Author: cschiwanza

KwaZulu-Natal Coastal A maintained their unbeaten run at the SASHOC u18 Girls’ Indoor Hockey IPT, on Wednesday, at Thomas More College, with a win and a draw on the second day of the competition.

Coastals A had two assignments: a morning date with Northerns and an afternoon appointment with Southern Gauteng. The Eloise Walters-coached side routed Northerns and were on course for a win over Southerns in an enthralling fixture before Southerns levelled only six seconds from the end of the contest.

At day’s end, KZN Coastal A topped the standings, with 10 points, while Southerns were in second place, with eight points.

Coastals’ captain, Nicola Forbes, led the way against Northerns with a brace in their 5-1 victory. Jenna-Leigh Freese, Jamie da Silva, and Xaba Nonkosi added the other three goals, while Brigit Arndt saved Northerns the blushes with a smartly executed consolation goal.

The clash between Coastal A and Southern Gauteng in the afternoon was the most anticipated contest of the day, and it didn’t disappoint. After falling behind early to an Amber Fairon strike, Forbes replied for Coastals 11 minutes later before Gabi Howarth netted twice in quick succession to put the home side 3-1 ahead before the half-hour mark.

They appeared on course for victory, but Fairon struck twice more for Southerns, including the last-gasp equaliser to force a 3-3 draw.

That result meant that both KZN Coastal A and Southerns retained their unbeaten records – the only teams in the competition with that achievement after two days of action.

Southerns won both of their matches on day one. Their draw with Coastals A was their second of the day after they were held to a 4-4 draw by KZN Coastal B in their earlier game.

Fairon, who was on fire, registered a hat-trick, and Nicole Chikweshe added the fourth Southerns’ goal. Anna Angelopoulos, the Coastals B captain, scored twice, while Jennifer Egolum and Alulutho Sikhosana added the other two.

Coastals B also recorded their second win of the tournament with a 4-1 triumph over KZN Inland B. Mackenzy Layden scored twice, while Angelopoulos and Alwande Dladla contributed the other two. Anna Schulze found the back of the net for Inland B.

KZN Inland A, who suffered two losses on day one, got on track with back-to-back wins over Inland B and Northerns.

Emma Williams, Annabelle Balmer, and Kate van Breda scored for Inland A in their 3-0 win over Inland B. Then, Jemma van der Byl and Mia Howie were on target in their 2-1 win over Northerns. Thatho Dimpe scored for the ladies from the highveld.

Three pool matches remain before the sides head for the semifinals. Southerns crosses swords with Inland B at 08:00, then Northerns faces a highly motivated Coastals B side. KZN Coastal A winds up the round robin stage with a match against their KZN rivals, Inland A.

RESULTS

U18

Southern Gauteng 4 (Amber Fairon 3, Nicole Chikweshe). KZN Coastal B 4 (Anna Angelopoulos 2, Jennifer Egolum, Alulutho Sikhosana).

KZN Coastal A 5 (Nicola Forbes 2, Jenna-Leigh Freese, Jamie da Silva, Nonkosi Xaba). Northerns 1 (Brigit Arndt).

KZN Inland A 3 (Emma Williams, Annabelle Balmer, Kate van Breda). KZN Inland B 0.

KZN Coastal A 3 (Gabi Howarth 2, Nicola Forbes). Southern Gauteng 3 (Amber Fairon 3).

KZN Coastal B 4 (Mackenzy Layden 2, Anna Angelopoulos, Alwande Dladla). KZN Inland B 1 (Anna Schulze).

KZN Inland A 2 (Jemma van der Byl, Mia Howie). Northerns 1 (Thato Dimpe).

U16

KZN Coastal A 1 (Charley-Rose Boyall). KZN Inland B 0.

KZN Coastal B 2 (Emmerson van Zijl 2). Northerns B 2 (Dané van den Berg, Diana Diener).

KZN Inland A 1 (Taslyn van Wyk). Northerns A 1 (Lenique Vogel).

Northerns A 5 (Lenique Vogel 2, Daniella Grobbelaar 2, Eliane Haycock). Northerns B 0.

KZN Coastal A 3 (Emily Simpkins 3). KZN Coastal B 3 (Bella Roberts 2, Isabella Momoh).

Southern Gauteng A 3 (Lebogang Ngobese, Lucy Wells, Nina Els). KZN Inland B 1 (Olivia Balmer).

U14

KZN Coastal A 9 (Jessica Savage 4, Casia Huntley 2, Lilitha Mbokodi, Shriya Nadrajah, Peighton Short). KZN Inland B 0.

KZN Coastal B 2 (Chloe Reeves, Errin Pretorius). Northerns B 2 (Kayla Kotze 2).

KZN Inland A 0. Southern Gauteng 0.

