Author: ralsty

Michael Russel’s four-goal contribution for Buffalo City played a crucial role in securing the draw, highlighting his scoring prowess and the team’s ability to hold their ground against a formidable opponent like Central Gauteng B.

The scoreboard remained deadlocked at 4-4, between Buffalo City and Central Gauteng B showcasing the tenacity and skill of both teams.

Building on the momentum from the drawn match, Buffalo City continued their impressive run by facing Northern Tigers B, and securing an 18-1 win in that match with Russel again claiming the title of chief destroyer netting five goals and leading his team to a commanding triumph.

Western Province A emerged victorious with a final score of 8-4 against a strong Kwa-Zulu Natal team. This match was notable for its competitive nature and the clash between two highly competitive teams. Arguably both sides would fancy their chances at a shot in the final.

RESULTS DAY 2

Buffalo City 4 – Goals: Micahel Russel (4). Central Gauteng B 4 – Goals: Daniel Pronk, Adam Stoutjesdyk, Gui-nam Chen, Ethan Kempen.

Western Province B 7 – Goals: Anthony Lampe (4), Rupert Robinson, Daniel Fyfer, Thomas Cruickshank. Northern Tigers A 6 – Goals: Oliver Oberholzer (2), Caleb Bowden, Ettiene Van Der Merwe, Christian Truter, Ardan Robertson.

Northern Tigers B 0 – Goals: Eastern Gauteng 11 – Goals: Conor Michael Cockcroft (3), Andrew Castely (2), Luke Laporte (2), Daniel Rheeder, Caleb Smith, Samkelo Maphaphu.

Zimbabwe 6 – Goals: Blaise Scheepers (2), Tapfuma Taundi, Bongani Dube, Donovan Bodington, Liam Chicksen. Eden Districts 3 – Goals: Luca Whitehead (2), Matthew Tindall.

Western Province A 8 – Goals: Benjamin Bingara (3), Matthew Fenn (2), James Pinnock, Tim Young, Harry Oldham. Kwa-Zulu Natal 4 – Goals: Levi Thom (2), Oliver Ludwig, Thomas Francke.

Nelson Mandela Bay 3 – Goals: Dane Paterson (2), Stefan Polderman. Central Gauteng A 6 – Goals: Ryan Morely (2), Cooper Haworth (2), David Latilla-Campbell, Aiden Khoury.

Buffalo City 18 – Goals: Michael Russel (5), Daniel Woodin (4), Tiago Williams (3), Nicholas Du Toit (2), Campbell Dickinson (2), Joshua Lentz, Abakhe Ngamlana. Northern Tigers B 1 – Goals: Connor Kennealy.

Western Province B 11 – Goals: Ross Prinsloo (3), Daniel Fyfer (3), Anthony Lampe (2), Tim Farrel (2), Connor Mortlock. Eden Districts 5 – Goals: Luca Whitehead (4), Matthew Tindall.

Western Province A 23 – Goals: Alex Barret (6), James Malan (4), Matthew Fenn (4), Andrew Reynolds (3), Caleb Harley (2), Benjamin Bigara (2), James Pinnock, Harry Oldham.Eastern Gauteng 1 – Goals: Travis Kempen.

Nelson Mandela Bay 9 – Goals: Stefan Pelderman (3), Dane Paterson (3), Jed Paterson, Christian Chandler, Adam Ball. Zimbabwe 4 – Goals: Blaise Scheepers (2), Tapfuma Taundi, Patrick Duff.

Buffalo City 3 – Goals: Tiago Williams, Daniel Van Biljoen, Michael Russel. Kwa-Zulu Natal 7 – Goals: Levi Thom (2), Oliver Ludwig, Musawenkosi Mponda, Thomas Francke, Thomas Aylward.

Western Province B 6 – Goals: Benjamin Van Zyl (2), Thomas Cruickshank, Ross Prinsloo, Daniel Fyfer, Anthony Lempe. Central Gauteng A 8 – Goals: Cooper Haworth (3), Troy Pasqualle (2), David Latilla-Campbell. Danilo Giuricich, Craig Toet.

