Potchefstroom Volkskool after claiming their historic 6th North West title. Photo: Potchefstroom Volkskool on Facebook.
Potchefstroom Volkskool claimed their sixth consecutive North West title on 16 October, doing it in some style by romping to an emphatic 10-wicket win over their neighbours Potchefstroom Gimnasium in the final.
The chaos began after Volkies’ opening bowler, Berno de Klerk claimed the wicket of the Gimmies’ captain, Tommie Botha, on the last ball of the fourth over.
De Klerk and fellow opening bowler Dian Liebenberg then proceeded to dismantle the visitor’s batting lineup as Gimmies crumbled to a mere 27 all out.
De Klerk bowled an impressive six-over spell. He sent down 36 deliveries, of which 31 were dot balls, on his way to a fine return of 3/13. The day, however, belonged to Liebenberg.
Bowling 48 dot balls in the 53 he delivered, the Volkies’ seamer piled on the pressure with his economical bowling, but it was the wickets’ column that stood out most. Potchefstroom Gimnasium had no answers to the challenge he posed. In 8.5 overs, Liebenberg captured a decisive 7/10, which utterly destroyed the Gimmies’ batting effort.
In stark contrast to the Gimnasium innings, the Volkskool batsmen made the pitch appear benign, knocking off the winning runs in no time at all. Requiring a paltry 28 to win, Diaan van der Merwe led the charge for Volkies.
He struck an unbeaten 18 from only 12 balls, which included two fours and a six. Louis van Wyk weighed in with two boundaries in his 11-run contribution as the Volkies rocketed to a one-sided victory in just 17 balls.
Summarised scorecard
Potchefstroom Gimnasium 27/10 (Extras 8; Dian Liebenberg 7/10, Berno de Klerk 3/13); Potchefstroom Volkskool 29/0 (Diaan van der Merwe 18*).
Luka Heinlein, captain of Merensky’s T20 side in action. Photo: Ankia Botha.
A strong side from Merensky Landbou Akademie made a rollicking start to their challenge for the honours in the Limpopo regional leg of the Schools SA20 on 16 October.
Facing one of their Super 8 League rivals, the Phalaborwa Hub, the team from Tzaneen came away with a convincing 53-run victory to send out a strong message to other sides intent on lifting the title.
It was a victory set up by the Merensky bowlers.
Batting first at home, though, they mustered only 103 all out. There were few scores of note, but a captain’s knock of 32 by the talented all-rounder Luka Heinlein and 25 from opening batsman Bernard Wandrag helped the Plasies reach triple figures. However, they appeared to be in a spot of bother.
Lesley Zimba did the bulk of the damage for the Phalaborwa Hub, capturing 3/19 in his four overs. Tholane Mgomane (2/13) and Aki Molapo (2/21) also made life difficult for Merensky, but the host’s bowlers, then, turned the contest on its head with some good bowling of their own.
The off-spinner, Rinaldo Bornman, and medium-pacer, Xander Schoeman, struck early and hard to blunt the visitor’s hopes. Within the first five overs, they reduced the Phalaborwa Hub to a wobbly 11/4.
The visitors were unable to recover from that devastating early setback and lost wickets at regular intervals. They lasted until the final ball of the penultimate over but were bowled out for a disappointing 50.
A day later, on 17 October, Merensky Landbou’s batting came to light when they tackled a very young side from Stanford Lake College. The top three in their order all recorded half-centuries, with Rinaldo “Borries” Bornman making an impact with the willow this time by top-scoring with 75 from only 38 balls, which included 13 fours and one six.
He was able to attack after a solid foundation had been laid by the openers, Bernard Wandrag and James Durant. Wandrag continued his good form from the previous day, charging to 63 from 41 balls, while Durant batted well for his 52 runs from 37 deliveries.
Stanford’s Nakedi Makweya did a good job spearheading the young attack. He was, unfortunately for Stanford Lake, his side’s only successful bowler, snapping up two wickets in his four-over spell.