KZN Coastal A 4 (Olivia Barrett 2, Lilitha Mbokodi, Jessica Savage). KZN Coastal B 0.

Northerns A 6 (Liesel de Witt 2, Sarah Gouws 2, Kari Dreyer, Anri Haycock). KZN Inland B 0.

Southern Gauteng 2 (Madison Utermohlen 2). Northerns B 1 (Maine Campher).

KwaZulu-Natal Coastal A and Southern Gauteng made strong starts to their SASHOC u18 Girls Indoor Hockey IPT campaigns at Thomas More College, in Kloof, on Monday. Both teams finished the day unbeaten and were separated only by goal difference at the top of the leaderboard.

Catch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools

Coastals, who are on top of the log, walloped KZN Inland B 10-1 in their opening fixture.

Codie Bestbier recorded the first hat-trick of the competition in the match, while Zezethu Kunene and Gabi Howarth added a brace each. Ella Bowyer, Jenna-Leigh Freese, and Caprice Bengston rounded off the scoring with a goal each, while Anna Schulze scored Inland B’s consolation goal.

Kunene carried her goal-scoring form into Coastals’ second match later in the day, netting twice in a 4-1 win over their compatriots, KZN Coastal B. Freese and Howarth added the other two goals, while Angelina Hall found the back of the net for Coastals B.

Southern Gauteng roared to a 4-0 win over their highveld neighbours, Northerns, in their opening match of the tournament. Raffael Abrahams netted twice, while Kristen Cikes and Ciara van der Walt also struck.

Van der Walt grew her tally in the competition to three goals when she scored a brace in Southerns’ 6-1 win over KZN Inland A in their afternoon encounter. Nicole Chikweshe also got onto the scorecard with two of her own, while Kristen Cikes and Chloe Potgieter added a goal each. Mia Howie replied for Inland A.

Coastals B and Northerns finished the day with a win each.

Coastals B showed that they were not to be underestimated because of their B-team tag with a convincing 5-1 triumph over Inland A. Alwande Dladla opened the scoring in the 10th minute before Mia Lopes and Mackenzy Layden scored a brace each. Kate van Breda found the back of the net for Inland A.

Northerns bounced back from their loss to Southerns with a 5-1 win over Inland B. Jana Seebach led the way for them with a hat-trick, and Brigit Arndt and Amogelang Motlatle added a goal each.

For the second time in the day, Anna Schulze found the back of the net for Inland B. Unfortunately for her, it was in another losing cause.

Southerns have a tricky assignment against KZN Coastal B in the first match of the second day, while KZN Coastal A faces a resurgent Northerns immediately afterwards. The match of the day will be the contest between the powerhouses, KZN Coastal A and Southerns, at 14:00.

Convenor of Selectors, Calvin Price, reflecting on the first interprovincial schools’ hockey tournament, told SuperSport Schools: “It’s good for school hockey. We’ve got other avenues that are growing the indoor game exceptionally well. To get it back into school level is really exciting.

“There has been some incredible hockey today, on day one. It’s also nice for me to see what’s coming through for the future from the school base. It has been a fantastic opening day, and I think this is the start of some good indoor hockey going forward in the schools and in the provinces. I’m looking forward to that.”

Discussing the impact of South Africa’s successes at the Indoor Hockey World Cup and the introduction of a schools’ IPT, he added: “I think we’re going to get more indoor players out there, which I think we need.

“The Pro Series Indoor (PSI) is a huge success by itself, and I’m privileged to be involved as a national coach. They help me with a lot of things, but there is now another avenue where we can get other players who don’t play PSI to play some top level provincial indoor hockey.”

RESULTS

U18

KZN Coastal A 10 (Codie Bestbier 3, Zezethu Kunene 2, Gabi Howarth 2, Ella Bowyer, Jenna-Leigh Freese, Caprice Bengston). KZN Inland B 1 (Anna Schulze).

Southern Gauteng 4 (Raffael Abrahams 2, Kristen Cikes, Ciara van der Walt). Northerns 0.

KZN Coastal B 5 (Mia Lopes 2, Mackenzy Layden 2, Alwande Dladla). KZN Inland A 1 (Kate van Breda).

Northerns 5 (Jana Seebach 3, Brigit Arndt, Amogelang Motlatle). KZN Inland B 1 (Anna Schulze).

Southern Gauteng 6 (Ciara van der Walt 2, Nicole Chikweshe 2, Kristen Cikes, Chloe Potgieter). KZN Inland A 1 (Mia Howie).

KZN Coastal A 4 (Zezethu Kunene 2, Jenna-Leigh Freese, Gabi Howarth). KZN Coastal B 1 (Angelina Hall).