The opening day of the u15 IPT Tournament at Seaview Eco Pool in Nelson Mandela Bay witnessed a fiercely contested series of water polo matches, setting an exhilarating tone for the tournament.

ne standout performance came from Kwa-Zulu Natal, as they dominated Northern Tigers B with an emphatic 23-0 victory.

Thomas Francke stole the spotlight by netting an impressive nine goals, showcasing his exceptional skill in front of the goal and contributing significantly to his team’s commanding win.

In another notable match, Central Gauteng A displayed their offensive prowess by overpowering Eden Districts with a resounding 15-0 win. As always Gauteng will be a side for other teams to keep an eye out for as the tournament progresses.

Adding an international flair to the competition, neighbors Zimbabwe participated in the tournament, facing Western Province B in a closely contested match that ended 9-6 in favor of Western Province B.

As the tournament unfolds, the mix of local and international teams promises to deliver more thrilling water polo action at Seaview Eco Pool.

RESULTS DAY 1

Western Province B 10 – Goals: Alex Barret (2), Matthew Fenn (2), Tim Young (2), Caleb Harely, Benjamin Bigara, James Pinnock, Andrew Reynolds. Central Gauteng B 1 – Goals: Daniel Pronk.

Nelson Mandela Bay 6 – Goals: Stefan Polderman (2), Dane Paterson (2), Carter Rosser, Christian Chandler. Northern Tigers A 4 – Goals: Ben Swarts, Andrew Robertson, Christian Truter, Oliver Obherholzer.

Buffalo City 8 – Goals: Tiago Williams (3), Michael Russel (2), Joshua Lentz, Nicholas Du Toit, Daniel Van Biljoen. Eastern Gauteng 2 – Goals: Daelan Brijmohun, Travis Kempen.

Western Province B 9 – Goals: Daniel Fyfer (2), Thomas Cruickshank (2), Connor Mortlock (2), Colin Douglas, Ross Prinsloo, Tim Farrell. Zimbabwe 6 – Goals: Blaise Scheepers (3), Tapfuma Taundi (2), Patrick Duff.

Northern Tigers B 0. Kwa-Zulu Natal 23 – Goals: Thomas Francke (9), Levi Thom (5), Tane Greene (2), Jamie Nicolau, Garrick Phillips, Musawenkosi Mponda, Sebastian Laundenberg, Oliver Guy, Thomas Aylward.

Eden Districts 0 – Goals: Central Gauteng A 15 – Goals: Matthew Cross (5), Dylan Gander (2), Teegan Fisher (2), Roan Wessels, Danilo Giuricich, Cooper Haworth, Ryan Morely, Troy Pasqualle, David Latilla-Campbell.

At just 17 years old, left-arm fast bowler Kwena Maphaka made his debut on Thursday for the DP World Lions in the CSA Division One 4-Day Competition. His pace and ability to generate movement off the pitch has caught the attention of cricket enthusiasts and selectors alike, with the Lions’ recently signed bowling coach, Proteas’ fast bowling great, Allan Donald, the latest to give the youngster his seal of approval.

The highly anticipated match against the Dafabet Warriors at St George’s Park in Gqeberha marks a significant milestone in Maphaka’s promising cricketing career, which is speeding forward like a bullet train. On day one, he claimed his first stick, dismissing Warriors’ captain Matthew Breetzke and ending with 2/87 from 18.5 overs.

Hailing from St Stithians College, Maphaka has experienced a whirlwind of success over the past year, rapidly climbing the ranks as one of South Africa’s most talented young players. Read more about him in our featured Player Profile article.

Apart from making his four-day debut for the DP World Lions, more high level cricket lies ahead for Maphaka with the Paarl Royals, who signed him to a rookie contract for the forthcoming second season of the Betway SA20 competition, which takes place from the 10th of January to the 10th of February 2024.

Before donning the Royals’ jersey, Maphaka is set to showcase his skills for the Gauteng Lions in the annual Khaya Majola Cricket Week – in a powerhouse team. The prestigious event, which takes place in Makhanda from the 16th to the 20th of December, features the best schoolboy talent in South Africa facing off in provincial competition.