The Plasie bowlers, again, wasted no time stamping their authority on proceedings. This time around it was the variations between leg- and off-spin from Cashan Jacobsz that did the trick. He conceded only three runs an over while picking up three wickets in his four overs.
Bornman backed up his batting performance with another noteworthy outing with the ball. He, too, conceded only 12 runs from his four overs and claimed two wickets.
Captain Luka Heinlein also starred with a return of 2/6 from three oversm as Stanford Lake was brushed aside, all out for only 41, still 189 runs short of the required victory target.
Summarized scorecards
Merensky Landbou 103/10 (Luka Heinlein 32, Bernard Wandrag 25; Lesley Zimba 3/19, Tholane Mgomane 2/13, Aki Molapo 2/21); Phalaborwa Hub 50/10 (Lesley Zimba 14; Rinaldo Bornman 2/6, Xander Schoeman 2/18). Merensky won by 53 runs.
Merensky Landbou 229/3 (Rinaldo Bornman 75, Bernard Wandrag 63, James Durant 52; Nakedi Makweya 2/45); Stanford Lake College 41/10 (Matthew Schruven 13; Cashan Jacobsz 3/12, Luka Heinlein 2/6, Rinaldo Bornman 2/12). Merensky won by 188 runs.
Marais Viljoen captain, Aldré Huyzers at the crease. Photo: Hoërskool Marais Viljoen.
There are many good reasons why Hoërskool Waterkloof is the defending champion of the Fain Noordvaal competition.
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The Klofies showed that they will be hard to stop in their title defence after comprehensively beating Hoërskool Wesvalia by eight wickets in Pretoria on Saturday.
The Klofie victory was set up by a disciplined and ruthless display by their bowlers, led by captain Marcus Bakker, once again. He bowled with great control and sublime variations to snare three wickets while conceding only 30 runs from his 10 overs.
It was, however, the opening bowler Ruan Ferreira, who kickstarted the onslaught, picking up his two wickets within the first six overs of Wesvalia’s innings. Jaydon Blom enjoyed his day out, too, sending down seven overs and claiming 2/28 from a solid spell that contained 30 dot balls.
Marneau Dreyer kept a level head amid the chaos around him. The experienced Wesvalia top-order batsman made a classy 37 runs. Quewen Fourie (29) and Dundré Hales (27) each produced valuable contributions to get the Wessies past the 150-run mark, which made it appear as if they might have something to bowl at. Unfortunately for the side from Klerksdorp, Wian Ruthven was in one of his destructive moods. The Waterkloof opener wasted no time setting his side on course for a comfortable victory.
In just 62 balls, he blasted eight sixes and seven fours before falling only one run short of what would’ve been a well-deserved century. His opening partner, Divan Behrens did what he does best, knocking the ball around and rotating the strike, to make 48 runs in the pair’s match-winning 149-run partnership.
The Wessies might have felt after the game that they should’ve brought Regardt van Deventer on to bowl a little bit sooner as he was the one who removed both Ruthven and Behrens. He boasted excellent figures of 2/6, but his success came too late for Wesvalia and the home side cruised to victory in the 21st over.
Hoërskool Marais Viljoen‘s Jordan Baijnath and Aldré Huyzers appear determined to lead their school to the final again this year. The pair batted extremely well in the Alberton school’s 48-run victory over Hoërskool Rustenburg in Rustenburg. Baijnath led the way, expertly pacing his innings while smashing six fours and two sixes in his 87 runs.
Huyzers followed suit, cracking 10 boundaries in his innings of 81 from 100 deliveries. Nathan Coleske’s quickfire 28 gave Marais Viljoen a further boost, which helped lift them to a very respectable 271/9 from their 50 overs.
It was no surprise that the talented youngster, Callie Fryer, led the Rusties with the ball. He did most of his damage up front, claiming three wickets in seven overs, including the prized scalp of Baijnath. Marnus de Wit (2/62) and Zandré Diederiks (2/31) provided good support by each claiming two scalps.
