Author: froberholzer

That’s three in a row for Cornwall Hill College.

Following a three-wicket defeat on the first day at the hands of the CSA Hub Invitational XI, Deon Kruis’ Cornwall Hill side went unbeaten in their remaining three matches of the 2025 Oppenheimer Michaelmas Week.

The lads from Irene achieved the hat-trick against Hudson Park courtesy of a T20 run-fest dished up by all-rounder Rourke de Lange. De Lange enjoyed some serious fun with an unbeaten knock of 101 runs from just 58 deliveries, without hitting any sixes. He did, however, smash 16 fours and only faced 15 dot balls.

It was a crucial recovery after De Lange had lost his opening partner, Keegan van Wyk, to the bowling of Lukhanyo Hlatuka (1/36) with the very first ball of the innings. De Lange and captain, Ab Rasool (34), stuck together for an 81-run partnership, with Khumo Kgagodi later joining with 28 runs in a 78-run partnership, also with De Lange.

Cornwall thus posed a challenging task for Hudson Park, who needed 195 to win. De Lange swapped the bat for the ball and again tormented the opposition.

Although Cornwall could not bowl out Hudson Park, De Lange’s figures of 2/13 in four overs helped to restrict the opposition to 115/6 in the allotted 20 overs. Seventy-six of Hudson Park’s runs came off the bat of opening batsman, Imainathi Sam, who also carried his bat through the innings.

Kearsney College‘s in-form Aaron Blackburn and Keegan de Jager handled the majority of the chase to taste victory over St Alban’s College, who blew hot and cold throughout the week. Liam Basch, however, was sizzling hot again with an unbeaten 76 to make up most of St Alban’s 129/7 in the allotted 20 overs.

Blackburn answered with 54, while De Jager contributed 36 in support. Luke Ward fought hard with the ball but couldn’t stop Kearsney from reaching the total with two balls to spare.

The CSA Hub Invitational side also finished on a high note. Returning to winning ways after two consecutive defeats, they overcame Clifton by a nail-biting three wickets in a low-scoring thriller.

As the scores of 110 and 111/7 suggest, it was a match dominated by the bowlers. Lona Pitoli (2/12), Awomke Mngini (2/17), and Taywin Adams (2/19) led the attack, resulting in Clifton’s miserly 110 all out in the final over.

Shiraz Perumal (2/22) and Blake Johnson (2/30) responded as the CSA Hub innings went much the same way. Although Daveric Petersen top-scored with only 23 runs, the CSA Hub side had more contributions, ultimately leading to them capping off the week with two victories and two defeats.

Summarised scorecards

Cornwall Hill College 194/4 (Rourke de Lange 101*, Ab Rasool 34, Khumo Kgagodi 28, Extras 20*; Liam Bekker 2/31); Hudson Park 115/6 (Iminathi Sam 76*; Rourke de Lange 2/13). Cornwall Hill College won by 79 runs. 

St Alban’s College 129/7 (Liam Basch 76*; Blake Pugh 1/9); Kearsney College 130/5 (Aaron Blackburn 54, Keegan de Jager 36; Luke Ward 3/17)/ Kearsney College won by five wickets. 

Clifton 110 (Cohen Naidoo 25; Lona Pitoli 2/12, Awonke Mngini 2/17, Taywin Adams 2/19); CSA Hub Initational XI 111/7 (Daveric Petersen 23; Shiraz Perumal 2/22, Blake Johnson 2/30). CSA Hub Invitational XI won by three wickets. 

St Alban’s College of Pretoria nearly ended Michaelhouse’s unbeaten run at this year’s Oppenheimer Michaelmas Week. However, Hayden Hewlett and Co prevailed with a tightly contested two-wicket victory on the third day.

Chasing has by no means been easy this week, with Michaelhouse one of a handful of teams able to chase down a target.

The ever-reliable Liam Basch spearheaded the St Alban’s batting attack with a patient innings that lasted 84 deliveries and set the cornerstone for a competitive 217/5 in the allotted 50 overs. Ethan Nel supported Basch with 58 in the pair’s 103-run stand for the fourth wicket.

Hewlett’s innings was similar to that of Basch’s as he too scored 68 runs, but with the difference that Hewlett was unbeaten as the home side crossed the line. Preston Greene played the supportive role with a contribution of 43 low down the order.

At the opposite end of the order, Muir’s 39 opening the innings ultimately proved to be the difference between the two sides. Alex Uken was the best bowler on the day, claiming three Michaelhouse scalps for 44 runs in eight overs.

Cornwall Hill College landed their second big fish in as many days, dispatching Paul Roos Gimnasium for a mere 109. Obakang Mokonyane led the charge again with 3/21, with Rourke de Lange, seemingly always in on the action, doing his bit with 2/25. Mohale Pitso did the mop-up work, claiming two wickets for just two runs.

Despite the low total, Cornwall nevertheless found it a difficult target to chase. The reliable bowling trio of Morné Pauw (2/28), Luca Plekker (2/24) and Dion Slabber (2/48) did a valiant job in trying to defend 110. Zander Davel‘s 46 runs, four short of what would have been a deserved half-century, did just enough to get Deon Kruis’ side home by a nail-biting three wickets.

