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St. Dominic’s College vs Hoërskool Bethlehem Voortrekker

On Saturday morning, playing at home, in Welkom, St Dominic’s College won the toss and opted to field first in their match against Hoërskool Bethlehem Voortrekker.

The fixture was supposed to be a 50-over match, but it ended up resembling a T20 as the bowlers seized the day and skittled the opposing batsmen in double quick time.

Onalenna Molale led the hosts’ bowling attack, knocking over 5/21 in six overs, while Mohammed Al Haddad also bowled six overs and claimed 3/31.

Voortrekker was deep in the mire on 19/6, but Jordan Buitendag and Thys Parsons, in at seven and eight respectively, mustered a 33-run seventh wicket partnership to take their side to 52/7. They hit two fours each, with the former tallying 17 runs off 20 balls, while the latter added 13 in a short nine-ball stay.

After only 16.2 overs, the visitors were bowled out for 85.

Chasing an unexceptional total for victory, St Dominic’s stumbled. Mohammed Al Haddad, who entered the fray at the fall of the first wicket, top-scored with 20 off 27, and led all players with his three fours. Around him, though, his teammates were knocked over like nine pins.

Thys Parsons bagged the best bowling figures of the match in only two overs, claiming 3/3, while Rodney Turner sent down eight overs and picked up 3/19.

Vlag Janse van Rensburg and Jordan Buitendag both chipped in with two wickets apiece as St Dominic’s was limited to only 65 all out, leaving Bethlehem Voortrekker with a 20-run victory.

Hoërskool Witteberg vs Hoërskool Fichardtpark

Playing at home on Saturday, Hoërskool Witteberg also chose to field after they won the toss against Hoërskool Fichardtpark. Thanks to the dominance exerted by each side’s fielders and bowlers, the match proved to be another short-lived 50-over bout.

Batting at three, captain Diederik de Vos top-scored for Fichies, hammering three fours in his 19 off 25 balls, but runs were hard to come by. Opener Damian Mulder, with 13, was the Bloemfontein school’s second-highest scorer.

Xander Fourie shone for Witteberg, sending three batsmen packing for 18 runs from his six overs. Anru Erasmus chipped in with 2/15 from three, Kyle Nel claimed a tidy 2/12 from four, and WJ Geldenhuis wrapped up the Fichardtpark innings with his 2/10 in 4.1 overs.

After only 20.1 overs, Fichardtpark was all out for 73.

In response, Witteberg initially struggled to get their run chase going. In the sixth over, they wobbled on 15/3. Enter Dumisani Johnson.

He punched two fours and smashed a six in an unbeaten 21 from 35 deliveries to guide the Bethlehem side to victory.

It took them 20.2 overs to post 74/5, thus giving them a five-wicket winning margin.

Hoërskool Jim Fouché vs Hoërskool Trio (Kroonstad)

In yet another short-lived 50-over battle on Saturday in the Free State, Hoërskool Jim Fouché (JF) also chose the field first option against Hoërskool Trio. That decision paid off.

Johan van Dyk was the pick of the hosts’ bowlers, cleaning out 4/31 in six overs, while Jean van Schalkwyk and Cobus Wilken chipped in with 2/19 and 2/1 respectively as Trio’s batsmen battled at the crease.

Last weekend, against Welkom Gimnasium, Wilken made history when he scored 192 off 128 balls, slamming a whopping 20 fours and seven sixes. With that supreme innings, he now holds the record for the highest individual score by a Jim Fouché batsman across all formats.

Caleb Butler, batting at seven, was one of only three Trio batsmen to reach double figures, with his 21 proving to be their highest score. Their innings was over after 20.1 overs, with the Kroonstad locals all out for 80.

Jim Fouché, counter to the narrative of the region’s other matches, looked comfortable out in the middle. They were, however, subjected to a scare before settling in, with both of their openers dismissed within the first seven balls of their innings, which left JF on 3/2.

Franco de Necker, batting at four, top-scored with an unbeaten 43 off 38, hitting four fours and a six, while Eckard Meyer, who preceded him to the crease, contributed 15 runs to their 57-run third wicket partnership.

Wilken arrived after Meyer’s departure, and quickly slashed three fours in an undefeated 15 off eight deliveries to help seal a seven-wicket win.