U16

KZN Inland A 6 (McKenzie Bourg 2, Rebecca Hellberg 2, Jade Gobey, Rebecca Thompson) Northerns B 0

Northerns A 4 (Daniella Grobbelaar 2, Elaine Haycock, Nicole Smuts) KZN Inland B 1 (Tyler Kyle)

KZN Coastal B 3 (Emmerson van Zijl, Isabella Jansen, Rachel McDonald) Southern Gauteng 2 (Jamie Howard, Giovanna Abrahams)

U14

KZN Coastal A 6 (Teagan Williamson, Bohlale Mokubung, Emily Simpkins, Tain Enslin, Charley-Rose Boyall) Northerns B (Dané van den Berg)

KZN Inland A 5 (Amy van Breda, Zintle James, Chelsey Cameron, Leah Hailu, Abigail Moodley) Northerns B 0

Southern Gauteng 5 (Gina Boyle 2, Taylem Casanoves 2, Ashley Kuhn) KZN Inland B 0

Northerns A 2 (Sarah Gouws, Liesel de Witt) KZN Coastal B 2 (Erinn Pretorius 2)

KZN Coastal A 12 (Jessica Savage 4, Olivia Barrett 2, Limberly Johnson 2, Shriya Nadrajah 2, Casia Huntley, Peighton Short) Northerns B 0

KZN Coastal B 4 (Erinn Pretorius 2, Shiwari Naicker, Charlotte Patterson) KZN Inland A 3 Samkelisiwe Msomi, Amy van Breda, Mila Truter)

Southern Gauteng 3 (Ofuna Ramathuba 2, Madison Utermohlen) Northerns A 1 (Sarah Gouws)

Kitts McConnachie produced a superb all-round performance to help Graeme College secure a comfortable 40-run win over Queen’s College to claim top honours in the Focus Schools leg of the Switch Schools SA20 – Volume Two competition at the Old Selbornian Club, in East London, on Sunday afternoon.

Andrew Muir, the Graeme College captain, won the toss and elected to bat first on a sluggish surface that had been in use since Friday – the fifth match at Old Selbornians in three days – when the Focus Schools’ matches began.

Graeme College fought their way to 119/8 in 20 overs. In reply, Queen’s College struggled to put together partnerships and mustered only 79/9 in their 20 overs.

Their triumph over Queen’s underlined Graeme’s dominance at the tournament. The men from Makhanda went unbeaten and issued a statement of intent with a nine-wicket win over Hudson Park in their opening match.

Their semifinal tie against Prestige College was washed out, which led to a bowl-out, where Corbin Tidbury showcased his accuracy with the ball to see them into the final against Queen’s, whom they had beaten by four wickets in a round-robin match.

In the title game, a 20-run opening stand between Enrique Strydom and Olo Jaca provided Graeme with a foundation from which to build their innings. Tidbury, who arrived at the crease after Strydom’s dismissal, tried to push the game forward, but he was dismissed, caught at extra cover, after adding 10 runs from nine balls.

Jaca held things together for Graeme with a more than patient 19 from 40 deliveries, and Luphelo Mdyesha, who replaced Tidbury, contributed 16 from 20. However, Graeme’s leading light was middle order batsman Kitts McConnachie, who looked like the only player to have gotten the measure of the pitch. He raced to 30 from 19 balls.

Just before Graeme crossed the 100-run mark, he was dismissed. It appeared that Graeme was about to squander the momentum that he had given them. However, 11 from only three balls from James Muir prevented that.

McConnachie, then, put his all-round abilities on display by claiming the wickets of Kungawo Zukiso and Ali Asim as Graeme denied Queen’s room to express themselves with the bat.

In addition to those two scalps, McConnachie also completed two catches to account for Joe Aucamp and Ross Fitzhenry.

Fitzhenry’s wicket was important because the middle-order batsman seemed to be getting in his stride when he was dismissed, having scored 18 from 26 balls, which was the top score for Queen’s.

Duncan Hayes was the only other Queen’s batsman to reach double figures, chipping in with 15 from 22 balls.

Summarised Scorecard

Graeme College 119/8 (Kitt McConnachie 30, Olo Jaca 19, Luphelo Mdyesha 16; Vijay George 3/31, Mthokozisi Mbambo 2/19, Kungawo Zukiso 2/18). Queen’s College 79/9 (Ross Fitzhenry 18, Duncan Hayes 15; Luphelo Mdyesha 2/16, Corbin Tidbury 2/7, Kitt McConnachie 2/9). Graeme College won by 40 runs.

Tshepang Dithole looked comfortable and settled. The seasoned Hollywoodbets Dolphins opener had worked his way to 104 from 184 deliveries. The pitch was good for batting and, to borrow a phrase, the left-hander was seeing the ball like a beach ball.

Sipho Potsane, who had conceded 16 runs in six overs, landed the first ball of his seventh over in line with the fifth stump. Dithole danced down the wicket and tried to bash the ball down the ground. He misread the speed of the delivery and sent the ball to Richard Seletswane, who took an easy catch at mid-off.