The home side made Marias Viljoen work hard for their wickets in the opening 10 overs, but it was again Baijnath who caused problems for Rustenburg. He followed up his fine innings with a penetrative bowling performance, snapping up 3/38.
Abdullah Tadwala was even more impressive, spinning a web around the home side to snare 3/26 in 10, while AJ van Niekerk (2/5) and Tiaan Kühn (2/48), each contributed two wickets.
Rusties’ Tristan van der Linde was the shining light for the hosts with the willow. Occupying the crease and grafting hard, he earned himself a well-deserved 58. Wessel Oosthuizen supported him well, with 35 coming from his blade, but the visitors were just too good, with the last Rustenburg wicket falling with the score on 222.
Hoërskool Kempton Park might be a dark horse to make the final. The side from the East Rand fired some serious warning shots in a rampaging 10-wicket win over Heidelberg Volkskool. Warren Pretorius (5/20) and Marko van Voort (3/22) shared eight wickets between them as Volkies were held to only 113 all out.
Floors Mynhardt, then, wasted no time setting up a successful run chase, blasting a blistering 72 from only 35 deliveries, which included nine fours and four sixes. Wian Pieters played his part, finishing with an unbeaten 25, to guide the Kempies to a one-sided victory.
Summarised scorecards
Wesvalia 159/10 (Marneau Dreyer 37, Quewen Fourie 29, Dundré Hales 27; Marcus Bakker 3/30, Ruan Feirreira 2/23, Jaydon Blom 2/28); Waterkloof 162/2 (Wian Ruthven 99, Divan Behrens 48; Regartd van Deventer 2/6). Waterkloof won by eight wickets.
Marais Viljoen 271/9 (Jordan Baijnath 87, Aldré Huyzers 81, Nathan Coleske 28, Tiaan Kühn 21; Callie Fryer 3/41, Zandré Diedericks 2/31, Marnus de Wit 2/62); Hoërskool Rustenburg 222/10 (Tristan van der Linde 58, Wessel Oosthuizen 35, Callie Fryer 22, Christivan Coetzer 21, Tiaan Labuschagne 20; Abdullah Tadwala 3/26, Jordan Baijnath 3/38, AJ van Niekerk 2/5, Tiaan Kühn 2/48). Marais Viljoen won by 48 runs.
Heidelberg Volkskool 113 (Marco Botha 24, Matthew Wentzel 21; Warren Pretorius 5/20, Marko van Voort 3/22); Hoërskool Kempton Park 114/0 (Floors Mynhardt 72*, Wian Pieters 25*). Hoërskool Kempton Park won by 10 wickets.
For a third time in the 2024 cricket season, it was Hoërskool Middelburg and Genis who came out on top against Hoërskool Nelspruit, this time in the playoff round of the Fain Noordvaal competition on Saturday in Middelburg.
Although he failed with the bat, scoring, only seven runs, the all-rounder terrorised Nelspruit with his right-arm off-spin bowling.
Sending down a full quota of 10 overs, Genis ripped the heart from the Nellies’ top order, snapping up four wickets in no time at all before adding another a while later to walk away with match-winning figures of 5/43.
Eduan Strydom was also impressive in the seven overs he bowled, claiming three scalps for 39 runs, while opening bowler Hendré Nel did further damage, with his 2/11 helping to restrict the side from Mbombela to a disappointing 118 all out.
The fight from Nelspruit was by no means over. John Duncan, the top run-scorer in the Nellies’ innings, took it upon himself to try to single-handedly spur his team to victory. He made a significant impact with the ball, exerting severe pressure on the Middies, by capturing four wickets.
The experienced duo of Shaun Taljaard and Herman Potgieter saved the day for the home side, however. Taljaard counter-punched, fighting fire with fire, to smash an unbeaten 43 from only 24 balls, while Potgieter anchored the innings with a mature 37 to see Hoërskool Middelburg across the line in the 28th over, with five wickets to spare.