Summarised Scorecards

Hoërskool Bethlehem Voortrekker 85/10 (Extras 21; Onalenna Molale 5/21, Mohammed Al Haddad 3/31); St. Dominic’s College 65/10 (Mohammed Al Haddad 20; Thys Parsons 3/3, Rodney Turner 3/19, Vlag Janse van Rensburg 2/16, Jordan Buitendag 2/22). Bethlehem Voortrekker won by 20 runs.

Hoërskool Fichardtpark 73/10 (Xander Fourie 3/18, WJ Geldenhuis 2/10, Kyle Nel 2/12, Anru Erasmus 2/15); Hoërskool Witteberg 74/5 (Dumisani Johnson 21*; Juan Mostert 2/12, Dylan Gerener 2/23). Witteberg won by five wickets.

Hoërskool Trio (Kroonstad) 80/10 (Caleb Butler 21; Johan van Dyk 4/31, Cobus Wilken 2/1, Jean van Schalkwyk 2/19); Hoërskool Jim Fouché 81/3 (Franco de Necker 43*; DJ van Niekerk 2/22). Jim Fouché won by seven wickets.

Just across the road from Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool, where Affies battled their way to a thrilling seven-run win over St David’s Marist Inanda on Saturday, another gripping contest between two traditional powerhouses of South African schoolboy cricket unfolded.

In a nail-biting game, Grey College claimed a three-wicket victory over Pretoria Boys High School on Boys High’s Hofmeyr Oval.

The clash was the opening fixture of a two-match tour for the Bloemfontein school, ahead of a visit to the André van der Walt Oval on Sunday to face an in-form Hoërskool Waterkloof.

The visitors won the toss and elected to send their hosts in, a decision that paid immediate dividends as Grey snapped up three early wickets inside the opening six overs.

It marked the beginning of a memorable day with the ball for Michael Sacks. Responsible for two of the early breakthroughs, the Grey College spearhead went on to claim a further three wickets, leaving him with the outstanding and match-defining figures of 5/29 from 6.3 overs.

He was well supported by the rest of the attack, with wickets shared evenly across the unit, as Pretoria Boys High was bowled out for 200. Timothy Gordon anchored the home team’s innings, top-scoring with a composed 59.

The conditions were challenging. In the face of disciplined bowling, however, Grey College’s Christian Kind and Peter le Roux absorbed the early pressure superbly, with their 93-run opening stand providing the foundation for a successful run chase.

Kind was the first to depart, bowled by Steyn Botha for a well-compiled 46. Le Roux followed for 39, also falling to Botha, who returned 3/43.

With the openers dismissed, Botha, with strong support from Ruan Coetzee (2/41), threatened to derail Grey’s pursuit. When the visitors slipped to 153/6, the result was very much up for grabs. However, River Scott (36) and Bergh Vorster (25*) calmly steered the innings back on track and took Grey College to victory.

Vorster, in particular, demonstrated outstanding composure, and he was there at the end when a three-wicket win was secured in the 45th over.

Summarised scorecard

Pretoria Boys High 200 (Timothy Gordon 59, Louis Kruyshaar 28, Victor Loux 26, Tshepang Baloyi 24; Michael Sacks 5/29); Grey College 201/7 (Christian Kind 46, Peter Le Roux 39, River Scott 36, Daniel Hattingh 27, Bergh Vorster 25*; Steyn Botha 3/43, Ruan Coetzee 2/41). Grey College won by three wickets. 

Josh Wilkie scored a classy half-century to set Selborne College up for a 21-run win over Hudson Park in their declaration match at Selborne, in East London, on Saturday.

Selborne headed into the match on the back of a dominant nine-wicket win over Cambridge in a T20 match on Thursday. In that home ground encounter, they skittled Cambridge for only 63 runs in 17 overs before taking a mere 8.4 overs to get to 64/1.

Against Hudson Park, Selborne batted first. They tallied 194 all out in their 44 overs and were then made to work hard for victory, with their bowling attack pulling together well to dismiss Hudson for 173 runs in 68.5 overs.

Wilkie top-scored for Selborne with an assured 50 from 55 balls. His 85-run opening partnership with Thomas Lyon, who contributed 48, provided a firm platform for the home side’s innings. Unfortunately for the openers, the rest of their batting lineup failed to capitalise on that foundation. Liam Bekker was a big reason for that.