It was a crucial breakthrough for the DP World Lions. It was also the Jeppe schoolboy’s maiden first class wicket.

“The team allowed me to express myself, gave me the room to be who I am, whether it was on or off the field. The guys backed me all the way,” Potsane told SuperSport Schools Plus about his first-class debut, which he made in October.

He finished the innings with 3/72 in 20 overs. In the second innings, he was unlucky to go wicketless, but it was, undoubtedly, a successful debut by the teenager, who helped the Lions to a draw after being made a late inclusion in the Lions team.

Potsane was with Jeppe at the Oppenheimer Michaelmas Week, at Michaelhouse, when he got the call to join the Lions. So, while his teammates climbed on the bus and headed back to Johannesburg, he made his way to Durban.

“I highly look up to Keshav Maharaj. I love watching him bowl. He’s got good control, variations and is experienced as well. It was truly special to share the field with him on my first-class debut,” said Potsane.

“I loved watching him bowl and [I loved] the chat we had after the game, sharing his experiences with me.”

He earned his franchise debut because of the value he brings with the ball as one of the most accurate and consistent spin bowlers in Gauteng. According to data provided by the Lions, only 2.09 percent of the balls from the 383.3 overs he delivered between 2024 and 2025 were wides, and that, of course, takes into consideration the fact that he is a left-arm spinner and the tighter calls made on wides in the shorter forms of the game.

In those 383.3 overs, he conceded 1 517 runs, and only 3.16 percent of them were wides. In layman’s terms, he cost his teams a mere 48 runs in wides. Those numbers matter because most young left-arm spinners tend to drift down the leg side and give up runs in that manner.

“He attacks the stumps and varies his pace very well. He is also very smart and understands batters, so he counters a lot of their plans,” Ahmed Nawab, the Gauteng Lions u19 coach, said.

Even more impressive is Potsane’s bowling average. He’s picked up 81 wickets at 18.73. His strike rate of 28.39 balls per wicket speaks of a bowler with the ability to work out what each surface needs, while his economy of 3.96 – remembering the figures include shorter forms of the game, which usually feature pitches that favour the batsmen – speaks volumes about his skill.

Those statistics cover Potsane’s matches for Jeppe, Lions u19, the Central Gladiators Cubs, and provincial trials.

The spinner discovered and then fell in love with cricket by spending time with his father, Jack. The older Potsane is a big fan of Test cricket and is an immovable figure when the longer format is on the TV while he is at home.

“I was 10 when I tried it out and found my passion after one practice session. I didn’t find just a sport to play but my happy place,” Potsane shared.

The spinner will be aiming to express himself and add value while sharing his love for the sport when he travels to Bloemfontein with the Lions u19 team for the Khaya Majola Week, which runs from 16-21 December.

He was a member of the Lions team that won the Khaya Majola Week in 2023. Last year, the Lions finished as the runner-up to Western Province. This year, Sipho Potsane, as the most experienced member of the side, is focused on helping the Lions to return to the top once again.

Rhys Wiblin produced a sensational all-round performance to steer St Andrew’s College to a comfortable 24-run win over Grey High in the final of the Eastern Province leg of the Switch Schools SA20 – Volume Two tournament.

Wiblin, the St Andrew’s captain, won the toss at Nelson Mandela University, in Gqeberha, on Friday afternoon and elected to bat first.

He, then, struck a rapid unbeaten half-century to shepherd his side to 174/4 in their 20 overs and followed that up with a tidy three-wicket haul to help restrict Grey High to 150/8 in reply.

Wiblin, who was recently included in the Eastern Province Khaya Majola side, struck nine fours and a pair of sixes in his unbeaten 87, which came off of only 56 balls.

He and Thomas Lake, who made 18, set St Andrew’s on course for a healthy total with a splendid 53-run opening partnership off 50 balls. Grey High fought by capturing three wickets for 21 runs from 3.5 overs, courtesy of good bowling from Matthew Marshbank and Matthew Tinley.

St Andrew’s counterpunched with a 32-run fourth wicket stand between Wiblin and Callum Taggart, who chipped in with 15. Their partnership proved to be the launching pad St Andrew’s needed as they headed into the death overs.

After Taggart exited, Wiblin and William Stevens unleashed a reign of terror upon the Grey High bowlers, adding 68 runs from only 26 balls to catapult St Andrew’s to a total that proved to be unassailable.

Both batsmen were aggressive and effective, with Wiblin blasting 31 runs from 12 balls during their unbroken fifth-wicket stand, while Stevens clubbed 32 from 14.

Set a target of 8.9 runs per over to win, Grey High suffered an early setback, losing their first wicket in the second over of their reply. They never quite found their way back into the contest.