Maphaka’s list of achievements is quickly accruing, and it includes a first-class debut for the SA A side in an unofficial test match against Sri Lanka A back in June, as well as turning out for the SA Emerging team in the CSA Domestic One Day Cup. No doubt, as Cricket South Africa does with its brightest talent, they are overseeing the young star’s workload.

As he continues to hone his skills and gain valuable experience, Maphaka’s journey is one that fans and pundits alike will keenly follow, with the hope that he can take the big step up to representing the Proteas.

Remember to submit your nominations for SuperSport Schools’ “The Class of ’23”. We invite you to be a part of this journey by nominating unforgettable moments, outstanding athletes, and inspiring coaches.

Your participation will help us recognise and showcase the true stars and stories of 2023. Submit your nominations on the following link – https://bit.ly/SSClassof2023.

This past Saturday night, amid the vibrant atmosphere of the Bestmed Golden Lions Referees Society‘s annual prize-giving dinner, Jeppe High School for Boys was named the School of the Year.

The accolade recognises the prowess, sportsmanship, and unrivalled spirit shown by Jeppe throughout the 2023 season.

The School of the Year award is selected and voted for by the referees themselves, with the schools needing to tick multiple boxes to be considered for the award. The competition was stiff, but the boys in black and white came out on top.

“That the behaviour and standard of play of our players has been recognised and rewarded in this way makes us very proud,” Jeppe said on the school’s website.

Jeppe’s 1st XV enjoyed a successful 2023 season, producing some outstanding performances to beat, among others, DHS, KES, Monument, and Hilton College, as they notched up 12 wins playing some of the best teams in the country.

KES beat Jeppe 23-20 in April, but Jeppe claimed the win in a high-scoring thriller the second time around at the end of July, winning 43-31. They ended the season with another heart-stopping victory, defeating an excellent Durban High School team 39-36.

Another memorable encounter was their clash with Affies, which the boys from Pretoria won 33-31, with a late converted try.

The 2024 season will see a shake-up of the Jeppe coaching staff with their long-serving 1st XV coach, Carl Spilhaus, taking over as the Director of Rugby after six very successful years during which Jeppe established itself as a powerhouse side.

Former assistant coach, Drickus Venter, take over as Head Coach of the 1st XV next year.

Venter, who been with the school for the past 14 years, will be eager to build upon his forerunner’s success. His deep understanding of the school’s rugby traditions, combined with his unique insights and innovations, will be valuable assets as he takes on the new role.

The final match of the season for Westville Boys’ High and Maritzburg College was set for an exciting finish before inclement weather in Westville brought a damp and wet end to an intriguing contest on Saturday.

The match hung in the balance, with Westville on 97 for 7 after 37 overs, chasing 110 runs to win, when the heavens opened up and started raining cats and dogs. It was far from a decided contest, with Maritzburg College spinner James Wiggell having taken 3/19 with another over to come. 

Kaeden McAllister (in feature photo) was Westville’s top scorer, with 25 from 48 balls, while last weekend’s top performer Baskhar Sellwall grafted his way to 22 from 79 balls. Both appeared set to steer the hosts to victory on a difficult batting surface. 

However, Chad Mason, who has been in outstanding all-round form this term, picked up two crucial wickets for 24 runs in his 10 overs, including the prized wicket of Westville’s skipper Max Robertson, another player who has excelled in recent times.

College batted first, after being sent in, and it was Mason who led the way for the red, black and white, exhibiting good discipline in a 76-ball stay which yielded 25 runs. All around him, wickets tumbled as the bowlers made good use of the favourable conditions. 

Dayalan Boyce, Sean McGough, Chad Van Breda and Roxton Payne each bagged two wickets apiece and it was left to Asanda Khumalo, with 20 from 21 deliveries, to help College cross the hundred-mark. 

After 40.4 overs, though, the visitors were all out for 109. 

Both coaches would have been slightly disappointed with the result, with each having cause to think the match could have gone their side’s way. The match proved, though, that heavy run scoring is not necessary for a contest to be entertaining. 