After Wilkie and Lyon were dismissed, Selborne advanced in fits and starts as Bekker knocked over 5/50 from 18 overs. Mitchell Myerscough, with 3/46 from nine, and Lukhanyo Hlatuka, with 2/59 from 10, shared the other five wickets to go down.

Myerscough was to the fore again in Hudson Park’s reply, digging in his heels with a patient 74 from 157 balls. Unfortunately, for the all-rounder, support from his teammates was sparse. Likho Gidi, with whom he shared a 72-run fifth-wicket partnership, was the only other batsman to make it beyond the teens, tallying a steady 33 from 45 balls.

Matthew Hendry kept Hudson under heavy pressure, giving away only 26 runs in 16 overs while also picking up two wickets.

Muhammed Lulat and Lwando Gwaza also added two wickets each. Lulat finished 2/22 from 11 overs, while Gwaza’s return was 2/38 from eight.

Kingswood vs Framesby

Kingswood College pulled together as a team to register a 28-run win over Hoërskool Framesby when they crossed swords in a 50-over contest on City Lords, at Kingswood, on Saturday.

The hosts won the toss, chose to bat, and totalled 192 all out in 42.1 overs before their bowlers bowled out Framesby for 165 in 45 overs.

Kingswood entered the match buoyed by their 81-run win over Framesby in a T20 match on Friday evening. In that game, Chad Roodt (33) and Dan Jakins (33) led the way with the bat as the hosts put 160/6 on the board. Their bowling attack then delivered a disciplined performance to bowl out Framesby for only 79 runs from 17.1 overs.

On Saturday, though, Kingswood found themselves in early trouble on 32/2 after losing David Loudon and Jakins in the seventh and 11th overs. They needed a partnership to get them back on course.

Chris Zimmerman duly delivered, joining forces with Simon Sheard (34) for a 72-run third-wicket stand. Zimmerman, who top-scored for Kingswood with 49 from 68 deliveries, followed that up with a 36-run fourth-wicket partnership with Roodt. Once those stands ended, Kingswood lost wickets at regular intervals as they meandered their way to 192 all out.

Durandt Rootman, in at the fall of the first wicket in the fourth over, was left to wage a lone battle when Framesby replied. He scored a composed 54 from 107 balls and occupied the crease until the 35th over. He and Miles Feltham, who chipped in with 24, combined for the visitors’ highest partnership of 81 for the third wicket.

Ruan Matthee (12) and Keagan Wium (18*) mounted a lower-order fightback with a 24-run final wicket partnership, but it wasn’t enough to see Framesby home.

Simon Sheard was the pick of the Kingswood bowlers, returning 4/42 runs from 10 overs. David Loudon supported him well with 3/23 from 10, while Sinawo Bukula bagged 2/35 runs in eight.

Summarised Scorecards

Selborne 194/10 (Josh Wilkie 50, Thomas Lyon 48; Liam Bekker 5/50, Mitchell Myerscough 3/46). Hudson Park 173/10 (Mitchell Myerscough 74, Likho Gidi 33; Muhammed Lulat 2/22, Matthew Hendry 2/26, Lwando Gwaza 2/38). Selborne won by 21 runs.

Kingswood 192/10 (Chris Zimmerman 49, Simon Sheard 34; Corné Pieterse 3/32, Dandré Henwick 2/20). Framesby 165/10 (Durandt Rootman 54, Miles Feltham 24; Simon Sheard 4/42, David Loudon 3/23). Kingswood won by 27 runs.

Not even a century from Sohail Seonath was enough for St David’s Marist Inanda to halt Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool‘s (Affies) imperious run of form and victories.

The Pretoria school was pushed all the way, but they eventually secured a gripping seven-run win after 100 overs in Pretoria on Saturday.

It was a tough test for the Johannesburg side, taking on a team that is arguably, alongside Hoërskool Waterkloof,  the capital city’s premier cricketing outfit at present.

When the coin flip went their way, Affies elected to bat. At first, that decision appeared questionable, with the hosts losing AJ Morkel (20) and Dylan Stander (13) inside the opening 10 overs to St David’s new-ball bowler Christopher Emslie.

Yet sustained team success is often underpinned by contributions coming from multiple sources, especially when the chips are down, and that proved to be the case for Affies, whose lower order rose to the occasion.

Dawie Barnard, batting at eight, top-scored with a match-defining 60, while Zian Labuschagne weighed in with a composed and vital 34. Their crucial 69-run partnership swung the momentum in the hosts’ favour.