Pretoria powerhouses, Hoërskool Waterkloof and Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool, were both at their dominant best, earning a second victory each in as many days.

Rico van der Walt, destined for a big score after a few false starts, finally delivered in the Klofies’ thumping 147-run victory over Glenwood. He ended his marathon innings, consisting of 134 deliveries, on an unbeaten Nelson (111*), providing 51% of his side’s 216 runs. Lower down the order, Jaydon Blom had another great day with the willow, with a crucial cameo of 35 runs.

Apart from Van der Walt and Blom, the Klofie batters struggled to provide answers to the questions asked by Bandile Mbatha (5/23) and Kamogelo Moloto (2/29). Despite Van der Walt’s heroics, the duo shared seven wickets for 52 runs in the combined 13.5 overs they bowled.

Darius Maritz followed suit when he got a chance with the ball in hand, claiming three blistering wickets for just two runs in four overs, to spearhead the destruction of Glenwood for just 69.

Affies beat Northwood by 40 runs, courtesy of half-centuries by the in-form JP Botha and Vihan Pretorius. Botha was again rock-solid with 78, while Northwood couldn’t dismiss Pretorius before the innings came to an end with his score on 54.

Kyle White answered with 73 runs but only found support in Keegan Reeves, who fought valiantly with 41 not out. Although not able to bowl Northwood out, Schalk Coetzee (3/30) and Armin Snyman (3/54) did the most damage to restrict the Durbanites to 209/9 in their allotted 50 overs.

Summarised scorecards

St Alban’s College 217/5 (Liam Basch 68, Ethan Nel 58, Kyle Block 21; Thandanani Zuma 2/15); Michaelhouse 220/8 (Hayden Hewlett 68*, Preston Greene 43, Ethan Muir 39, Rex Wardlaw 24; Alex Uken 3/44). Michaelhouse won by two wickets.

Paul Roos Gimnasium 109 (Reuven Dos Santos 37*; Obakeng Mokonyane 3/21, Mohale Pitso 2/2, Rourke de Lange 2/25); Cornwall Hill College 111/7 (Zander Davel 46; Morné Pauw 2/28, Luca Plekker 2/24, Dion Slabber 2/48). Cornwall Hill College won by three wickets. 

Waterkloof 216 (Rico van der Walt 111*, Jaydon Blom 35, Johan Feuth 28; Bandile Mbatha 5/23, Kamogelo Moloto 2/29); Glenwood 69 (Kyle Bryan 22*; Darius Maritz 3/2, Ricardo Crous 2/12, Jaco van der Walt 2/23). Waterkloof won by 147 runs. 

Affies 239/6 (JP Botha 78, Vihan Pretorius 54*, Christian Linde 27, Extras 27, Ruben Groenewald 23; Keegan Reeves 2/49); Northwood 209/9 (Kyle White 73, Keegan Reeves 41*, David de Bruyn 21; Schalk Coetzee 3/30, Armin Snyman 3/54). Affies won by 30 runs.

Grey College, mostly through the bat of Daniel Hattingh and Bergh Vorster‘s heroics with the ball, shrugged off a six-wicket defeat against Westville Boys’ High on Sunday to outplay Maritzburg College on Goldstone’s on Monday at the Oppenheimer Michaelmas Cricket Week.

The Bloemfontein boys batted first and amassed a challenging total of 292/7, with Hattingh at the forefront of their batting effort, which featured three crucial half-centuries.

The Grey College all-rounder came in at five and counter-attacked after a few single-digit scores had preceded his innings. He needed only 57 deliveries to smash 16 boundaries in the innings’ top score of 82, which included six sixes.

Divan Bezuidenhoudt delivered more of the same in his 68 lower down the order, while opening batsman Aiden Dodd raised his bat for a second day in a row after contributing a patient 57 off 88 balls.

The College opening bowlers grafted hard. Samuel Hughes went at an economical 3.8 to the over for his 2/23, while his new ball partner, Reece Willson picked up 2/49.

With a healthy total to protect, Grey College delivered a strong bowling effort, led by Bergh Vorster. He knocked over 4/24, while the new ball pair of Sicelo Matayi (2/21) and Otto Krause (2/21) delivered the goods, too, as Maritzburg College fell for only 130 runs.

The Horseflies, of Durban High School (DHS), bagged another victory after a fighting chase against Pretoria Boys High. Ismaeel Omar (62) anchored their innings as School chased down the 143 runs required to win with four wickets to spare.

Joshua Hall starred for Boys High with the bat, making a well-played 48 in their total of 142 all out.

DHS captain Bayanda Majola delivered a destructive spell of 4/28, while Dhilan Naraidu (3/29) didn’t just stand out with the ball. In a tricky run chase, he delivered an unbeaten 36 runs in support of Omar to get the Durbanites over the line.

St Charles College amassed one of the higher team totals on the third day, 275/8, albeit in a shortened 40-over clash in which they beat Hudson Park by 132 runs on the St Charles Oval.

Opening batsman Thandolwethu Zama executed his job perfectly. He faced 90 balls and hit six fours and three sixes in his contribution of 86 runs. Connor Simpson did what he does best, also raising his bat for a half-century, after a rapid 51 off just 41 balls.

