26 February 2025
Day one of the 2025 Standard Bank Independent Schools Cricket Festival – Thursday, 20 February – was lost to rain, but most schools managed to get in three or four matches by shortening some of the 50-overs-a-side games to shorter formats.
KZN’s four representatives – Clifton, Hilton, Kearsney, and Michaelhouse – all had positives to take away from the event after it concluded on Sunday in Pretoria.
Taking a look at them alphabetically:
CLIFTON COLLEGE
Clifton’s successful fourth term of 2024 was reflected in the tough schedule handed to coach Brandon Scullard‘s charges, which included St Andrew’s School, Bishops, Helpmekaar Kollege, and St David’s Marist Inanda.
The weather, though, led to wholesale changes to the schedule, but two of those opponents remained for the Durban school.
They began with a T20 against Bishops, arguably the best side on display at the ISCF, and simply didn’t rise to the challenge.
It was a poor batting performance, coach Scullard felt, after side made only 86 all out, which was led by Byron Ward‘s 27. SA u19 opener Adnaan Lagadien, then, set up the Capetonians for a comfortable seven-wicket win by making half their runs at the top of the order at a run a ball.
Clifton’s next challenge came from Helpmekaar, who, like Bishops, emerged from the event with a clean record.
A horror start to their 50-over game saw Clifton lose the top three batsmen in their order for ducks, but they recovered admirably to tally 177/8, with Zach Williamson‘s unbeaten 81 highlighting their effort. Byron Ward, who scored Clifton’s first century of the season in their final Clifton T20 Tournament match against St John’s College (Harare), was again among the runs, making 36, while Lawson Dinsdale chipped in with 25.
Still, Tim Saulez and company were made to pay for their poor start, with Helpmekaar with by six wickets with 35 balls to spare. They benefitted from the thing that Clifton missed, a sound opening stand, with Zander Neethling (53) and Kyle Swanepoel (38) putting up 85 for the first wicket.
Leg-spinner Shiraz Perumal was a problem for the Helpies‘ batsmen. He sent down 10 overs and bagged 4/25.
A primary difference between Clifton’s successes of the fourth term and their struggles during the first term has been in their batting. They were successful in 2024 because of most of the batting order weighing in with contributions that cumulatively made a telling impact. In 2025, there have been some good innings, but all too often from just one batsman.
On Sunday, in their last match, against St Benedict’s College, four batsmen made meaningful runs and that helped to propel Clifton to an emphatic 41-run win in a T20.
Zach Williamson (56), Hayden Drieselmann (41*), Tim Saulez (34), and Lawson Dinsdale (32) got stuck into the Bennies‘ bowlers, with all four batting at a strike rate of above 100. That helped Clifton to a big 194/5.
Clayton Horlick took up the challenge for St Benedict’s and cracked 72 from only 38 balls, with eight fours and two sixes. However, only Alex Johnston, with 25, was able to show him strong support and Clifton restricted Bennies to 153/7 in reply.
Shiraz Perumal was, as usual, among the wickets, picking up 3/30, while Blake Johnson did a good job, snapping up 2/20 in his four overs.
SCORES
Clifton College 86/10 (Bryon Ward 27; Michael Kruiskamp 3/17, Julian Pilkington 2/12); Bishops 88/3 (Adnaan Lagadien 44, James-Robb Quinlan 31*; Regan Radley 1/10). Bishops won by seven wickets.
Clifton College 177/8 (Zach Williamson 81*, Byron Ward 36, Lawson Dinsdale 25, Extras 20; Heinrich Minnaar 2/18); Helpmekaar Kollege 178/6 (Zander Neethling 53, Kyle Swanepoel 38, Heinrich Minnaar 32, Juandré Verwey 24, Zuan Joubert 21; Sheraz Perumal 4/25). Helpmekaar won by four wickets.
Clifton College 194/5 (Zach Williamson 56, Hayden Drieselmann 41*, Tim Saulez 34, Lawson Dinsdale 32, Matthew Elphick 2/43); St Benedict’s College 153/7 (Clayton Horlick 72, Alex Johnston 25, Shiraz Perumal 3/30, Blake Johnson 2/20). Clifton College won by 41 runs.