The clash between Hans Moore and Hoërskool Garsfontein‘s Ysbere was, as expected, a nail-biter.
After posting only 124, which owed a lot to stalwart Xavier Coetzee‘s 43, after great bowling performances from Sebastian Bouwer (3/29) and Stefan van Staden (3/29), the Moories knew they were in a bit of trouble with a strong Garsies’ batting lineup heading their way.
Reuben van Zyl got the visitors from Pretoria up and running and well on their way to victory with a well-played 51, but Kenan Shaw, Henré Everleigh, and Kyle Wratten threw a spanner in Garsfontein’s charge to victory.
Shaw spearheaded the Hans Moore attack by snapping up four vital wickets for 21 runs, while Everleigh returned 3/32 and Wratten 3/34 as Garsfontein’s challenge dissipated. Their innings, which had started so well, thanks to Van Zyl, fell apart and they were bowled out for only 104, still 21 runs shy of the victory target.
Merensky Landbou Akademie rolled Hoërskool Bastion for only 51 in an impressive bowling performance led by off-spinner Rinaldo Borman‘s 4/27 after setting the hosts a challenging total. The visitors from Limpopo also showed character with the bat, as Logan Janse van Rensburg stepped up to the plate by contributing a timely half-century to boost the Plasies’ total to 217.
Kyle Crous bowled with good pace to assist Borman by snapping up 3/6, while Luka Heinlein was among the wickets again, snaring 3/16.
Hoërskool Dr Malan impressed by pushing Die Hoërskool Menlopark all the way, but the Parkies eventually came out on top by three wickets.
Their win owed plenty to a wonderful innings of 76 from Matt van der Westhuizen, which laid the platform for their victory. Van der Westhuizen stood out with the ball, too, snapping up 3/40 to complement the Menlopark spearhead, Wihan Spanneberg, who led the way with 3/36.
Dokkies’ Qihan Swanepoel impressed with a composed innings of 52 not out and, with the help of 43 from Kegan Meyer, helped the the side from Meyerton to a competitive total of 223/9.
Meyer enjoyed a strong all-round outing, returning his side’s best bowling figures of 3/31, but that wasn’t quite enough for them to pull off an upset.
Summarised scorecards
Hoërskool Nelspruit 118/10 (John Duncan 21; Gavin Genis 5/43, Eduan Strydom 3/39, Hendré Nel 2/11); Hoërskool Middelburg 121/5 (Shaun Taljaard 43*, Herman Potgieter 37*; John Duncan 4/48). Hoërskool Middelburg won by five wickets.
Hans Moore 124/10 (Xavier Coetzee 43, Adrian Watson 21; Sebastian Bouwer 3/29, Stefan van Staden 3/29, Jared Carr 2/2); Garsfontein 104/10 (Reuben van Zyl 51; Kenan Shaw 4/21, Henré Everleigh 3/32, Kyle Wratten 3/34). Hans Moore won by 20 runs.
Merensky 217/10 (Logan Janse van Rensburg 55, Xander Schoeman 32, Luka Heinlein 27; Rudie Harmse 4/38, Lethabo 2/39, André Schoeman 2/39); Bastion 51/10 (Bennie 12; Rinaldo Borman 4/27, Kyle Crous 3/6, Luka Heinlein 3/17). Merensky won by 166 runs.
Dr Malan 223/9 (Q Swanepoel 52*, Kegan Meyer 43, Charles Collen 33, Quinten van Staden 28, Dewald Erasmus 28; Wihan Spanneberg 3/36, Matt van der Westhuizen 3/40); Menlopark 227/7 (Matt van der Westhuizen 76, Dian van Zyl 43, Morné Koekemoer 43, James Bronkhorst 31; Kegan Meyer 3/31, Heinrich Janse van Rensburg 2/50). Menlopark won by three wickets.
Hoërskool Kempton Park was crowned the Easterns’ champion of the Schools SA20 after beating St Benedict’s College. Photo: Hoërskool Kempton Park.