While his fellow bowlers took punishment from Zama and Simpson, Lukhanyo Hlatuka stood tall, returning standout figures of 4/53 from eight overs.

Hudson Park’s batsmen were unable to replicate the aggressive performance of their hosts. Their top score was just 33 runs, which came off the bat of opener Likho Gidi.

Fast bowler Rowen Rajah hurt Hudson with his opening spell, knocking over 5/23 as the East London school limped to 102/5, and they never recovered from there.

Summarised scorecards

Grey College 292/7 (Daniel Hattingh 86, Divan Bezuidenhoudt 68, Aiden Dodd 57, Peter le Roux 46, Extras 21; Samuel Hughes 2/23, Reece Willson 2/49); Maritzburg College 130 (Daniel Nadasan 28, Deolyn Naidoo 28; Bergh Vorster 4/25, Sicelo Matayi 2/21, Otto Krause 2/21). Grey College won by 162 runs

Pretoria Boys High 142 (Joshua Hall 48*, Jaydon Knott-Craig 31, Timothy Gordon 31; Bayanda Majola 4/28, Dhilan Naraidu 3/29); Durban High School 143/6 (Ismaeel Omar 62, Dhilan Naraidu 36*; Ruan Coetzee 4/27). Durban High School won by four wickets. 

St Charles College 275/8 (40) (Thandolwethu Zama 86, Connor Simpson 51, Matthew Weightman 28, Relebogile Mokoena 22*, Christiaan Prinsloo 21; Lukhanyo Hlatuka 4/53); Hudson Park 143 (Likho Gidi 33, Chulumanco Macozoma 25; Rowen Rajah 5/23). St Charles College won by 132 runs. 

Hoërskool Waterkloof, with Wian du Plessis prominent, bounced back, like Affies, from disappointment with a noteworthy victory by 149 runs over Kearsney College on the second day of the 2025 Oppenheimer Michaelmas Week.

Klofies and Kearsney met at Lynwood Cricket Club, with the former batting first after winning the toss and returning to their strength in defending a target.

A stacked top order all got starts, but no one, except AJ de Villiers, could quite get going after doing the hard yards. Even De Villiers had to apply heaps of patience facing 78 deliveries in his innings of 61. The combined contributions by those who followed boosted Klofies to a platform of 182/6 in the 31st over, not quite in trouble but not yet in total command either.

The remainder of the job was left to Darius Maritz and the Waterkloof tail. Maritz, who came in at eight, ended his 63-ball innings unbeaten with 67 runs, which included six fours and four sixes, while Ricardo Crous (36) and Jaydon Blom (27) also helped to set a total of 314/9 in the allotted 50 overs.

Kearsney’s opening bowlers, Michael Groom (3/45) and Litha Gonya (3/56), did a great job in both their first and second spells, while Rivan Moodley (3/62) did further damage in his allotted 10 overs.

Wian du Plessis then changed the narrative completely in favour of the visitors from Pretoria. In his 7.3 overs, he bowled 37 dot balls, conceded only 16 runs and emerged with a match-winning five-wicket haul. Aaron Blackburn (37) and Keegan de Jager (30), both of whom became victims of Du Plessis, were the only Kearsney batters to pass the 30-run mark.

Michaelhouse went back-to-back, defeating Paul Roos Gimnasium by five wickets in their second outing of the week. Playing at home again and bowling first definitely brought out the best in the Michaelhouse’s opening bowlers, Thandani Zuma and Rendani Nonge. Zuma was the most destructive with a memorable five-wicket haul, conceding only 36 runs in his allotted 10 overs. Nonge, a tad more expensive, picked up three scalps.

Rueben Coetzee withstood the pair’s onslaught for as long as possible for a feisty 59. Jason Raal (44) and Niel Barnard (33) also batted tenaciously but were only able to set a total of 180. It proved not enough as Michaelhouse’s opening batsman, Ethan Muir, hit his straps.

Despite early wickets falling around him, Muir went about his business as normal. His unbeaten 95 runs (99b) provided the main thrust of the chase and, with support from Ben Heuer (32), got the hosts home in the 38th over.

Seth Simpson of Westville Boys’ High played a similar innings as the side from Durban cruised to a six-wicket victory over Grey College from Bloemfontein. River Scott (64) and Aiden Dodd (50) both made half-centuries in the Grey innings, but nothing was going to stop Simpson from steering his side to victory. His unbeaten 90, along with Kyle McGough‘s 58, after he had also led the charge with the ball (3/17), delivered the knockout blow in the 46th over of a comfortable, well-paced chase.

Ethan Nel (72) and Liam Basch (47) rediscovered their best form as St Alban’s College recovered from a heavy defeat to Glenwood (142 runs) the day before to give Hudson Park a hiding by 133 runs. The pair’s 87-run partnership led the way to a total of 246, one that the side from Pretoria managed to defend with ease to dismiss Hudson Park for a mere 113.