Summarised scorecard

Maritzburg College 1st XI 109/10 (Chad Mason 25, Asanda Khumalo 20; Sean McGough 2/13, Dayalan Boyce 2/15, Chad van Breda 2/15, Roxton Payne 2/23); Westville Boys’ High School 1st XI 93/7 (Kaeden McAllister 25, Baskhar Selwall 22; James Wiggell 3/19, Chad Mason 2/24) Match drawn due to inclement weather.

After a 42-run loss to Michaelhouse last weekend, Westville Boys’ High School will be aiming to bounce back against Maritzburg College this weekend on Bowden’s Field, in their final cricket fixture for 2023.

In a losing cause last weekend, opening batsman Bhasker Sewlal stood tall while, all around him, the remainder of the line-up struggled to find their rhythm. He led the way with a steady 82 runs, keeping the Michaelhouse bowling attack at bay for 125 deliveries.  

Maritzburg College head into the game on a high, fresh off a convincing 10-wicket win over Glenwood on Goldstone’s last weekend The College bowlers clamped down on the visitors, limiting them to a measly 108 runs, with Chad Mason being their standout performer, snaring 3/17 in 8.5 overs.  

In the batting department, the opening pair for Maritzburg are definitely two players to keep an eye on. Throughout the season, Liam Armstrong and Caleb Thomas have excelled up front, recording a number of hundred-run partnerships while adopting an aggressive approach towards the bowlers. They’ve dovetailed nicely.

Thomas was selected for the KwaZulu-Natal Inland u19 team, which will be taking part in the Khaya Majola Week in December, along with all-rounder and College captain Bryn Brokensha.

A fortnight ago, Westville steamrolled Glenwood after bowling out the Green Machine for 78. Sean McGough was the destroyer-in-chief, capturing 4/20. 

The Griffins’ Max Robertson has enjoyed a stellar season for the 1st XI and was included in the KwaZulu-Natal u17 side, along with his captain Nicandro Kistna and the all-rounder Kaeden McAllister. Robertson will be eager to tap into the aggressive and consistent batting form that he has shown all season.

Westville go into the fixture without their matric pupils, who have turned their focus to their final exams, but they have the quality and depth to cause College problems. 

It’s a last opportunity for some of the players to do duty for their 1st teams this season and, based on an exciting encounter in the 1st term, which Westville edged by 15 runs, another intriguing contest awaits.  

Remember to submit your nominations for SuperSport Schools’ “The Class of ’23”. We invite you to be a part of this journey by nominating unforgettable moments, outstanding athletes, and inspiring coaches.

Your participation will help us recognise and showcase the true stars and stories of 2023. Submit your nominations on the following link – https://bit.ly/SSClassof2023.

Fixtures

Westville Boys’ High School vs Maritzburg College

1st XI – 9:00 am – Bowden’s 

2nd XI – 9:00 am – Goldstone’s 

u15A – 9:00 am – Commons 1

u14A – 9:00 am – Commons 2

St David’s Marist Inanda’s Morteza Manack stole the show on Saturday against Northcliff High School, with the opening batsmen scoring a brilliant century at the La Valla Oval. He ended with 148 runs from 126 balls, after having been put in to bat. 

When the opener was out a mere two runs shy of a ton-and-a-half, there were still six overs remaining in his side’s innings. 

Thanks mostly to Manack’s massive contribution, St David’s tallied 315/6 in their 50 overs. It was a difficult challenge for Northcliff, but they made a valiant attempt at the big target, eventually falling 21 runs short in an exciting run chase.

St David’s captain Matthew West scored a patient 50 runs from 98 balls, with only three boundaries, but he played a crucial support role to Manack as the pair shared a 149-run third wicket partnership. 

The pain for the Northcliff bowlers wasn’t over, however, as lower-order batsman Oliver Botha let loose, helping himself to an electric 41 not out from only 14 balls, which included launching four maximums in a row. 

With a solid foundation laid by the top-order, the final over of the St David’s innings saw the ball being dispatched to all parts of the ground by Botha, with opening bowler Declan Diesel (2/83), leaking 28 runs in an incredible onslaught.