HILTON COLLEGE
Hilton College began their ISCF campaign with a confident T20 win over St Benedict’s, with captain Ben Hockly leading the way.
A tidy bowling performance limited Bennies to 118/6, with Marco Mendes scoring 49, and Hilton then took 17.4 overs to chase down that total and win by seven wickets.
Hockly gave Hilton runs at a good rate at the top of the order, hitting four fours and a six in his 46 from 36 deliveries, while James Ogilby chipped in with 27 from 28 as all five Hilton batsmen who made it out to the middle made it into double figures.
In a 50-over clash with St Andrew’s College, a superb century from the Eastern Cape side’s Myles Sansom (102*), and 38 from Rhys Wiblin, helped them to 205/5.
Hilton’s run pursuit was undermined when they lost Ben Hockly, Alex Pitman, and James Ogilby before there were 50 runs on the board. Ben Erasmus, batting at three, showed good patience and commitment to tally 58 from 90 deliveries, while Jayden Roux (38) and Luke Wilson (31) did well, too, but Alistair de Kock and Oliver Johns made regular inroads to prevent them chasing down the St Andrew’s total.
After 46.5 overs, Hilton was bowled out for 188, with De Kock claiming 3/42 from 9.5 overs, and Oliver Johns, the eighth bowler used, 3/14 in four.
On Sunday, Hilton finished on a high, overwhelming a Woodridge College side that had struggled, winning by 10 wickets.
Sechaba Gude led the Hilton attack, dismissing both opening batsmen for ducks, on his way to a haul of 3/14 from fours overs. Off-spinner Luke Campbell, who came on as first change, was a puzzle the Woodridge batsmen failed to solve, and he nabbed 3/9 in four overs. Leg-spinner David Hill, with 2/19, also played his part as the Eastern Cape side stumbled to 72 all out.
Chasing a low score, Hilton chose to attack it, with Ben Hockly launching three sixes and striking four fours in an unbeaten 45 from 34 deliveries, while Alex Pitman made 15 not out as coach David Griffith‘s team cruised to an easy win.
SCORES
St Benedict’s College 118/6 (Marco Mendes 49, Cruz Pillay 21, Clayton Horlick 20*; Jayden Roux 2/17); Hilton College 119/3 (Ben Hockly 46, James Ogilby 27; Ross Pengelly 1/10). Hilton College won by seven wickets.
St Andrew’s College 205/5 (Myles Sansom 102*, Rhys Wiblin 38, Benjamin Coventry 20; Ryan Jellis 1/18); Hilton College 188 (Ben Erasmus 58, Jayden Roux 38, Luke Wilson 31; Oliver Johns 3/14, Alastair de Kock 3/42, Rhys Wiblin 2/35). St Andrew’s College won by 17 runs.
Woodridge College 72/10 (Cameron Ferrant 16; Luke Campbell 3/9, Sechaba Gude 3/14, David Hill 2/19); Hilton College 73/0 (Ben Hockly 45*; Randy Syce 0/19). Hilton College won by 10 wickets.
KEARSNEY COLLEGE
Given their young age, it feels almost as if every Kearsney win should feel like a bonus, but they’ve proved through their performances that that assessment is unfair and wrong. Yes, as a young team, they’re going to be somewhat inconsistent, but their willingness to front up to challenges has brought them some notable wins.
They kicked off at the ISCF with a 16-run win over St Alban’s College in a T20, led by the youngest player in their side, Asher Hollister, who made 54 not out in Kearsney’s 145/7. Cole Young, who has been in good form in recent weeks, weighed in with 27.
The St Alban’s opening bowlers, Luke Ward and Liam Basch, with 3/16 and 2/21 respectively, set their side up well by reducing Jason De Gryse and his team to 22/4 in the fifth over of their innings, but Young and Hollister pulled off a fine rescue act, adding 51 together from only 23 balls.
De Gryse, then, returned a neat 2/14 from four overs to lead his side well in the field. Kearsney varied spin attack kept St Alban’s in check, and they mustered 129/7 from their 20 overs. Liam Basch, with 28, and Ethan Nel, with 27, were the best of the hosts’ batsmen.
Then, in another T20, against Cornwall Hill College, on the same day, the Pretoria school sneaked a last ball six-wicket win.