Summarised scorecards

Waterkloof 314/9 (Darius Maritz 67*, AJ de Villiers 61, Rico van der Walt 36, Ricardo Crous 36, Riley Miller 28, Jaydon Blom 27, Extras 22; Michael Groom 3/45, Litha Gonya 3/56, Rivan Moodley 3/62); Kearsney College 165 (Aaron Blackburn 37, Keegan de Jager 30, Cade Francis 21, Extras 20; Wian du Plessis 5/16). Waterkloof won by 149 runs. 

Paul Roos Gimnasium 180 (Rueben Coetzee 59, Jason Raal 44, Niel Barnard 33; Thandani Zuma 5/36, Rendani Nonge 3/30); Michaelhouse 181/5 (Ethan Muir 95*, Ben Heuer 32; Morné Pauw 1/30). Michaelhouse won by five wickets. 

Grey College 209 (River Scott 64, Aiden Dodd 50, Jaco Prinsloo 35; Kyle McGough 3/17, Misbah Nair 2/16); Westville Boys’ High 212/4 (Seth Simpson 90*, Kyle McGough 58, Tristin Delvin 31*; Juan Maree 2/44). Westville Boys’ High won by six wickets. 

St Alban’s College 246 (Ethan Nel 72, Liam Basch 47, Josh Melville 28, Extras 26; Iminathi Baca 4/46, Lukhanyo Hlathuka 3/35); Hudson Park 113 (Slade Bambie 30; Christopher von La Chavellerie 2/3). St Alban’s College won by 133 runs.

What a difference a day makes.

It is especially true in the cricket arena, and the  2025 Oppenheimer Michaelmas Week in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal is a case in point.

Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool and Cornwall Hill College, who both ended up on the wrong side of the results on the first day, bounced back impressively on day two.

Affies, facing Hilton College at their home ground, the Hart-Davis Oval, came out on top with a 24-run victory. Batting first after winning the toss, opening batsman JP Botha, the Pretoria-based side’s main contributor on day one, was even more imposing this time around.

Affies managed 217/7 in the allotted 50 overs, with 91 of those runs coming off the bat of Botha, who produced one of his more patient innings of the season. Facing a marathon 133 deliveries, almost half the innings, Botha hit six fours and a solitary six, before Hilton stalwart Ben Hockly ran him out. Thereafter, the struggles of those who followed highlighted exactly how valuable Botha’s knock was.

Benoit Rey (2/28) and David Hill (2/33) managed to cause certain problems halfway through the Affie innings. Fortunately, wicketkeeper Daniel Murray (24) batted well towards the tail, while Adriaan Nel‘s 32 provided the final thrust to establish a defendable total.

Alex Pitman (34) gave the hosts hope at the top of the order before he was dismissed by Ruben Groenewald (2/16). Petrus Rautenbach then worked his magic with the ball, during the middle part of the Hilton innings, snapping up a match-defining 3/36 in his allotted 10 overs.

Struggling at 139/8, tailender Obakeng Motsepa raised his hand with the home side’s top score of the day. His unbeaten 37 runs gave them more than a glimmer of hope until he ran out of partners in the final over of the chase.

Cornwall Hill surprised friend and foe with an outstanding bowling performance, which saw them thump Northwood by 100 runs.

Mohale Pitso enjoyed a marvellous day. He contributed a useful 24 not out with the bat, yet it was with the ball that he really came to the fore. His 3/17 did the bulk of the damage, as Northwood could only manage a meagre 91 runs in search of the target of 192.

Khumo Kgagodi (57) and captain, Ab Rasool (40), were the main protagonists with the bat, helping the side from Pretoria to their total by the end of the allotted 50 overs. Ben Cilliers was the standout with the ball for Northwood. He completed a solid 10-over spell with figures of 3/32.

The CSA Hub Invitational XI will not, like last year, end up unbeaten at the end of the four days, after they ran into a confident Glenwood, who got their campaign off to a great start with a thumping 142-run victory over St Alban’s College the day before. They followed that up with a tightly contested two-wicket victory in which Akhil Maharaj (5/32) was the hero. Maharaj’s five-wicket haul, costing only 32 runs, derailed CSA Hub, who could only manage 151.

Olwami Zondi withstood the fightback from Enathi Kitshini (3/20) and Rivoningo Chauke (3/28) for a match-winning 46 runs, four short of a well-deserved half-century. The 26 extras that the Hub conceded and further cameos from Rehaan Jhunbathar (23) and Keian Jugoo (20) got the Green Machine over the line, but only just.

Summarised scorecards

Affies 217/7 (JP Botha 91, Adriaan Nel 32, Daniel Murray 24; Benoit Rey 2/28, David Hill 2/33); Hilton College 193 (Obakeng Motsepa 37*, Alex Pitman 34, Simon Steyn 23, Jayden Roux 21, Extras 20; Petrus Rautenbach 3/36, Ruben Groenewald 2/16, JP Botha 2/34). Affies won by 24 runs. 

Cornwall Hill College 191/8 (Khumo Kgagodi 57, Ab Rasool 40, Mohale Pitso 24*, Neoentle Makwela 20*; Ben Cilliers 3/32, Jordan Matthews 2/42); Northwood 91 (Thomas Oosthuizen 35, Jamie Wimble 29; Mohale Pitso 3/17, Kirill Broughton 2/5). Cornwall Hill College won by 100 runs. 

