6 February 2023
Yaseen Khan starred with the ball and Kaeden McAllister with the bat to steer Westville Boys’ High to a narrow three-wicket victory over Northwood at the Durban North school on Saturday.
Northwood headed into the match off the back of an impressive victory over Saint Charles College the previous weekend, while Westville had gone down to Hilton College.
A decision by Northwood to bat first didn’t produce the start they sought, with openers Muhammed Karodia and James Nielsen both departing cheaply, Karodia for a duck and Nielsen for three.
Strong partnership
The Knights, though, settled down through a strong partnership between Thayin Kuppan and Evan Fouche. Kuppan made 58 from 115 balls, with three fours, while Fouche top scored for the hosts with 72 off of 102 deliveries, with six fours and two sixes.
Unfortunately for Northwood, once the duo departed, they experienced a mini-collapse, with three more wickets falling in quick succession.
Yaseen Khan did most of the damage, snaring 5 for 36 in 8.3 overs to help keep the Knights under 200 runs. They were all out for 194 in the 50th over.
Hamza Mohamed lent good support with the ball, capturing 2 for 34 in nine overs, while Aryan Gopalan was his usual miserly self, returning figures of 1 for 17 in seven overs.
Like Northwood, Westville’s innings did not begin well. Their talented top three – Aryan Gopalan, Nicandro Kistna and Romashen Pillay – never really got going, but Kaeden McAllister, elevated to number four after a couple of good performances, provided the Griffin with an excellent performance as they chased what had become a challenging victory target.
Crucial partnership
James Nielsen knocked over three batsmen, on his way to a return of 3 for 39 in his 10 overs, but McAllister and Sean McGough, who had shared a crucial partnership in Westville’s win over Maritzburg College at the start of the season, once again partnered up to steady the Westville innings.
McGough made 30, without finding the boundary, before he was run out. McAllister, though, stood strong. He went on to tally a match-winning 92 from 98 balls, blasting two sixes over the boundary ropes, and adding six fours.
With one ball remaining in the 45th over, Westville scored the winning run, reaching 195 for 7 to secure a hard-fought victory.
Apart from James Nielsen, his new ball partner, Nqobani Mokoena, fared well, too, picking up 2 for 38 in nine overs, but it wasn’t quite enough as the visitors picked up a good win.
SCORES
Northwood 194 all out (E. Fouche 72, T. Kuppan 58, Y. Khan 5 for 36, H. Mohamed 2 for 34)
Westville 195 for 7 (K. McAllister 92*, S. McGough 30, J. Nielsen 3 for 39, N. Mokoena 2 for 38)
Westville won by 3 wickets
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