Going into the lunch break, Northcliff’s players would have needed a serious gee-up from the side’s coaches after that late blitz. One’s mind jumps to Al Pacino’s speech in Any Given Sunday, about the value of inches or, in this case, margins in sport. 

Whatever was said, the Northcliff batting unit set about pursuing the formidable total with determination. Opener Frank Devenish batted at better than a run a ball, scoring a spirited 63 runs from 61 deliveries, before succumbing to the bowling of Joshua Evans in the 21st over. 

Tyron Bedford-Owen, batting at four, looked like he might hijack the spotlight from Manack’s superb show, compiling his own well-crafted century, and eventually finishing with 126. His knock came at just quicker than a run-a-ball, and it included nine fours and five sixes. But it was not quite enough to see his side over the line.

Botha followed up his heroics with the bat, by claiming three scalps, ending with 3/57 from his 10 overs. His haul included the vital wicket of Owen, who was well set. Botha then added two wickets in the last over of the match with some pin-point death bowling.

St David’s Director of Cricket Dave Nosworthy commented: “The batsmen were superb over the weekend, especially Morteza Manack, who dominated in 360-degree fashion.

“We, also, often talk about how batsmen are performing so well these days, which they are, but often we forget just how the bowlers need to develop their skills, tactics, and strategies, especially on mostly batsman-friendly pitches, which we find more often than not around the world these days…” 

The match provided an enthralling display from both side’s batsmen, but it has left the bowlers with some additional homework to do before their next matches.

Remember to submit your nominations for SuperSport Schools’ “The Class of ’23”. We invite you to be a part of this journey by nominating unforgettable moments, outstanding athletes, and inspiring coaches.

Your participation will help us recognise and showcase the true stars and stories of 2023. Submit your nominations on the following link – https://bit.ly/SSClassof2023.

Summarised scorecard

St David’s Marist 315/6 (Morteza Manack 148, Matthew West 50, Oliver Botha 41*, Extras: 21; Reaäl Hariram 2/53, Declan Diesel 2/84); Northcliff High School 294/7 (Tyron Bedford-Owen 126, Frank Devenish 63, Extras: 22; Oliver Botha 3/57, Joshua Evans 2/61). St David’s Marist won by 21 runs.

Two of KwaZulu-Natal’s leading cricket teams met on Saturday when Michaelhouse made the trip towards the east coast to take on Westville Boys’ High on an overcast day.

It has been a very good term for House, and they continued their strong run of form with a comfortable 42-run win, thanks to a solid batting performance and a disciplined bowling effort. 

After winning the toss, Westville opted to bowl first which, given the overhead conditions, was not too surprising.

Michaelhouse responded well to the challenge, however, putting up a competitive 255/9, led by Nathan Hoatson‘s (in feature photo) unbeaten 65 from 73 balls. The two Murrays – Hall-Jones and Baker – also made significant contributions, with the former making 50 and the latter, who has been in red-hot form, missing out on his half-century by a single run after departing hit-wicket.  

Kaeden McAllister and Heath Stott were the pick of the Westville bowlers, with both picking up two wickets, although they were somewhat expensive, going at over five runs per over each.

Needing to bat at 5.12 runs an over, the Griffins fought valiantly but their victory target of 256 never quite came into sight. They were bowled out in the final over of their innings for 213.

Westville’s opening batsman Bhasker Sewlal was their standout performer, weighing in with an impressive 82 runs from 126 balls, which included four boundaries. He set his team up well, occupying one end and accumulating a significant score along the way.

Tom Mitchell and Michael Thornton, with two wickets apiece, undid Westville’s middle-order, however, with breakthroughs at crucial times during the home side’s innings.

McAllister and Kistna put on 49 for the first wicket but, once McAllister was run out for 33 from 46 balls, Westville’s innings was subject to the regular loss of wickets. 

Ethan Muir captured 3/48 from his 10 overs, and removed the Westville tail, to prevent the Griffins from clawing their way to an unlikely victory late in the day.

Next weekend, there will be plenty on the line when Michaelhouse face their great rivals Hilton College in the annual pink day cricket match. 

Remember to submit your nominations for SuperSport Schools’ “The Class of ’23”. We invite you to be a part of this journey by nominating unforgettable moments, outstanding athletes, and inspiring coaches.