CSA Hub Invitational XI 151 (Tshepang Laka 39, Maathew Florence 27, Awonke Mngini 25, Ryall Julies 24*; Akhil Maharaj 5/32, Jonah Chaita 2/4); Glenwood 152/8 (Olwami Zondi 46, Extras 26; Rehaan Jhunbathur 23, Keian Jugoo 20; Enathi Kitshini 3/20, Rivoningo Chauke 3/28). Glenwood won by two wickets. 

St Charles College‘s Ryan Clarke and Northwood‘s David de Bruyn were among the top tun scorers on the first day of the Oppenheimer Michaelmas Week, and both batted their sides to solid victories.

Clarke’s 78 runs, only 74 deliveries, laid the foundation for his side to topple Paul Roos Gimnasium by 24 runs in Pietermaritzburg.

Playing at home, Saints were put in to bat first by a Paul Roos Gimnasium side that welcomed back its matrics after a stayers’ lineup toured Pretoria just a week ago.

Neil Barnard (2/41) got the Bolanders off to a good start by picking up a wicket in the third over. He also nabbed the final wicket in the 48th over.

The home side lost wickets at regular intervals until Clarke and Caleb Sharp (56) got together in the middle. Sharp rebuilt patiently, facing 91 deliveries for his 56-run contribution. When he was eventually dismissed by Luca Plekker, he and Clarke had shared a match-defining 103-run stand for the sixth wicket.

Plekker ended off a tidy nine-over spell as the pick of the Paul Roos bowlers, returning an economical 3/24. Morné Pauw (2/35) also made a noteworthy contribution. Still, St Charles posted 249 all out.

The visitors knew that would be a tough total to chase down, especially because heavy rains on Friday had made the batting conditions difficult. Connor Vogt also made it tough on them. In only five overs, he captured 3/16, while Keegan Vermaak made his mark with a return of 2/41.

Plekker fought hard, delivering a stubborn knock of 42 runs, which was his side’s highest individual score. Jason Raal (34) and Liam Basson (33) also fought valiantly but the Capetonians didn’t have quite enough batting firepower, and they came up 24 runs shy of the St Charles’ total, all out for 225.

The CSA Hub Invitational XI, like last year, started their campaign on a victorious note, beating Cornwall Hill College by a nail-biting three wickets.

Enathi Kitshini produced a man-of-the-match performance, firstly doing significant damage with the ball and then making an unbeaten batting contribution to get his side across the line.

His 4/24 in 10 overs undermined Cornwall Hill’s batting effort, with only the Pretoria side’s captain, Abubaker Rasool, making a noteworthy contribution. He knuckled down to score 67 runs from 106 balls. If not for him occupying the crease, Cornwall wouldn’t have scratched their way to the 150 all out they posted.

Frontline bowler, Rourke de Lange (3/31) did his best to defend a small target, but Tshepang Laka‘s unbeaten 40, Matthew Florence‘s 38, and 24 not out from Kitshini were, in the end, enough to lift the Hub XI to victory in the 33rd over.

At Michaelhouse, David de Bruyn, of Northwood, looked like he was batting on a different surface to the rest of the players in the clash between the Durban school and Hoërskool Waterkloof.

With Thursday’s rains impacting the playing surface, their match was reduced to a T20. That suited De Bruyn perfectly. In just 66 deliveries, he smashed eight fours and five sixes and was out for 95, just five runs short of what would’ve been a well-deserved century. Thomas Oosthuizen (40) provided strong support as the Knights‘ totalled a challenging 184/4.

The Klofies struggled to match the heroics of De Bruyn and were undone by left-arm spinner Jordan Matthews, who laid waste to their run chase. He snared 4/27 from his four overs as Waterkloof, after an encouraging start, slid to 142 all out in the 18th over.

Summarised scorecards

St Charles College 249 (Ryan Clarke 78, Caleb Sharp 56, Extras 25, Connor Simpson 20*; Luca Plekker 3/24, Morné Pauw 2/35, Neil Barnard 2/41); Paul Roos Gimnasium 225 (Luca Plekker 42, Jason Raal 34, Liam Basson 33, Extras 20; Connor Vogt 3/16, Keegan Vermaak 2/41). St Charles College won by 24 runs. 

Cornwall Hill College 150 (Abubaker Rasool 67; Enathi Kitshini 4/24, Unathi Magoloza 2/21, Taywin Cole Adams 2/24); CSA Hub Invitational XI 151/7 (Tshepang Laka 40*, Matthew Florence 38, Enathi Kitshini 24*; Rourke de Lange 3/31, Ethan Feris-Philander 2/15). CSA Hub Invitational XI won by three wickets. 

Northwood 184/4 (David de Bruyn 95, Thomas Oosthuizen 40; Darius Maritz 1/15); Waterkloof 142 (Rico van der Walt 31, Ricardo Crous 24, AJ de Villiers 20; Jordan Matthews 4/27, Ryan van Zyl 2/12, Thabiso Mtambo 2/35). Northwood won by 42 runs. 

Wet conditions at the start of what is expected to be a thrilling 2025 Oppenheimer Michaelmas Week saw the encounters on day one live up to expectations.