Four batsmen – Nic Comrie, Rivaan Moodley, Jonty Wiggett, and Cole Young – made it into the twenties for Kearsney, but none pushed on further, and that came back to bite the Botha’s Hill boys.
They tallied 134/6, but Cornwall Hill replied with 135/4, and they received the kind of innings that Kearsney would have loved to see from one of their set batsmen. Opener AB Rasool faced 75 balls, scored 105*, and scored two off the last ball to see his side to victory.
On Saturday, in a 50-over clash, Kearsney’s batsmen came to life as they posted 236 all out in 45.3 overs against St John’s College (Harare). Cole Young was to the fore once more, stroking six fours and three sixes in his 62 from 52 balls, while Rivaan Moodley, with 36, Jason De Gryse with 35, and Daniel Miskey, with 24, all boosted the total.
There might have been some concern while St John’s skipper, Connor Lovatt, was at the crease. He smashed four sixes and five fours in a fiery 23-ball innings that brought him exactly 50. However, only Luca Spagnuolo, with 20, and Riley Ettlin, with 19, joined him in double figures.
The Rams were undone by the leg-spin of Rivaan Moodley, who has been enjoying a fine all-round season, regularly contributing with both bat and ball. He bowled 8.2 overs and sent five batsmen packing, snagging 5/25 as the Zimbabweans’ slid to 130 all out.
In their last match, on Sunday, Kearsney fell to a 17-run loss against Kingswood College, who won all their games at the ISCF.
A good bowling performance kept Kingswood to only 108 all out, with Rivaan Moodley following up his five-for with 4/15 in four. Daniel Miskey shone, too, picking up 3/27.
Had it not been for Daniel Jakins, who made a composed 47 from 50 balls, the Makhanda school would have been in huge trouble. Only Jakins and his fellow opener, Chris Zimmerman (23), exited single figures.
Unfortunately for Kearsney, they were set on their heels from the start of their run chase. They were 12/3 by the start of the fourth over, and then 31/5 in the eighth over.
Asher Hollister, who seems to play his best when the pressure is at its greatest, made 23 from 28 balls, with one six, and Jonty Wiggett struck two maximums in his 22 from 18, while Daniel Miskey added two more in his 19 from 11. But there was little else to speak of as Kearsney was dismissed for 91.
Kingswood’s opening bowlers, David Louden, with 2/15, and Jack Collett, with 2/13, set their side on course for victory. Franco Klopper, then, built upon their good work by knocking over 4/15 in 3.2 overs.
SCORES
Kearsney College 145/7 (Asher Hollister 54*, Cole Young 27; Luke Ward 3/16, Liam Basch 2/21); St Alban’s College 129/7 (Liam Basch 28, Ethan Nel 27, Mdudzi Mahlangu 26; Jason de Gryse 2/14). Kearsney College won by 16 runs.
Kearsney College 134/6 (Nic Comrie 26*, Rivaan Moodley 23, Jonty Wiggett 22, Cole Young 21, Obakeng Mokonya 2/21); Cornwall Hill College 135/4 (AB Rasool 105*, Litha Gonya 2/11). Cornwall Hill College won by six wickets.
Kearsney College 236/10 (Cole Young 62, Rivaan Moodley 36, Jason De Gryse 35, Daniel Miskey 24, Hayden Saunders 2/24, James Rawlings 2/29); St John’s College, Harare 130/10 (Connor Lovatt 50, Luca Spagnuolo 20, Rivaan Moodley 5/25, Litha Gonya 2/34). Kearsney College won by 106 runs.
Kingswood College 108/10 (Daniel Jakins 47, Chris Zimmerman 23, Rivaan Moodley 4/15, Daniel Miskey 3/27). Kearsney College 91/10 (Asher Hollister 23, Jonty Wiggett 22, Franco Klopper 4/15, Jack Collett 2/13). Kingswood won by 17 runs.
MICHAELHOUSE
Last on the alphabetical KZN list of ISCF competitors, Michaelhouse was first in the win column, going three for three in Pretoria against good opposition.
All credit to ‘House, it hasn’t been a smooth journey this season, but they have battled through and are playing their best cricket now.