Emslie’s early heroics were later overshadowed by an outstanding spell from Kairiv Koobair, whose 3/37 dismantled the talented Affies’ middle order almost single-handedly.

In the St David’s reply, Seonath set about the pursuit of 225 with his customary composure. He faced 133 deliveries and stroked eight fours and three sixes in an innings that was not only a testament to his stroke play but also to his exceptional running between the wickets.

It took Affies almost the visiting side’s entire innings to end Seonath’s resistance. At last, though, in the 49th over, he was dismissed for a superb 102 with St David’s on 210. They went on to finish on 217/9.

The prized wicket of Senoath was a fitting reward for Labuschagne, who capped off a fine all-round performance by delivering his full quota of 10 overs and returning 2/53. It was, however, Christian Linde who had the final say, with his incisive spell of 2/22 sealing a tense and hard-fought victory for the home side.

Summarised scorecard

Affies 224/9 (Dawie Barnard 60, Zian Labuschagne 34, Christian Linde 23, AJ Morkel 20; Kairiv Koobair 3/37, Christopher Emslie 2/37, Roberto Mariano 2/38); St David’s Marist Inanda 217/9 (Sohail Seonath 102, Jonah Gruskin 39, Extras 22; Christian Linde 2/22, Zian Labuschagne 2/53). Affies won by seven runs. 

Bishops Diocesan College vs Paarl Boys’ High

Playing in a 65-overs-a-side declaration format match on the Frank Reid Oval, Bishops Diocesan College won the toss and decided to bat first against Paarl Boys’ High on Saturday morning.

There’s no doubt that the Diocesan College outfit was looking for a measure of revenge after last weekend’s action, when Boishaai defeated the 2025 national champion in the semi-final of the Western Cape Switch Schools SA20 Volume Two, before going on to win the regional title.

The hosts batted consistently, with seven of their first eight batsmen making it into the twenties. The exception was Harry Morgan, who top-scored with 45 runs off 35 balls, whacking two fours and four sixes along the way.

Aden Batt, the Boys’ High captain, led from the front as usual, snaring 4/70 with his left-arm spin after an arduous 17.4 overs.

Christo Muller was effective in his five overs, claiming 2/23, as Bishops posted 238 all out after 49.4 overs.

The Boishaai top order was fairly effective in the chase. Opener Neil Louw top-scored with the match’s only half-century, cracking six fours in an otherwise conservative 54 off 96 balls. His fellow opener, Reese Peterson, contributed 21 to an opening stand of 61 runs.

Christo Muller, who came in at three, added a solid 27 off 40 balls, and the visitors, on 122/3, appeared to be in good shape. The Bishops’ bowlers, though, were eager to have their say.

Thaafier Japhta challenged the batsmen throughout his 16 overs, which brought him 3/45, while Harry Morgan matched that return, with his 3/45 coming from 11.3 overs.

After 58.3 overs, Paarl Boys’ High was bowled out for 186, leaving Bishops the winners by 52 runs, and giving them the satisfaction of quickly reversing the setback they had suffered the previous weekend at Boishaai’s hands.

Rondebosch Boys’ High vs Paarl Gimnasium

Lady luck favoured Paarl Gimnasium at the toss in their 50-over bout against Rondebosch Boys’ High in Cape Town, on Saturday. They found the going tough against a tight ‘Bosch bowling attack, however.

Opener Wian Munnik scored 22 runs, while his fellow opener, Franco Boonzaaier, struck four fours in his measured 48 off 103 deliveries.

Derrick Groenewald, the fifth man to the crease, was the third and final Gimmies‘ batsman to go beyond 20, adding a steady 31 off 51.

Timothy Short, the Rondebosch left-arm off-spinner, was in peak form. He captured a commanding 6/23 in nine overs, including three wickets in his final over, which reduced Paarl Gim from 144/7 after 43 overs to 145 all out after 44.

The Rondebosch run chase didn’t start smoothly, with three of their top five being dispatched for single-digit scores. Their bowling hero, Timothy Short, with 20 off 30, and Tyler Heyns, with 37 off 67, provided the innings with some substance.

However, the southern suburbs side found themselves staring down the barrel on 102/8. Matthew Brooks, at six, stood his ground, though. He held the innings together and played well with the tail, on his way to an unbeaten 36 off 64 balls, with four fours, which guided ‘Bosch to 150/9 after 45 overs and a nail-biting win by just one wicket.