Cullen Marais did his best to hold things together, but the fact that his other partners were scoring at a strike rate below 100 meant that his 27-ball 35 didn’t boost Grey High’s run chase enough.

Anfred Jansen, who made it to the crease in the 11th over, gave the Grey High innings some impetus with a gutsy 16-ball 30. However, the local side was behind the required run rate, and they were unable to close the gap

Jansen’s stay lasted only 3.2 overs, and it was cut short by Thomas Bussiahn, who has developed a knack for taking crucial wickets for St Andrew’s. He also accounted for Marais, Grey’s top scorer.

However, Wiblin was the most successful of the St Andrew’s College bowlers, with his leg spin undoing the Grey High middle order. He dismissed Matthew Marshbank and Logan Goddard-Ford before they settled in, on his way to a decisive return of 3/17 from four overs.

Thomas Bussiahn and James Badenhorst grabbed two wickets apiece, while Oli Whitaker nabbed one.

Summarised Scorecard

St Andrew’s College 174/4 (Rhys Wiblin 87*, William Stevens 32*; Matthew Tinley 2/33, Matthew Marshbank 1/24). Grey High 150/8 (Cullen Marais 35, Anfred Jansen 30; Rhys Wiblin 3/17, James Badenhorst 2/18, Thomas Bussiahn 2/39) St Andrew’s won by 24 runs.

Eastern Province will travel to Bloemfontein for the annual Khaya Majola Week with high ambitions. They intend to challenge for the provincial title, and they have identified consistency as the key to those ambitions.

The tournament runs from 16-21 December.

“Our approach for this year’s Khaya Majola Week is to build on our strengths, stay consistent, and play an assertive brand of cricket that reflects the EP fighting spirit,” Somila Seyibokwe, the Eastern Province coach, told SuperSport Schools Plus.

Eastern Province’s side will be led by a core of four players – Cayden Wilson, Randy Syce, Dawid Vermaak, and Luphelo Mdyesha – who were part of their Khaya Majola Week team last year.

Wilson, who led Pearson High to the national finals of the Schools SA20 at the start of the year, is the most experienced member of the team, having also represented the province at the 2023 and 2024 Khaya Majola weeks.

All-rounder, Sulaymaan Gangat, also from Pearson, will be aiming to achieve what his brother, Esa, was unable to do in three visits to the national week, which was win the national title.

St Andrew’s College has the most representatives in the squad, with a complement of four players: William Beamish, Myles Sansom, Samuel Scheckter, and Rhys Wiblin. That quartet has been in good form and helped St Andrew’s reach the final of the Eastern Province leg of the Switch Schools SA20 – Volume Two tournament.

Daniel Pienaar will be cheering loudly for Tylo Maleiba, Owam Malika, and Daveric Petersen‘s exploits at the competition. They have the second-most representatives in the side.

Luphelo Mdyesha and Lisekho Zinyane will fly the flag for Graeme College, who will also have Enqrique Strydom and Corbin Tidbury at the week but representing the CSA Invitational XI. A lot will be expected of Mdyesha, who has been one of Graeme College’s leading lights with the bat this year.

Dawid Vermaak and Randy Syce are the lone representatives from Nico Malan and Woodridge College, respectively. Besides their talents with the bat, the pair also offers the side valuable experience.

“The squad comprises a strong group of talented all-rounders, giving us good balance across all departments,” Seyibokwe said.

Eastern Province u19 Squad

William Beamish (St Andrew’s College), Myles Sansom (St Andrew’s College), Samuel Scheckter (St Andrew’s College), Rhys Wiblin (St Andrew’s College), Sulaymaan Gangat (Pearson High), Cayden Wilson (Pearson High), Tylo Maleiba (Daniel Pienaar), Owam Malika (Daniel Pienaar), Daveric Petersen (Daniel Pienaar), Luphelo Mdyesha (Graeme College), Lisekho Zinyane (Graeme College), Dawid Vermaak (Nico Malan), Randy Syce (Woodridge College).

Connor Holder scored a brilliant half-century to set St Andrew’s College up for a 37-run win over Pearson in their Switch Schools SA20 – Volume Two contest at Pearson on Saturday afternoon.

The victory earned St Andrew’s a berth in the final of the Eastern Province leg of the nationwide tournament against Grey High.

Rhys Wiblin, the St Andrew’s captain, won the toss and elected to bat first. His team turned that decision into a good one by racing to 175/6 in their 20 overs. Then, they restricted Pearson to 138/9 in reply.

Pearson must have thought they were in business when they dismissed Thomas Lake in the third over of the contest, with the St Andrew’s opener mustering only two runs in a 21-run opening stand with Wiblin.