One of the catalysts for their success has been their captain Ethan Muir, who has been among the runs, and he led from the front in Michaelhouse’s seven-run victory over St Andrew’s College in a T20 played on Friday. Muir sent eight balls to the boundary in a knock of 54 from 44, while Michael Blignaut provided some late innings fireworks, also striking eight fours, in his unbeaten 50 from 29 deliveries, which helped ‘House to 142/3.
St Andrew’s got 38 from Myles Sansom at the top of the order, but Michaelhouse’s bowlers struck often enough to undermine the Eastern Cape side’s momentum, and they finished their 20 overs on 135/9.
Rendani Nonge has come to the fore for Michaelhouse during their run of success, and he, again, played a key role, nabbing 4/24 in four. Radhesh Jhilmeet, with 2/25, did well, too.
On Saturday, on Mitchell Field, at St John’s College, run scoring was extremely challenging, with both teams scoring only 224 runs between them, but Michaelhouse emerged from that hard-fought skirmish with a 10-run victory.
Graydon Leslie, with 26, was the best of the ‘House batsmen, but they mustered only a pedestrian 117 all out in 46.1 overs. St John’s captain Alec Loveland put the KZN boys under pressure, claiming 3/24 in 10, while Ethan Robinson shut down the run-scoring, with a superb return of 2/13 from his 10. Herman Basson, with 2/5, and Malan du Plessis, with 2/29, also enjoyed success.
Michaelhouse needed a special bowling performance to defend a modest total, and they delivered.
Radhesh Jhilmeet snapped up 3/9 in 4.2 overs and Jean-Luc Rey snared 2/25 to see ‘House through to victory. Earlier, Liam O’Dwyer, with 1/8 in five overs, and Michael Blignaut, with 1/9 in nine, almost brought the St John’s innings to a standstill.
Their innings made for interesting reading. Aiden Barberrini scored 30, Nkosana Sibiya 21, Lwazi Khuphe 20, and Joshua Hall 20, which made up 91 off the runs St John’s needed. However, the other seven batsmen made only four between them, with four out for ducks.
In their last match, Ethan Muir and Michael Blignaut reprised the performances that brought them a win over St Andrew’s College. Muir spent only 32 balls at the crease but hit a quickfire 50, while Blignaut took 34 balls for his unbeaten 46, while Graydon Leslie spanked four fours in his 38 not out, which took Michaelhouse to 178/3 against St John’s College (Harare).
Matching 45s, from Riley Ettlin and Luca Spagnuolo, were the big contributions in the St John’s innings, but ‘House had matters under control and kept St John’s to 152/7 from their 20 overs to win by 26 runs.
Liam O’Dwyer led the Michaelhouse attack with 2/17 from four overs, and opening bowler, Luke Mitchell returned 2/23 from four, also.
SCORES
Michaelhouse 142/3 (Ethan Muir 54, Michael Blignaut 50*, Rhys Wilbin 2/19, Alastair de Kock 1/21). St Andrew’s College 135/9 (Myles Sansom 38, Sam Scheckler 23, Rendani Nonge 4/23, Rhadhesh Jhilmeet 2/25). Michaelhouse won by seven runs.
Michaelhouse 117/10 (Graydon Leslie 26, Radhesh Jhilmeet 16, Alec Loveland 3/25, Herman Basson 2/5). St John’s College 107/9 (Aiden Barberrini 30, Nkosana Sibiya 21, Radhesh Jhilmeet 2/9, Herman Basson 2/5). Michaelhouse won by 10 runs.
Michaelhouse 178/3 (Ethan Muir 50, Michael Blignaut 46*, Graydon Leslie 38*; James Rawlings 2/31); St John’s College (Harare) 152/7 (Riley Ettlin 45, Luca Spagnuolo 45; Liam O’Dwyer 2/17, Luke Mitchell 2/23). Michaelhouse won by 26 runs.
OTHER RESULTS
St John’s College (Harare) 104/7 (Connor Lovatt 27, Riley Ettlin 20; Juandre Verwey 1/8); Helpmekaar Kollege 105/1 (Kyle Swanepoel 50, Zander Neethling 47*; Connor Lovatt 1/20). Helpmekaar Kollege won by nine wickets.