Hoërskool Kempton Park‘s batsmen dominated for the umpteenth time to lead their team to the Schools SA20 Easterns’ regional title.
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On Friday, the Kempie batters showed their steel once again as they steered the side from the East Rand to a 29-run victory over St Benedict’s College at the home of Eastern’s Cricket, Willowmoore Park.
Bennies’ opening bowler, Russel Jones (2/23) struck early, removing Ethan Kotze in the third over, but the cool, calm, and collected head of the experienced Wian Pieters kept St Benedict’s at bay.
Pieters combined with the in-form Sheldon Kruger to steady the ship before he was sent back to the pavilion for a well-played 41 from 34 deliveries.
Kruger, on the other hand, kept going, even though he lost his captain, Marko Richter, soon after.
This, however, brought the feisty left-hander, Stian de Villiers, to the crease. Kruger’s positivity rubbed off on De Villiers and they combined well for a crucial 87-run partnership.
Kruger, eventually, became Jones’s second victim in the penultimate over after top-scoring with a vital 78 runs, which came from only 49 balls and included six sixes and three fours. De Villiers, with a valuable 47 not out, saw the side from Kempton Park through to a healthy 194/4 from their 20 overs, which gave Kempton Park’s bowlers a strong total to defend.
Bennies, unfortunately for them, didn’t get off to a good start. They lost Cayden Thompson to the second ball of their innings when he chipped it straight back to Wian Pieters (2/20). Matt Feiertag launched a counter-attack with his innings of 43, while captain Clayton Horlick (40) and Marco Mendes (31) lent a helping hand.
Alex Johnston delivered the top score for St Benedict’s, an unbeaten 44 runs from just 31 deliveries, to give Bedfordview boys a glimmer of hope, but the Kempies, led by Pieters and Ethan Kotze (1/17), restricted St Benedict’s to 165/5 despite a valiant run chase.
Summarised scorecard
Hoërskool Kempton Park 194/4 (Sheldon Kruger 78, Stian de Villiers 47*, Wian Pieters 41; Matthew Elphick 2/17, Russel Jones 2/23); St Benedict’s College 165/5 (Alex Johnston 44*, Matt Feiertag 43, Claton Horlick 40, Marco Mendes 31; Wian Pieters 2/20).
Gavin Genis, Hoërskool Middelburg all-rounder in action against Nelspruit in early 2024. Photo: Nadia Kruger.
Mpumalanga’s two best school cricket sides, Hoërskool Middelburg and Hoërskool Nelspruit, meet in the playoff round of the Fain Noordvaal competition on Saturday, with a quarterfinals place on the line.
The Nellies travel to Middelburg to face the Middies for a third time this year, having twice come out on the wrong end of the result in their previous matches.
Presented with another chance to topple the Mpumalanga champions, Nelspruit will have one specific goal in mind and that’s claiming the prized wicket of Middies’ Gavin Genis.
The all-rounder has been a thorn in the side of Middies’ opposition throughout their unbeaten league campaign, but the Nellies, especially, have endured his wrath.
On the two occasions the sides met earlier in the season, Genis shifted into a higher gear, smashing 72 from 52 balls in the first encounter, and then used only 107 balls to score 128 runs in their second meeting. He tallied an impressive 448 runs in six league games, at an average of 89.6, while scoring two centuries and three fifties.
Saturday’s showdown will be another good test of the all-round abilities of Nellies’ Jayden Meyer. The experienced top-order batsman has been pivotal for the side from Mbombela throughout the year, anchoring the innings at three and bowling at first change. Nathan and John Duncan will also have important roles to play if Nelspruit is to defeat Middelburg.
The clash between Benoni’s Hoërskool Hans Moore and Hoërskool Garsfontein‘s Ysbere could be a thriller.