Your participation will help us recognise and showcase the true stars and stories of 2023. Submit your nominations on the following link – https://bit.ly/SSClassof2023.

Summarised Scorecard

Michaelhouse 255/9 (Nathan Hoatson 65*, Murray Hall-Jones 50, Murray Baker 49, Extras 24; Kaeden McAllister 2/33, Heath Stott 2/33); Westville Boys’ High 213/10 (Bhasker Sewlal 82, Kaeden McAllister 33, Sean McGough 22; Ethan Muir 3/48, Tom Mitchell 2/20, Michael Thornton 2/29). Michaelhouse won by 42 runs.

Not every product of the South African school cricketing system goes on to wear the green and gold. The ICC 2023 World Cup opener was a reminder of this as New Zealand’s classy opener Devon Conway set the tournament alight with a fantastic 150 not out against the reigning champions England, in a crushing nine-wicket victory.

It is not uncommon to see South African-born cricketers representing other countries on the international stage. Over the years, players such as Maritzburg College’s Kevin Pietersen, King Edward VII’s Keaton Jennings, Stithians College’s Michael Lumb and, rolling back the clock some decades, Queen’s College’s Tony Greig, have all turned out for other national teams.

Cricket is a sport that transcends borders and unites nations and, at the ICC 2023 Cricket World Cup, several nations have South African-born players showcasing their talents. 

They include:

Devon Conway (New Zealand) – St John’s College

Conway was prolific for St John’s College during his time at the prestigious Johannesburg private school, where he broke numerous school records. New Zealand’s import grew up playing cricket in the Gauteng junior structures and featured alongside current Proteas’ captain Temba Bavuma in the 2008 Coca Cola Khaya Majola Week.

The left-hander started off playing provincial cricket for the Lions before making the move south to New Zealand to try and break into the international set-up there by scoring valuable runs for Wellington, which paved his way onto the international scene. 

Dawid Malan (England) – Paarl Boys High School

The English batsman is an interesting case because he was born in Roehampton, England. However, Malan attended school in South Africa, where he played for Paarl Boys’ High. He represented Boland while growing up in the picturesque surrounds of Paarl and learned his trade in the local structures.

In 2017, after pursuing a career in county cricket since the mid-2000s, Malan made his international debut for England. He boasts a formidable T20I record, with some exceptional performances taking him to the top of the batting rankings in the format for some time.

Roelof van der Merwe (Netherlands) – Hoërskool Waterkloof

The left-arm spinner is not a newcomer to the international stage, having represented The Netherlands at several ICC events. The “Bulldog”, as he is known, because of his fighting spirit, is the only player on this list who has also represented South Africa at the highest level, although his last match for the Proteas took place 15 years ago in 2008.

A product of Hoërskool Waterkloof, he played in the Northerns’ league before being selected for the Titans. Later, he moved to the United Kingdom, where he has made use of a Dutch passport to play for Somerset as a Kolpak player.

Colin Ackermann (Netherlands) – Grey High School

Grey High School has produced an enviably long list of high-quality cricketers, and Ackermann, in his time at the school, dominated the run-charts. He toured England with Grey High and was the leading run-scorer in the CSA Under-19 three-day competition in 2009.

He then made the move abroad, joining Leicestershire on a Kolpak contract. In 2019, he made his debut for The Netherlands in the T20 World Cup qualifiers. 

Sybrand Abraham Engelbrecht (Netherlands) – Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool

Not a household name for many South Africans, Affies’ Engelbrecht represented South Africa at the ICC u19 World Cup in 2008, where he grabbed the attention of many cricket fans with his acrobatic abilities in the field. 

However, after failing to secure a regular place in the South African domestic set-up, he moved to the Netherlands to play club cricket. Recently, he qualified to play as an international for his adopted country and made his debut against New Zealand in Hyderabad on 9 October.

Ryan Klein (Netherlands) – Rondebosch Boys High School

Klein is a product of Rondebosch Boys High School in the Western Cape. He made his first-class debut in late 2019, representing Western Province against Northerns. Then, in January 2022, he turned out for the Dutch against Afghanistan in his international debut.