St Stithians College 88/7 (Matthew Anderson 24; Mohali Pitsi 2/15, Obakeng Mokonyane 2/15); Cornwall Hill College 69/10 (Rourke de Lange 23; Cayden Sunker 3/7, Zakir Hanslo 3/13, Tajandra Naidu 2/8, Akhil Challa 2/12). St Stithians College won by 19 runs.
Kingswood College 119/6 (James Hobson 26*, Alistair Knott 20, Benjamin Muzanago 3/24, Tyrelle Zuze 2/14). St George’s College 71/7 (Akash Singh 38, Michael Mukori 9, David Louden 2/10, Daniel Jakins 2/16) Kingswood won by 48 runs.
St John’s College 103/6 (Alec Loveland 42, Aiden Barberrini 17, Heindré Serfontein 2/19, FG Botha 1/19). St Andrew’s School 106/5 (Grové du Preez 25, Andrew Sobiech 24, Malan du Plessis 3/12, Ethan Robinson1/23). St Andrew’s won by five wickets.
Uplands College 53/10 (Mfundo Mthimunye 15; Mohammed Borabat 4/11, Rehaan Patel 3/9); Titans Hub Invitational 56/1 (Lesedi Mabena 35*; Benjamin Kazandjis 1/25). Titans Hub Invitational XI won by nine wickets.
Woodridge College 65/10 (Oliver Puttergill 17, Randy Syce 12, Roberto Mariano 3/10, Ethan Greenstein 2/7). St David’s Marist Inanda 66/4 (Roberto Mariano 36, Morteza Manack 26, Ethan Moothoo 2/4, Randy Syce 2/13). St David’s won by six wickets.
Woodridge College 80/10 (Jay Reece Madatt 37, Sonwabiso Gotyana 11, Benjamin Muzanago 3/17, Tichaona Mharadze 2/3). St George’s College 82/3 (Jayden Petersen 27, Tyshawn Zuze 26*, Ethan Moothoo 2/12, Daniel Darlow 1/15). St George’s won by seven wickets.
St Benedict’s College 174/10 (Alex Johnston 38, Clayton Horlick 29, Extras 25, Matthew Feirtag 22; Cullen Kakora 3/19, Heindré Serfontein 2/30); St Andrew’s School 176/5 (FG Botha 70, Jonathan Hickley 41*; Ed Smith 2/19, Mark Munava 2/24). St Andrew’s School won by five wickets.
Bishops 214/9 (Alex Vincent 56, Cameron Macbeth 52, Adnaan Lagadien 37, Kyle Strik 28; Mohammad Borabat 2/36); Titans Invitational Hub XI 119/10 (Keamogetswe Semenya 27, Gift Motlhasedi 25*; Waco Bassik 4/21, Daniel Perold 3/27). Bishops won by 95 runs.
Kingswood College 190/10 (Patrick Mouton 67, Josh Loon 38, M Mahlangu 4/20, L Ward 2/30). St Alban’s College 169/10 (Liam Basch 71, K Block 21, Franco Klopper 2/13, Josh Loon 2/22). Kingswood College won by 21 runs.
St Andrew’s School 162/8 (Naudé Botha 40, Andrew Sobiech 38, Johan Liebenberg 23; Zaakir Hanslo 3/26, Thomas Collins 2/28); St Stithians College 166/2 (Ombesa Matsha 87*, Liam Mudenda 69; Andrew Sobiech 1/31). St Stithians College won by eight wickets.
Helpmekaar Kollege 213/9 (Zander Neethling 39, Anrich Liebenberg 39, Malan du Plessis 4/35, Nkosana Sibiya 1/13). St John’s College 209/10 (Alec Loveland 57, Connor van der Walt 26, Anrich Liebenberg 4/27, Juandré van Wyk 2/20). Helpmekaar won by four runs.
St Andrew’s College 147/6 (Oliver Johns 47, Myles Sansom 30, Luke de Klerk 2/15, Michael Kruiskamp 1/35). Bishops 150/6 (Adnaan Lagadien 40, James Robb Quinlan 40, Ababalwa Zingela 2/27, Sam Scheckter 2/37). Bishops won by four wickets.
Leave a Reply