What the home side had not counted on was the impact of Lake’s dismissal, which resulted in St Andrew’s College’s most in-form players joining forces. Wiblin and Holder entered the contest high in confidence, thanks to their unbeaten 63-run second-wicket partnership in a victory over Nico Malan earlier in the day.

Nico Malan’s total of 99 all out in 16.3 overs didn’t present St Andrew’s with a difficult challenge. They chased it down with ease, winning by nine wickets in 12.3 overs, with Holder finishing unbeaten on 38, while Wiblin was on 39 not out.

Against Pearson, they picked up from where they left off and constructed a match-winning 114-run second-wicket partnership off 71 balls. Holder was the aggressor, registering a strike rate of 146, while Wiblin rolled along at 129.7.

Holder’s outstanding 69 came off only 47 balls and included seven fours and three sixes. Wiblin, meanwhile, narrowly missed out on a half-century. He was dismissed for 48 off 37 after striking six fours and a six.

Ben Scharges, who replaced Wiblin, provided the St Andrew’s innings with a late a flourish and ended with an unbeaten 22 off 15.

Jean Schultz was the best of the Pearson bowlers, picking up 2/21.

Pearson’s run chase began solidly, with a sound opening stand of 65 off 57 balls between Ruan Coetzee and Cale Price. However, a double strike from Thomas Bussiahn in the 10th over, which got rid of both batsmen within the space of three balls, set Pearson on the back foot.

Jean Schultz and Callum Armstrong fought back for Pearson, advancing the total by 46 runs from 35 balls before St Andrew’s grabbed three wickets in five balls.

Callum Taggart emulated Bussiahn and delivered a double blow, dismissing Schultz and Armstrong with the fourth and sixth deliveries of the 16th over, before Oli Whitaker accounted for Jude Septoo in the next over.

Taggart, who was the bowler in the contest, claimed his third wicket in the 18th over, on his way to 3/31 from his three overs.

Thomas Bussiahn and Oli Whitaker both claimed two wickets apiece, with Whitaker snapping up 2/19 from four and Bussiahn returning 2/23 from his four.

Summarised Scorecard

St Andrew’s College 175/6 (Connor Holder 69, Rhys Wiblin 48, Ben Scharges 22*; Jean Schults 2/21, Jayden Ward 1/27, Callum Armstrong 1/29). Pearson High 138/9 (Ruan Coetzee 30, Cale Price 29, Jean Schultz 27; Callum Taggart 3/31, Oli Whitaker 2/19, Thomas Bussiahn 2/23). St Andrew’s won by 37 runs.

Nicholas Bayly has all the gears. When he arrived at the crease in a game against St John’s College, St Stithians was on 23/1 after 5.2 overs. Saints needed to consolidate and rebuild. So, he dropped anchor, and after three overs, he had taken two singles off 11 deliveries.

Halfway through their innings, Saints had recovered, and Bayly had picked up the pace. Going at just under a run-a-ball, he was on 54 from 56 deliveries.

After he reached his century, the St Stithians’ captain broke free, not because he felt that he had done his job, but because he recognised the need for his side to be aggressive in the last 10 overs if they were to set a winning total.

His contribution from the last eight overs was a decisive 71 runs from 31 balls.

“That was a very good innings. I came in early, and Tom Collins and I built a very good partnership to get us back on track. It was hot, it was 35 degrees or so, but I stayed focused for a much longer time and played some better shots. I had some very good shots against St John’s. I liked that,” Bayly told SuperSport Schools Plus.

The St Stithians’ captain, whom first team coach, Lazarus Mokoena, describes as a level-headed cricketer, was born into a sporting family. His mother, Inga, made the SA Schools‘ hockey team in her youth, while his father, John, had a stint with Leicestershire.

“I think the passion came from my husband, John, throwing balls to him when he was little. We bought him little golf and cricket sets, and stuff like that. My husband is a massive, massive cricket fan. He’s passionate about the sport,” Inga said.

Bayly took his cricket out of the backyard at six and was playing in the Northern Suburbs Saturday Schools (NSSS) League a year later. It was there that he showed his penchant for big scores.

He had barely turned 10 when he recorded his maiden double century. It was the start of a journey that has been littered with accolades from the junior ranks at Bryneven Primary School to the senior ranks at St Stithians.

“My first hundred was a double hundred. I scored a double hundred off around 100 balls. It was quite a fun time,” Bayly recalled.

The teenager, who named Proteas’ legend Jacques Kallis as his role model, offers a similar skillset to the South African great. Bayly bowls first change for St Stithians and the Gauteng Lions‘ representative teams. He possesses the ability to swing the ball away from right-handers and shapes it into left-handers.

“I much prefer my batting,” he admitted, “but I feel like my bowling has come along really well. I’ve gotten better with my bowling over the past two years and pretty much see myself as a normal all-rounder.