The most exhilarating was a low-scoring thriller between Hilton College and Grey College from Bloemfontein, at the home of Hilton Cricket, the Hart-Davis Oval. Having won the toss, the hosts elected to field first, hoping to use the conditions and make early inroads.

They did so, too, with Christian Kind the first to depart after he had top-scored for the visitors from Bloemfontein. Kind accumulated 37 runs before his innings of 31 balls came to an end in the ninth over. From thereon, the going was slow and tough.

Hilton’s Obakeng Motsepa led the way with the ball, snapping up 3/20 in the five overs he bowled. From the other end, Luke Campbell (2/32) and Jayden Roux (2/35) provided the necessary support to restrict Grey College to a meagre 147 all out.

The drama and good bowling, however, weren’t over yet. Otto Krause proved to be an absolute nightmare to face on the day, dispatching Hilton’s Ben Hockly for five in only the third over. Krause picked up another two wickets to eventually tip his cap with figures of 3/46.

Fellow opening bowler, Sicelo Matayi, was even more impressive, completing his allotted 10 overs with 3/38 as Grey’s pick of the bowlers, while Bergh Vorster managed 2/19.

As a result, only Jayden Roux (28) and Luke Campbell (27) made it past the 25-run mark for Hilton, and the home side were eventually bowled out for just 145, losing by an agonising two runs.

Maritzburg College got one back for the KZN locals as they thumped Pretoria Boys High by 128 runs. Karl Dedekind showed wonderful prowess and knowledge of his home conditions, scoring a match-defining 74 runs. Kyle de Bruyn wasn’t far behind with an equally impressive 57, as part of a 101-run opening stand with Daniel Nadasan (28). This enabled College to notch an impressive total of 277.

Boys High stalwart, Justin Basdeo, was again a standout for the side from the Jacaranda City. His 3/47 was the highlight of his performance, followed by 22 with the bat, his side’s second-highest score on the day. Ethan Nel was the best Boys High batter, falling just two runs short of a well-deserved half-century.

Nadasan continued to be a pebble in the shoe of the visitors, backing up his batting with 3/6. Samuel Huges (2/26) and Nathan Pembridge (2/26) combined to deliver the final blow as Boys High could only reach 149.

Michaelhouse saw off Pretoria powerhouse Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool by 51 runs in a shortened fixture. Rex Wardlaw led the charge with an invaluable 48 runs, as both sides had only 25 overs to bat. This was followed by cameos from Ethan Muir (22) and Ben Heuer (22), who took them to 128/6 in the allotted 25 overs. The Michaelhouse bowlers, realising that it might be a small score to defend, stepped up to the plate. Heuer got in on the action again with 2/11, followed by Rendani Nonge (2/12).

Affies had no answers to the numerous questions asked, slumping to a disappointing 77 all out.

Summarised scorecards

Grey College 147 (Cristian Kind 37, River Scott 20; Obakeng Motsepa 3/20, Luke Campbell 2/32, Jayden Roux 2/35); Hilton College 145 (Jayden Roux 28, Luke Campbell 27, David Hill 23; Otto Krause 3/46, Sicelo Matayi, Bergh Vorster 2/19). Grey College won by two runs

Maritzburg College 277 (Karl Dedekind 74, Kyle de Bruyn 57, Extras 31, Sphamandla Dzanibe 29, Daniel Nadasan 28; Justin Basdeo 3/47, Jaydon Knott-Craig 3/53); Pretoria Boys High 149 (Ethan Nel 48, Justin Basdeo 22, Dylan Kruger 21; Daniel Nadasan 3/6, Samuel Hughes 2/26, Nathan Pembridge 2/41). Maritzburg College won by 128 runs. 

Michaelhouse 128/6 (25) (Rex Wardlaw 48, Ethan Muir 22, Ben Heuer 22; Petrus Rautenbach 2/28); Affies 77 (JP Botha 25; Ben Heuer 2/11, Rendani Nonge 2/12, Liam O’Dwyer 2/22). Michaelhouse won by 51 runs. 

Die groot nuus uit Pretoria is dat Hoërskool Waterkloof ‘n nuwe era van rugby onder ‘n bekende gesig in die Klofie-gemeenskap gaan afskop.

Slegs ‘n paar dae nadat die nuweling in 2026 se SDC Noordvaal Cup Beker-afdeling, Hoërskool Middelburg, sy nuwe rugbydirekteur aangestel het, het nog ‘n groot hond in dié einste afdeling ‘n nuwe rugbybaas.

Cobus van Dyk sal vanaf 2026 leiding as baasbrein van die Blou Tornado se rugbystrukture neem.

Dit is welbekend dat Klofies se rugby vanjaar effens woema gekort het. Die skolereus uit die ooste van Pretoria moes enduit om oorlewing baklei, en dit is iets wat hulle in 2026 wil vermy.

Van Dyk is reeds vir die afgelope sewe jaar as sporthoof en eerstespan-afrigter by die Klofies betrokke, maar sien uit daarna om sy passie verder uit te leef.

“Die landskap van ‘n rugbydirekteur op skolevlak het die laaste klompie jaar aansienlik verander” het Van Dyk aan SuperSport Schools Plus gesê.