Wian Munnik and De Waal Vivier came ever so close to seeing the visitors to victory, claiming 3/26 from 10 overs, and 3/31 from nine, respectively.

Summarised Scorecards

Bishops Diocesan College 238/10 (Harry Morgan 45, Waco Bassick 29, Litha Mbiko 26, Alex Vintcent 25, Luc Dicey 24, Cameron Macbeth 24, Thaafier Japhta 23, Ibraheem Taliep 23; Aden Batt 4/70, Christo Muller 2/23); Paarl Boys’ High 186/10 (Neil Louw 54, Christo Muller 27, Ra-eez Isaacs 21, Reese Petersen 21; Thaafier Japhta 3/45, Harry Morgan 3/45, Waco Bassick 2/22). Bishops won by 52 runs.

Paarl Gimnasium 146/10 (Franco Boonzaaier 48, De Waal Vivier 31, Wian Munnik 22; Timothy Short 6/23, Alex du Plessis 2/8); Rondebosch Boys’ High 150/9 (Tyler Heyns 37, Matthew Brooks 36*, Extras 21, Timothy Short 20; Wian Munnik 3/26, De Waal Vivier 3/31). Rondebosch Boys’ High won by one wicket. 

Johan Feuth played a starring role in another commanding victory for Hoërskool Waterkloof in the Finsbury League‘s A Section on Saturday, as Klofies dismantled Hoërskool Rustenburg by 100 runs in Rustenburg.

Feuth was mesmerising during a 60-ball unbeaten innings that brought him a century as Waterkloof posted a challenging 265/5 from their 50 overs.

Batting at six, he injected momentum into the visitors’ innings, striking at a rate of 166 and plundering eight sixes and six fours on his way to an imperious 100 not out.

His decisive 142-run partnership with captain Franco Schmidt (49) both revived and anchored the Waterkloof innings.

Berto Grobler was the standout bowler for the home side, with his 3/54 from eight overs being just reward for the sustained pressure he generated.

In reply, Rusties‘ captain Thian Labuschagne fought valiantly, compiling a well-crafted 67. However, with little support around him and incisive spells from AJ de Villiers (2/22) and Rivan Booysen (2/29), the resistance crumbled as the defending sectional champions cruised to a comprehensive bonus-point victory.

Hoërskool Kempton Park, with a dramatic nine-wicket bonus-point triumph over Hoërskool Eldoraigne, blew the race for a place in the final on 21 February wide open. Their chances of making it to the title game were further aided by Potchefstroom Volkskool, who brought Die Hoërskool Menlopark‘s two-match winning streak to an end in Potchefstroom.

Kempies produced a ruthless bowling display, with Willem van den Berg and Stian van Breda skittling the visiting Eldos for a paltry 38. Van den Berg led the charge with an outstanding return of 4/13, while Van Breda captured 3/5. The pressure of losing seven wickets for 18 runs proved far too much for the visitors, who quickly folded.

Chasing just 39 for victory, Sheldon Kruger made light work of the task, striking an unbeaten 20 to seal a big win for Kempton Park on home soil.

The Duckworth-Lewis-Stern Method was called upon in Volkies‘ seven-wicket victory over Menlopark. Zander Nel, with 4/14, and Olefa Padi, with 3/42, led their efforts in the field, setting up their team for a comfortable run pursuit after sending Parkies packing for a modest 167.

With inclement weather closing in, Andries Venter ensured there were no late hiccups, scoring a composed 49 from 64 deliveries and, with good support from AW van der Merwe, who contributed 38, Potch Volkskool passed the DLS target before play was halted.

The timing of the victory could scarcely have been better for the Potchefstroom school, with just two rounds remaining before the final between the section’s top two.

Summarised scorecards

Hoërskool Waterkloof 265/5 (Johan Feuth 100*, Wian du Plessis 53, Franco Schmidt 49, AJ de Villiers 29; Berto Grobler 3/54); Hoërskool Rustenburg 165 (Thian Labuschagne 67, Rejean van de Venter 29; AJ de Villiers 2/22, Rivan Booysen 2/29). Waterkloof won by 100 runs. 