“I’ve always admired how Jacques Kallis batted and also the way that he scored so many runs and took so many wickets, as well. If I were to ever be any cricketer, I would be Jaques Kallis,” he added.

His twin skills earned him a place in the St Stithians’ first team when he was still a Grade 9 learner. He received his first cap on a tour of Sri Lanka.

Bayly fondly remembers learning lessons from top players, including Richard Seletswane and Kwena Maphaka.

“Nic is a great thinker, and I love and enjoy his work ethic,” Nqaba Matoti, who has worked with Bayly over the past 18 months, told SuperSport Schools Plus.

“He is a leader who likes to lead from the front. His one failing is that he can sometimes overthink the little things. He must understand that it’s still a game that needs to be enjoyed.”

Matoti’s assessment of Bayly’s cricket IQ and work ethic matches that of the St Stithians’ think tank, which includes Mokoena and Wim Jansen. They see him as a player who inspires and motivates his teammates, and that’s why they entrusted him with leading the first team.

“When approaching captaincy, you have to first make sure that your team is motivated to win. The main cause of cricket is to win. You don’t want to just go there and just mess about. You need to be motivated to the cause,” Bayly said.

While they use different words, Mokoena, Jansen, and Matoti also speak in unison when they discuss Bayly’s most important other skill: coachability.

“It’s really been great to see how he has taken to some of the discussions we have had in our sessions,” Matoti said.

That feedback has resulted in Bayly developing more scoring options on the on-side, especially off his legs. Matoti conceded that Bayly still needs to fortify his technique against spin. However, he is in no doubt that the teenager will soon be a greater force against the turning ball.

“He is hitting the ball sweetly and with so much more control,” said Matoti.

When asked about the future, Bayly repeated what he said when he was 12: he wants to pursue cricket as a career. However, like every good leader, he has a plan B ready, just in case the first one fails to materialise or is delayed.

“I’m quite big on my numbers and economics. So, I’m looking at going into a BCom in financial and risk management at Stellenbosch. That will lead to me becoming a CA or a financial analyst,” he revealed.

Right now, though, Bayly is focused on leading St Stithians to as much success as possible.

Eliah Booth, the outgoing Grey High u14A captain, broke the school’s record for the most runs by a learner at the institution with a sensational, unbeaten triple century to lead his team to a massive 326-run win over Woodridge u14A on the Pyott Field, at Grey, on Saturday.

Booth’s undefeated 305 from only 171 balls in the limited overs contest was the first time in the 169-year history of Grey High that a learner had recorded a triple century.

“Eliah has immense potential,” James Atherton, his coach, told SuperSport Schools Plus.

“We had him batting at number four for the entire first term, barring two games where he opened. It was actually his request to bat at the top of the order as he prefers the pace on the harder ball.”

Woodridge won the toss and asked Grey High to bat first. Booth welcomed the invitation with both hands, and turned it into a spectacular success, blasting 28 fours and 20 sixes in his astounding innings, which powered Grey to an unbelievable 475/3 from their 50 overs, good for a run rate of 9.5 runs per over.

That was far too big of a mountain to climb for Woodridge, who were bowled out for 149 in reply in 23.5 overs.

Booth got Grey High going with an opening stand 82 runs off 65 balls with Mason Groch, who chipped in with 23 runs, but that was merely an appetiser for the fireworks that followed.

That partnership was followed by a stunning 323-run second-wicket partnership between Booth and Jed Thurgood from only 211 deliveries. Thurgood played his part by cracking 105 from only 96 balls, striking 15 fours and a six.

Booth scored his first 100 from 63 balls. Then, his second ton took 69 deliveries before he hit the afterburners, rocketing from 200 to 300 in only 32 balls.

The die was cast before Woodridge’s reply began. They needed one of their top-order batsmen to give them a special start if they were to have a slim chance of making a game of it, but it was not to be. They lost three wickets in the powerplay and never recovered.

Joshua Bailes, with 26, and Phelo Kwitshana, also with 26 were their highest run-scorers, while a lower-order partnership of 21 runs between Kwitshana and Cole Bartlett was their best, which paled in comparison to the humungous stand between Booth and Thurgood.

Booth moves up into the u15 ranks next year, where he hopes to continue his successes. The teenager is a great admirer of former South African captain Faf du Plessis and is a fan of both the Chennai Super Kings and Joburg Super Kings franchises.

Summarised Scorecard

Grey High u14A 475/3 (Eliah Booth 305*, Jed Thurgood 105; Ashlee Buhr 1/82, Joshua Bailes 1/86). Woodridge u14A 149/10 (Phelo Kwitshana 26*, Joshua Bailes 26; Ethan Houlie 3/24, Zach Eckert 2/28). Grey High won by 326 runs.