Possessing an immensely powerful batting lineup, led by captain Warren Minnaar and Xavier Coetzee, Hans Moore will be quietly confident that they are more than capable of beating the side from Pretoria. They will, however, have to get past Garsfontein’s Khaya Majola quick bowler, Nayleo Sanna, and the dangerous Eckardt Struwig.
Struwig, especially, has been impressive with the ball. He was exceptional against Prestige College, claiming an impressive five-wicket haul, which included a hat-trick.
Hoërskool Menlopark will head into their clash on Saturday confident of advancing. They’re playing at home and their captain Steve Stolk was at his destructive best during the recent Westvaal North/South T20 Tournament, where he scored a boatload of runs, including two mammoth centuries.
The visitors, Hoërskool Dr Malan, should offer a good challenge. Their strength lies in their batting, with Luka Pretorius and opening batsman Kegan Meyer the pace-setters in that department. They shone in a recent one-wicket loss to Heidelberg Volkskool in the Ekurhuleni League final and will be the batsmen targeted by Menlopark’s bowlers.
Hoërskool Bastion will have to deal with Limpopo’s leading wicket-taker, Timothy Baker when they welcome Merensky Landbou Akademie from behind the Citrus Curtain. Baker’s snared 18 scalps in seven games with his left-arm off-spin, which has included a five-wicket haul.
Marneau Dreyer, from Hoërskool Wesvalia, in action. Photo: Carl Rawlins.
As the cricket season in the Noordvaal heads towards its business end, it’s time for the best of the best from their respective regions to battle it out for the Noordvaal honours.
The defending champions, Hoërskool Waterkloof, will be wary of the threat posed by Hoërskool Wesvalia. They host the side from Klerksdorp in the playoff round before the quarter-finals of the Fain Noordvaal Competition next week.
Wesvalia finished second in the North West after some impressive performances, which included a narrow victory over Potchefstroom Volkskool, who’ve led the way on the province’s cricket fields over the last couple of years.
The Dreyer brothers, Marneau and Eduard, have had much to do with Wesvalia’s successes. Eduard, the younger brother and still in Grade 11, has set the standard with the bat, scoring 756 runs in 19 matches, including two centuries and four half-centuries, at an average of 54, while Marneau, hard on his heels, has tallied 721 runs in 20 matches at an average of 45. Luan Vermeulen has added valuable support, scoring over 600 runs thus far.
The Dreyers have also led the way in the bowling department for the Wessies, snapping up a combined total of 56 wickets between them. On Saturday, they’ll be up against a formidable batting lineup, which includes Titans’ Khaya Majola representatives, Marcus Bakker and Wian Ruthven, and Waterkloof’s leading run-scorer, Divan Behrens.
All three have scored more than 1 000 runs in 2024, and they have shown that they are extremely dangerous, especially at home. Bakker has also captured more than 50 wickets with his nagging left-arm off-breaks. They’re a handy weapon in the Klofies’ arsenal.
In another clash that promises to keep spectators on the edge of their seats, Hoërskool Rustenburg hosts Hoërskool MaraisViljoen.
It’s hard to believe that the Rusties’ Callie Fryer is still only 16 years of age. The all-rounder has produced exceptional performances throughout the season, and has, more often than not, been at the forefront of his team’s victories.
Marais Viljoen possesses dangerous weapons of their own. They will look to their experienced captain, Jaden Govender, who was part of the side that finished second in the Noordvaal in 2023, to lead their challenge, while opening batsman Abdullah Tadwala should enjoy the batting-friendly wicket in Rustenburg.
Heidelberg Volkskool captain, Matthew Wentzel, will have a major role to play with the bat when Volkies welcome the dangerous Hoërskool Kempton Park. The Kempies have proved themselves to be a versatile side, and they will be full of confidence after qualifying for the Easterns’ Schools SA20 final.
Prestige College travels further north to tackle the Limpopo League champions, Hoërskool Pietersburg. The pitch is traditionally kind to batsmen, which will surely excite Lesedi Mabena and Thabang Kutumela, who shared an unbroken stand of almost 400 runsin a recent Schools SA20 match.