The Netherlands has a strong South African flavour, with Klein and the aforementioned players being joined by coaches’ Ryan Cook (King Edward VII) and Heino Kuhn (Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool) in their set-up.

Other South African-born players include Australia’s Marnus Labuschange and New Zealand’s power-hitting Glenn Phillips. Notably, both players left the country before they attended high school in South Africa, due to the emigration of their parents.

While it might be disappointing for South African fans to see talented players donning the colours of other nations, it’s a testament to the plentiful talent in the country, and to the determination of these cricketers, that they are making their mark on the international stage.

Pretoria Boys’ High School’s long dry spell in the Pretoria League continued, as they struggled to keep up with long term rivals Affies failing to chase down a competitive score of 274 runs.

Affies coming off a 62-run loss against Paul Roos Gimnasium on Saturday, were eager to

The day started off with Affies winning the toss and opting to bat first on Hofmeyer Oval, with overhead conditions looking somewhat menacing, as dark grey clouds covered the Pretoria skies.

The Boys’ High bowlers would have fancied their chances against the top order, with the new ball in years gone by doing bits up front. However, this was not the case Affies openers started well despite the conditions, starting proceedings with an opening stand of 138 runs from 154 balls.

Wicket-keeper batsmen and captain Lukas Janse Van Rensburg led from the front scoring a valiant 89 runs off 99 balls, which included some crisply hit boundaries. He was well aided by fellow opener Jorich Van Schalkwyk who notched up a well played 44 off 70 balls.

Middle-order batter Janco Purchase’s rich vain of batting form continued as he scored another half-century this season striking at 115.62 runs per ball, ending up on 74 runs from 64 balls, before getting caught on the deep extra cover boundary.

Boys High’s bowlers struggled to find their lines, as Affies went about scoring at 5.57 runs per over. Pick of the bowlers was Jenson Breetzke picking up figures of 10 runs from his six overs.

Chasing down a competitive total, the home side would have felt confident despite the difficult season with the bat, playing in familiar conditions on a large field with plenty of singles and two’s on offer.

The chase started slowly, with Boys High scoring 29 runs from 10.1 overs, before Luke Marshall knicking off and was caught in the slips from the bowling of Vihan Pretorius, which was the start of mini-collapse.

The fourteenth over saw the White Caps, losing a further two wickets, with the score sitting at 44/3, after losing Adam Cannata to a run-out.

With wickets tumbling at regular intervals, the equation became difficult for the lower-order to chase down what became a very intimidating total. Tim Paulus 20 (29b) and Patrick Mouton 18 (25b) hung around each chipping in with starts.

Medium pacer Petrus Rautenbach picked up figures 3/33 from is full quota of ten overs and bowled well in tandem with the rest of the bowlers, building pressure from his end.

Pretoria Boys’ will be hoping to bounce back after a string of losses as they come face-to-face with Cornwall College in the upcoming weeks, who have shown that they are not to be underestimated as they recently beat Affies by 28 runs.

Summarised Scorecard:

Affies 274/7 from 50 overs (Lukas Janse Van Rensburg 89, Janco Purchase 74, Jorich Van Schalkwyk 44 Extras: 26; Johan Coetzer 2/60, Jenson Breetzke 1/10); Pretoria Boys’ High School 152/10 from 38.5 overs (Marc Van Der Merwe 21, Tim Paulus 20, Extras: 18; Petrus Rautenbach 3/33, Matthew Seymore 2/9) Affies won by 122 runs.

Teams: 

Pretoria Boys High School: Adam Cannata, Akhil Joshi, Callum Croome, Cayden Cromarty, Connor Hall*, Johan Coetzer, Justin Tattersall, Keagan Thiele, Marc Van Der Merwe, Nicholas Rossouw, Reice Kruger.

Affies: Andru Van Zyl, Divan De Villiers, Heinrich Muller, Janco Purchase, Jorich Van Schalkwyk, Lukas Janse Van Rensburg*, Matthew Seymore, Petrus Rautenbach, Ruben Groenewald, Vihan Pretorius, Xavier De Wet.