“Dit gaan nie slegs meer oor reëlings tref nie, maar myns insiens daaroor om ‘n gemeenskap bymekaar te bring, en hoop te skep vir ‘n gemeenskap. My taak gaan wees om ‘n sterk Klofie-gemeenskap bymekaar te bring deur Waterkloof-rugby, en om die nodige rolspelers hiervoor bymekaar te bring. Dit is hoe ons die pad vorentoe sien.”

Van Dyk het in 2013 sy eerste aansoek by SA Rugby ingedien om by die SA Skolespan se afrigtingskorps betrokke te raak. Dit is nie aanvaar nie, maar het hom op sy weg geplaas en hy het dieselfde jaar by die Pumas se Cravenweekspan begin afrig.

Daarna het hy vir 11 jaar ‘n rol vervul by SA Rugby, waarvan sewe as skrumafrigter van die SA Skole- en SA o.18-span – sedert die totstandkoming van die jaarlikse Internasionale o.18-reeks. Benewens daardie ervaring, is Van Dyk ook reeds vir vyf jaar betrokke by die Universiteit van Pretoria se eerste rugbyspan.

“Ek het natuurlik baie dankbaarheid in my hart. Eerstens gee ek al die lof en eer aan my Hemelse Vader, wat sedert die teleurstelling in 2013 ‘n yslike pad saam met my gestap het. Dan is daar natuurlik my vrou, Carika, en my twee kinders, waarsonder ek nie tot hier sou kon gevorder het nie.

“Ek is ‘n produk van ‘n groot groep mense wat my ondersteun en in my loopbaan belê het. Die groep by SA Rugby, Meneer Herman Masemla, Louis Koen, Nico Serfontein en ‘n ellelange lys van ander, waarby ek ongelooflik baie kon leer, het my beslis voorberei vir dié nuwe rol as rugbydirekteur.”

Van Dyk sal in 2026 steeds as die eerste span se hoofarigter aanbly. Sy afrigtingspan sal binnekort bespreek en uiteengesit word.

Die kans is boonop goed dat hy met sy verantwoordelikhede by onderskeidelik die Universiteit van Pretoria, die SA Skole en SA o.18 spanne sal voortgaan. Niks is egter nog op papier vasgemaak nie.

“Hou Kloof dop in 2026; ons werk hard agter die skerms en is besig met ‘n paar opwindende dinge wat beslis dividende sal betaal in die nuwe rugbyseisoen,” het Van Dyk opgewonde bygevoeg.

Die Klofies het reeds sy voorbereiding vir die 2026 seisoen afgeskop. ‘n Vier-week-lange gimnasiumprogram is sopas afgehandel en sal deur veldsessies, wat op 13 Oktober begin, gevolg word. Van Dyk glo dat dit alles ‘n stap in die regte rigting is om die Klofies se rugby weer ‘n krag in die Noordvaal Cup se Beker-afdeling te maak.

Hoërskool Middelburg het die bordjies teen Hoërskool Nelspruit verhang om sodoende sy Mpumalanga Premierliga-titel suksesvol te verdedig.

Die Middies het op 20 September met 18 lopies teen die Nellies vasgeval, ‘n nederlaag wat die kaarte in daardie stadium van die liga ietwat deurmekaar gekrap het.

Dit het beteken dat die Middies hul tweede uitstappie teen die span van Nelspruit, dié keer in Nelspruit, moes wen om weer die kroon te dra. Daar is wel steeds een ronde bepalings oor waarin die Middelburgers se pad weer met die van Hoërskool Hoogenhout kruis, maar hulle is wat ligapunte betref buite die bereik van enige ander span.

Die Nelspruiters het die loot gewen, besluit om eerste te kolf en geduldig te werk gegaan. Die Middies kon die eerste paaltjie eers in die 16de beurt kry, toe Herman Potgieter (2/27) vir Duan Smal (10, 55b) gefnuik het.

Smal se lang beurt het die strawwe kolftoestande beklemtoon, met selfs Waldemar Graham, die Nellies se voorslagkolwer, wat op die dag 40 aflewerings trotseer het vir sy 30 lopies. Juan Maritz was kort op sy hakke met 27 lopies, van 44 balle.

Frederik Boshoff was grotendeels verantwoordelik vir die Nellies se stadiger kolftempo. Hy het in sy toegelate 10 beurte slegs 16 lopies afgestaan, terwyl 47 van sy 60 aflewerings leë balle was en hy ook vier paaltjies laat kantel het. Eduan Strydom het, nes Potgieter, twee paaltjies opgepik en 45 lopies in sy toegelate 10 beurte afgestaan. Dit het die tuisspan tot 164 beperk toe die laaste kolwer in die 48ste beurt die trekpas gegee is.

Die tuispsan se kolfbeurt en jaagtog van 165 het bykans op presies dieselfde wyse begin. Lohan Botha (22) is in die 15de beurt deur Jason Day, van die boulwerk van Samuel Day (1/23), gevang, met Christian Jansen (17) wat kort daarna deur Janco Breyl uitgehardloop is. Dit het die druk stewig op die verdedigende kampioen verskuif.