Steve Stolk, of South Africa, during the Men’s U19 Tri-Series, 5th Youth ODI match between South Africa and India at Old Edwardians CC on 6 January 2024. Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images.
The Titans will take a strong and experienced side down south, intent on dethroning the Lions as the champions of the Khaya Majola Week, which takes place in Cape Town from 16-20 December.
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The side from the north of Gauteng heads to the Mother City’s southern suburbs with four players who participated in the event last year.
Marcus Bakker, from Hoërskool Waterkloof, is one of those returning players and is joined in the Titans’ lineup by his schoolmate, the dangerous opening batsman, Wian Ruthven.
Bakker’s all-round abilities, especially his left-arm off-breaks, will play a key role in the Titans’ challenge.
Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool‘s Jorich van Schalkwyk is one of the other three returnees. He made the South African Schools’ side in 2023 and, after a prolific season, he’ll be a strong candidate to earn selection for the national side again.
Van Schalkwyk and Bakker turned out for the victorious Northern Champions at the Cubs Week in January and will also be eager for an opportunity to defend the franchise title. Joining Van Schalkwyk at the Khaya Majola Week will be his captain at Affies, Divan de Villiers.
Lethabo Phahlamohloka, the Cornwall Hill College captain, will be playing in a second Khaya Majola Week, while his Cornwall colleague, Mohammed Rasool, also cracked the nod from the selectors, giving the side from Centurion two representatives.
Prestige College, who recently scored 388 without losing a wicketin a Schools SA20 match, also provides two players, with Lethabo Kunene and Ditebogo Chauke included in the 13-player lineup.
It comes as no surprise that the only representatives from Die Hoërskool Menlopark and Hoërskool Centurion are the destructive duo of Steve Stolk and Charl Prinsloo.
Hoërskool Garsfontein‘s Nayleo Sanna will be one of the spearheads of the Titans’ attack after graduating from the u17 Regional week in 2023.
Tshepang Laka, from the Atteridgeville Hub, and the Laudium Hub‘s talented Mohammed Borabat, complete a strong, versatile, and talented squad.
The talented left-handed opening batsman Lhuan-dré Pretorius wasn’t available for selection, seemingly because of his duties for the senior franchise side in the CSA Four-Day Series, which will be on the go during the week in Cape Town.
TITANS SQUAD
Marcus Bakker (Waterkloof), Tshepang Laka (Atteridgeville Hub), Jorich van Schalkwyk (Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool), Lethabo Phahlamohloka (Cornwall Hill College), Wian Ruthven (Waterkloof), Mohammed Rasool (Cornwall Hill College), Steve Stolk (Menlopark), Divan de Villiers (Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool), Charl Prinsloo (Hoërskool Centurion), Mohammed Borabat (Laudium Hub), Lethabo Kunene (Prestige College), Nayleo Sanna (Garsfontein), Ditebogo Chauke (Prestige College).
Management: Head Coach – Thabang Khumalo Assistant Coach – Elmar Dorey Manager: Thabiso Makwela
Lesedi Mabena‘s astounding double-century helped power Prestige College to a breathtaking 388 without the loss of a wicket in their second outing of the Schools SA 20 competition.
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Striking at a rate of 254 runs per 100 balls, the Prestige College captain lit up his home field, blasting a memorable unbeaten 209 on a historic day for the side from Hammanskraal in their game against an overmatched Hoërskool Akasia on 9 October.
Mabena needed only 82 balls to reach his historic total. The opening batsman sent almost half the balls he faced to the boundary, hitting 30 fours and depositing eight deliveries clean over the boundary.
His opening partner, Thabang Kutumela, wasn’t about to let the skipper go wild by himself. Kutemala, too, batted wonderfully, scoring briskly to finish with 130 not out from just 59 deliveries. He also obliterated the Akasia bowlers, smashing 21 fours and four sixes.
Akasia faced a massive mountain in their run chase, but rain led to the target being revised to 105. Their problem was they needed to score those runs in only five overs.