Die Hoërskool Menlopark 167 (Juan Lombaard 42, Jacques de Villiers 38, André Kruyshaar 20; Zander Nel 4/14, Olefa Padi 3/42, Johandré Jacobs 2/19); Potchefstroom Volkskool 85/3 (Andries Venter 49, AW van der Merwe 23; Wihan Spanneberg 1/1). Potchefstroom Volkskool won by seven wickets (DLS method). 

Hoërskool Eldoraigne 38 (Ruan Steyn 9; Willem van den Berg 4/13, Stian van Breda 3/5, Deon Lange 2/1); Hoërskool Kempton Park 39/1 (Sheldon Kruger 20*; Rowan McLaren 1/11). Hoërskool Kempton Park won by nine wickets. 

Connor van der Walt scored a sensational century to set St John’s College up for an emphatic 176-run win over St Benedict’s College in their 50-over match on the Mitchell Oval at St John’s on Saturday. It was the Blues’ fifth win in as many completed games.

Nkosana Sibiya, the St John’s captain, won the toss and elected to bat first. Behind Van der Walt’s superb knock, they scored 283 runs in 48.1 overs.

That proved to be beyond the visitors, who mustered only 107/9, with Chris Burnham not batting after picking up an injury while bowling.

Sibiya gave the hosts a brisk start with a brilliant 32-ball 57, and the skipper shared a 68-run opening stand with Darshik Lutchman, who went on to make 33.

The visitors, though, found their radar with the ball and turned one wicket into two, adding Herman Basson‘s dismissal 15 balls later.  Lutchman and Joshua Hall (22) tried to rebuild but added only 38 runs for the third wicket.

The Blues regained control of the innings when Van der Walt walked out to bat in the 25th over. The middle-order batsman, then, spent 21.5 overs in the middle and compiled a confident 101 from 97 balls to take the game away from Bennies.

When the visitors batted, Bryn Gilmour prevented them from finding a foothold, capturing 3/33 in nine overs.

Juan de Villiers and Tapiwa Chikwava, who each took a brace of wickets, complemented his efforts. Chikwava was close to being unplayable and conceded 15 runs in 7.4 overs for his two wickets. De Villiers went for 35 from his eight.

Olly Brown was the top scorer for St Benedict’s with an unbeaten 38 runs from 35 balls. Matthew Hickman‘s 18 was their next-best contribution. They were joined in double figures by Matthew Elphick, Keegan Greensmith, and Tom McArthur.

KES vs Jeppe

On the John Hurry Oval, Troy Gordon scored a brilliant century to help King Edward VII (KES) stamp their authority on their third showdown with Jeppe in recent weeks, resulting in a comfortable 79-run win for the home side.

The Reds won the toss, chose to bat first, and scored an insurmountable 268/7 before they bundled Jeppe out for 189 runs in 47 overs.

The Black Caps, though, drew first blood when Keagan Cockburn dismissed Matthew Bromley in the second over to leave KES on 2/1. That wicket was a blessing in disguise for KES because Bromley’s exit created room for Gordon to occupy the crease. The number three batsman gladly accepted the invitation and stayed there for the next 42 overs. During that time, he struck seven fours and three sixes on his way to a run-a-ball 106.

Gordon also shared a match-winning 176-run third-wicket partnership with Abdullah Mohammed, who was the foil to Gordon’s attacking stroke play, weighing in with a steady 89 runs from 126 deliveries.

Keagan Cockburn, who dismissed KES’s openers, Urav Mukhija (20) and Bromley (1), came back into the attack at the death and added another three wickets to his tally to finish with 5/43 from 10 overs, which was an outstanding return, especially in the context of the big KES total. Unfortunately, for Cockburn, his five-for wasn’t enough.

In the Jeppe reply, Lincoln Casais, with 56, and Goolam Ahmed, with 54, played their part to keep Jeppe in the contest. Their efforts were in vain, however, as they lacked further support from their teammates. Their 90-run fifth-wicket partnership was the best of a Jeppe innings that was characterised by wickets falling in bunches.

Connor Kuijers was KES’s most successful bowler, snapping up 3/30 from 10 overs, while Troy Gordon demonstrated his all-round game by taking 2/20 in six overs.

Tyler Cloete and Luke Clark also took two wickets each, with Clark returning 2/21 in six, and Cloete claiming 2/40 from 10.

