouse
6th: Maritzburg College 6-5 Michaelhouse
15B: Maritzburg College 3-11 Michaelhouse
15C: Maritzburg College 5-5 Michaelhouse
14B: Maritzburg College 0-18 Michaelhouse
14C: Maritzburg College 3-13 Michaelhouse
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