Mabena, again, proved to be a problem as he snapped up two wickets for three runs in seven balls. Akasia was unable to mount a challenge and they were held to just 19/4 as Prestige claimed a spectacular 85-run victory on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern Method.
Their emphatic win came after Prestige College opened its account against a spirited Atteridgeville Hub side on 2 October with a narrow three-wicket victory.
A gutsy 37* from Atteridgeville’s Kholofelo Mogashwa helped the home side post what appeared to be a sub-standard 114/8 in their 20 overs. It might have looked a little light, but the victory target of 115 proved to be challenging.
A return of 3/26 from Boikanyo Makhubela had Prestige faltering on 80/5 at one stage. Mohau Mahlangu remained calm, however, and his 21, along with 18 from Thabang Kutumela, was enough to see the Hammanskraal school to the win with only five balls in hand.
Summarised scorecards
Prestige College 388/0 (Lesedi Mabena 209*, Thabang Kutumela 130*); Hoërskool Akasia 19/4 (Sbongiseni Gumede 13; Lesedi Mabena 2/3). Prestige College won by 85 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern Method.
Atteridgeville Hub 114/8 (Kholofelo Mogashwa 37*; Extras 35; Keamogetswe Semenya 2/12, Omphile Maredi 2/22); Prestige College 116/7 (Mohau Mahlangu 21; Boikanyo Makhubela 3/26). Prestige College won by three wickets.
A big partnership of 125 between St Benedict’s College‘s Cayden Thompson and Clayton Horlick was enough to see them through to the final of the Easterns’ leg of the Schools SA 20.
Bennies made light work of a 166-run target set by Hoërskool Marais Viljoen thanks to some exquisite batting from the pair.
Playing a curtain raiser to the CSA T20 knockout match between the Eastern Storm and AET Tuskers at Willowmoore Park on Saturday morning, St Benedict’s won the toss and elected to bowl first.
Taking early wickets was viewed as a key to beating Marais Viljoen, but the side from Bedfordview didn’t quite get off to the start they had hoped for.
They battled through the first six overs with the Alberton school’s openers, Abdullah Tadwalla and Tiaan Hall doing a good job. Tadwalla was the first to be sent packing, dismissed off the last ball of the sixth over for a well-played 41 from only 26 balls.
Hall departed soon after that for 17 runs and the Bennies’ bowlers went to work, claiming four wickets for 57 runs in a good effort through the middle overs, led by their opening bowler, Clayton Horlick. After 14 overs, the match was finely poised with Marais Viljoen on 115/5.
Jordann Lategan boosted his side’s batting effort as their overs run down, playing a little gem of an innings to contribute 33 from just 23 deliveries. His knock helped the Alberton boys to 165/6, which was a challenging target on a slow wicket.
Bennies, though, weren’t at all fazed by the pace of the pitch. Both Thompson and Horlick batted at strike rates exceeding 120 and delivered half-centuries to steer St Benedict’s successful pursuit of 166.
Thompson top scored with an unbeaten 63 from 50 deliveries, while Horlick blitzed 62 from 42 balls, launching three deliveries for six and another three for fours before he lost his wicket to Marco Hoffman (1/16) at the start of the 16th over. The damage had, however, already been done and Bennies rolled to an eight-wicket victory with seven balls to spare.
Summarised scorecard
Marais Viljoen 165/6 (Abdullah Tadwalla 41, Jordann Lategan 33*; Clayton Horlick 1/23); St Benedict’s College 166/2 (Cayden Thompson 63*, Clayton Horlick 62; Marco Hoffman 1/16).
Lesedi Mabena‘s astounding double-century helped power Prestige College to a breathtaking 388 without the loss of a wicket in their second outing of the Schools SA 20 competition.
A big partnership of 125 between St Benedict’s College‘s Cayden Thompson and Clayton Horlick was enough to see them through to the final of the Easterns’ leg of the Schools SA 20.