4 November 2023
A superb unbeaten 100 by Semal Pillay wasn’t enough as the Clifton College 1st XI recorded a comfortable eight-wicket victory over DHS on the Theobald Oval on Saturday.
While the home team had one potential match-winner, Clifton produced two players who became the actual match-winners: Shahzaad Perumal and Tim Saulez. Perumal shone with an unbeaten 84 and 3 for 32 in 10 overs, while Saulez’s contribution of 68 not out and 3 for 26 was just as telling.
DHS innings
After winning the coin flip, DHS chose to bat first, and while their first four batsmen made it into double figures, the Clifton bowlers gave little away. Only Pillay was able to establish some measure of control over them.
His century came from 121 balls, but the fact that he struck only four fours was testament to a disciplined and accurate effort from the visitors’ attack.
Sfundo Mthembu nudged the home side’s run rate in the right direction towards the end of their 50 overs, making the second highest score of their innings, 28 from 22 deliveries, and opener Ismaeel Omar matched that with 28 of his own, but from 48 balls.
Tight bowling
Tim Saulez, whose feats are most commonly associated with the bat, did a superb job with the ball, as did Shahzaad Perumal, while Shiraz Perumal captured 2 for 46 in 10. Huzaifah Badat went wicketless, but his 0 for 35 in 10 overs heaped pressure on the DHS batsmen, who struggled to get him away.
In the end, DHS finished on 212 for 9 from their 50 overs.
Clifton, in reply, marched to 213 for 2 in the 44th over to record a handsome victory, and it was the two leading wicket-takers to the fore once again.
Classy innings
Batting at three, Perumal faced 103 balls for his 84 and sent nine balls to the boundary. That was more than twice Semal Pillay’s total of four for DHS, which was the Horseflies’ best.
Saulez, who entered the fray when Clifton were on 77 for 2, faced 80 deliveries for his 68, hitting five fours, and sending one delivery clean over the ropes.
Together, he and Perumal shared an unbroken stand of 136 as they saw Clifton to a solid victory.
SCORES
DHS 212 for 9 (S. Pillay 100*, I. Omar 28, S. Mthembu 28, T. Saulez 3 for 26, Sha. Perumal 3 for 32, Shi. Perumal 2 for 46)
Clifton College 213 for 2 (Sha. Perumal 84*, T. Saulez 68*)
Clifton won by 8 wickets with 38 balls to spare.
Leave a Reply