Luphelo Mdyesha and Corbin Tidbury’s unbeaten half-centuries helped Graeme College claim local bragging rights and a seven-wicket win over St Andrew’s College, in Makhanda, on Saturday.

Meanwhile, half-centuries from Teun Kloppenberg and Connor Parry set up Grey High for a comfortable 80-run victory over Kingswood College at City Lords.

Graeme College vs St Andrew’s College

When the toss went Andrew Muir’s way, the Graeme College captain chose to bowl first. That proved to be a good decision.

After a solid start, the St Andrew’s innings lost momentum and spluttered to 172 all out from 47 overs. The hosts made light work of chasing down the middling target, charging to 178/3 and victory in only 27.4 overs.

The St Andrew’s College innings began well, with Rhys Wiblin, who went on to top-score with 81, and William Beamish, who made 42, providing a sound 75-run opening stand. College, though, failed to capitalise on that strong foundation.

They lost their way when Ajay Jeggels struck twice in the 20th over to dismiss Beamish and Keegan Borst in the space of three deliveries. The visitors, then, mustered a promising partnership between Wiblin and Ben Scharges, but it was ended before it could come to full fruition after the pair had added 30 runs.

Scharges contributed a patient 12 from 28 balls, but he was the last St Andrew’s batsman to reach double figures. Wiblin was forced to watch on helplessly at a procession of wickets going down at the other end. and when College’s innings came to a close for 172, he was unbeaten, having defied Graeme for 117 balls.

Five bowlers picked up two wickets each. The aforementioned Ajay Jeggels took 2/26, Corbin Tidbury snapped up 2/10, Lisekho Zinyane 2/29, and Luphelo Mdyesha 2/41.

The home side’s reply began unconvincingly. After 11.2 overs, they were on 53/3, with the match ready to lean in favour of the team that seized the initiative from that point. It was Graeme who took charge.

Mdyesha and Tidbury joined forces in the middle and proceeded to bat St Andrew’s out of the contest. Playing responsibly, they stitched together an unbroken match-winning 121-run fourth-wicket partnership that piloted the hosts to an impressive win.

Mdyesha hit out with controlled aggression, on his way to Graeme’s top score of 72 not out from 53 deliveries, which included 10 fours and three sixes. Tidbury proved to be a dependable partner, finishing unbeaten on a fine 55 from 57 balls.

Kingswood College vs Grey High

James Upton, the Grey High captain, called correctly at the toss and tasked his batsman with providing a match-winning total when they visited Kingswood College.

The Gqeberha school’s batsmen responded well, tallying 272/9 from their 50 overs. That proved to be more than enough as Kingswood struggled to mount a challenge. After 47.4 overs, they were dismissed for 192.

Upton made 17 as he and Cullen Marais opened with a 49-run stand for the first wicket. The visitors suffered a slight stutter, however, when Marais joined his skipper back in the change room a short while after their partnership was broken.

Soon, though, Grey was back on track and flourishing, thanks to a superb 126-run third-wicket partnership between Connor Parry, who made 68, and Teun Kloppenberg, who weighed in with 79. Their stand took the game away from Kingswood.

It came to an end in the 37th over when David Loudon dismantled Parry’s stumps. Six overs later, Sinawo Bukula dismissed Kloppenberg.

That was the second of Bukula’s superb haul of five wickets, which came off of nine overs and cost him 42 runs. Despite his outstanding effort, Grey High was still able to post a challenging total.

Kingswood’s run chase did not go smoothly, with Grey High showing a penchant for taking wickets at regular intervals, which denied the hosts any momentum. Five of their batsmen – Daniel Jakins, Josh Loon, Chris Zimmerman, Patrick Mouton, and Rogan Goliath – made starts but failed to kick on, with all five being dismissed in the twenties.

Teun Kloppenberg, Grey’s top scorer, was also one of his side’s most successful bowlers, snagging 3/38 from 10 overs. Matthew Tinley was equally effective, claimed 3/34 from 8.4 overs.

Summarised Scorecards

St Andrew’s College 172/10 (Rhys Wiblin 81, William Beamish 42; Ajay Jegels 2/26, Lisekho Zinyane 2/29, Luphelo Mdyesha 2/41, Corbin Tidbury 2/10). Graeme College 178/3 (Luphelo Mdyesha 72, Corbin Tidbury 55; William Stevens – 2/46, William Beamish – 1/15). Graeme College won by seven wickets.

Grey High School 272/9 (Teun Kloppenberg 79, Connor Perry 68, Cullen Marais 36; Sinawo Bukula 5/42, Imi Ngcese 1/25, Josh Loon 1/44). Kingswood College 192/10 (Rogan Goliath 26, Chris Zimmerman 25, Josh Loon 24; Matthew Tinley 3/34, Teun Kloppenberg 3/38, Logan Groch 2 /38). Grey High won by 80 runs.