Hoewel Smal met die kolf gefaal het, het sy boulwerk daarvoor opgemaak. Hy was ewe ekonomies met sy toegelate 10 beurte wat uiteindelik syfers van 2/22 opgelewer, waarin hy ook 47 leë balle afgestuur het. Safwaan Miller, het soos in die vorige kragmeting, weer twee paaltjies laat kantel en 33 lopies afgestaan, slegs een meer as in die vorige ontmoeting met die Middelburgers.

Die ervaring van Hendré Nel het uiteindelik die deurslag gegee vir nóg ‘n Mpumalanga-titel. Instede van geduldig kolf, het Nel besluit om te doen wat hy die beste doen. Hy het teruggeslaan met ‘n teenaanval wat slegs 34 aflewerings geneem het en drie viere en twee sesse opgelewer het vir ‘n onoorwonne bydrae van 44 lopies. Sy vennootskap van 63 lopies met Boshoff (18*), wat ‘n uitstekende dag op kantoor onoorwonne afgesluit het, was uiteindelik genoeg vir die Middies om met vier paaltjies te seëvier.

Hoofafrigter Shaun Neethling is uiteraard in sy noppies en trots op ‘n totale spanpoging.

“Ons het natuurlik vir Gavin (Genis) en Eduan (Strydom) wat beduidende rolle gespeel het, maar wat vir my die meeste uitgestaan het is die bydraes van verskeie ander spelers. Spelers soos Frederik Boshoff, Zubair Desai, Hendré Nel en Herman Potgieter het almal hand opgesteek, wat, uit ‘n afrigtingsoogpunt, wonderlik is om te sien,” het Neethling na sy span se sege gesê.

Die Middies se fokus verskuif nou na die Fain Noordvaal-reeks, waarin die span van Middelburg verlede jaar die naaswenner was en wat later vandeesmaand afskop.

Beknopte telkaart

Hoërskool Nelspruit 164 (Waldemar Graham 30, Juan Maritz 27, Ekstras 22; Frederik Boshoff 4/16, Herman Potgieter 2/27, Eduan Strydom 2/45); Hoërskool Middelburg 170/6 (Hendré Nel 44*, Lohan Botha 22, Eduan Strydom 22; Duan Smal 2/22, Safwaan Miller 2/33). Hoërskool Middelburg wen met ses paaltjies. 

There have been some noteworthy performances in the first round of the Switch School SA20 competition in Mpumalanga over the first few weeks of action.

Hoërskool Secunda‘s Nathan Erasmus still holds the highest individual total thus far, having scored a blistering 116 not out against Embu Hub on 17 September. He was joined by Luan Swart, who in the same fixture also surpassed the century mark with an unbeaten 103. Both faced fewer than 70 deliveries in their quest to score as many runs as possible in the allotted 20 overs.

Erasmus used only 65 deliveries, smashing 15 fours and six sixes, while scoring even faster, facing only 42 deliveries. He struck 10 fours and eight sixes in the pair’s 180-run partnership and a team total of 245/1 in 20 overs. The side from Secunda won this fixture by 37 runs.

That was also the highest team total until Hoërskool Middelburg unleashed on the same Emba side on Wednesday, 1 October, concluding their 20 overs on 290/5.

Gavin Genis and Eduan Strydom became the second pair to score a century in the same T20 fixture, both making 106. They also surpassed Erasmus and Swart for the highest partnership, contributing a massive 190 runs together.

Genis, as per usual, was the main aggressor and dealt mostly in sixes, with 10 landing on the other side of the boundary rope. He also smashed seven fours, with 96 of his runs coming from boundaries. Strydom, at the other end, wasn’t much slower, using 47 balls for his 106. He hit nine fours and seven sixes, taking the pair’s boundary count up to an astonishing 35 from a combined 86 balls.

The writing was on the wall when Wildré Cilliers shone when it was his turn with the ball. Three wickets upfront (3/17), alongside Xander Engelbrecht‘s 2/18, broke the backbone of the Emba batting lineup. At 38/5, the visiting Emba had suffered too much damage to recover, slumping to 91 all out and a defeat by 199 runs, also the biggest winning margin to date.

What makes these performances by Secunda and the Middies even more impressive is that Emba will have three representatives at the Khaya Majola Week set to take place in Bloemfontein later this year.

Hoërskool Nelspruit also won their first T20 encounter comfortably, beating Malekutu Hub by 117 runs on Tuesday, 30 September. De Jong Schreuder led the way with an unbeaten 60 runs, while Dian Boucher smashed the ball all over the Nellie-Oval. Boucher’s unbeaten 52 runs came from just 18 balls, and included four fours and four sixes. Juan Maritz also made a half-century, contributing 51 from a mere 26 balls.

Summarised scorecard: 01 October 2025

Hoërskool Middelburg 290/5 (Eduan Strydom 106, Gavin Genis 106, Hendré Nel 33*; B Blessing 2/57); Emba Hub 91 (B Blessing 36, Extras 21; Wildré Cilliers 3/17, Gavin Genis 2/5, Xander Engelbrecht 2/18). Hoërskool Middelburg won by 199 runs.