St Stithians College vs St Alban’s College

St Stithians College, meanwhile, made good use of their knowledge of the Dlamini Oval to score a convincing five-wicket win over St Alban’s College.

A trio of bowlers ensured Saints would face a comfortable run chase after they helped to dismiss the visitors for only 111. Nqaba Matunda knocked over 4/37, Tendai Kadyamadare nabbed 3/24, and Zaakir Hanslo chipped in with 3/25 to set up their side for victory.

Tristan Naidoo, with 22, and Ethan Nel, with 21, were the best of the visitors’ batsmen.

When Saints batted, an unbeaten 38 from Thomas Collins and 25 from Nicholas Bayly took their side to a comfortable home win.

Summarised Scorecards

St John’s 283/10 (Connor van der Walt 101, Nkosana Sibiya 57; Alex Johnston 4/67, Tlotiso Mhlanga 3/39). St Benedict’s 107/9 (Olly Brown 38*, Matthew Hickman 18; Bryn Gilmore 3/33, Tapiwa Chikwava 2/15, Juan de Villiers 2/35). St John’s won by 176 runs.

King Edward VII 268/7 (Troy Gordon 106, Abdullah Mohammed 89; Keagan Cockburn 5/43, Lincoln Casais 1/4). Jeppe 189/10 (Lincoln Casais 56, Goolam Ahmed 54; Connor Kuijers 3/30, Troy Gordon 2/20). King Edward won by 79 runs.

St Alban’s 111/10 (Tristan Naidoo 22, Ethan Nel 21; Nqaba Matunda 4/37, Tendai Kadyamadare 3/24, Zaakir Hanslo 3/25). St Stithians 112/5 (Thomas Collins 38*, Nicholas Bayly 25; Jesse Eckard 2/29, Tiashin Naidoo 2/24). St Stithians won by five wickets.

Grey High School and St Andrew’s College made history on Saturday, day three of the Grey High Water Polo Tournament, by securing their places in the final of the inaugural event in Gqeberha.

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They were the only unbeaten teams left in the tournament after dominating the field from the get-go.

Drawn in Pool A, St Andrew’s breezed through their pool assignments. In their final group match, they thumped Pearson High 12-1. Grey, meanwhile, put 14 goals past Stirling High to set up a quarterfinal clash with Hudson Park.

With semi-final places on the line, the duo upped the ante. St Andrew’s executed their job proficiently against Paarl Boys’ High, beating the Western Cape side 9-2, while Hudson was on the receiving end of a hefty 2-16 loss to Grey.

In the other quarterfinals, Woodridge College showed fight and grit to outplay Glenwood House 5-1 before an Adam Brown-inspired Reddam House Constantia side brushed off Pearson High 7-3.

Those results set the stage for interesting semifinals, with the four qualifiers having stood out as the strongest quartet in the tournament.

Grey High, with their schoolmates in the stands to support them, was confident, and coach Ridge Snelling‘s team delivered another magnificent performance.

They made their intentions clear early on, rocketing into a 6-0 lead after the first chukka. The competition was even in the second quarter, with both Grey and Woodridge netting three times, leaving the home side 8-3 clear at halftime.

The second half, though, was all about Grey, and Dane Paterson was at the forefront of their attack. They outscored Woodridge by a further five goals to two on their way to a 13-5 victory.

St Andrew’s, meanwhile, was made to work harder for their 13-10 win over Reddam House in the second semi.

It was a tussle throughout, and both sides had to be strong defensively early in the game. St Andrew’s held a slender 7-5 lead at the break, but Reddam came out firing in the second half.

They scored five times, and St Andrew’s netted four goals to make it 11-10 to the Makhanda school. It went down to the final chukka where late goals from Murray Copeland and Luke Parker sealed the win for College.

The final day’s action kicks off with a meeting between Stirling and the Grey Invitational team at 07:00.

Day 3 Results 

St Andrew’s 12-1 Pearson High
Grey High 14-2 Stirling High
Glenwood House 9-4 Paarl Boys’ High
Woodridge 11-3 Grey Invitational

Playoffs

St Andrew’s 9-2 Paarl Boys’ High (Quarterfinal 1)
Grey High 16-2 Hudson (Quarterfinal 2)
Woodridge 5-1 Glenwood (Quarterfinal 3)
Reddam House 7-3 Pearson (Quarterfinal 4)
Grey High 13-5 Woodridge (Semifinal 1)
St Andrew’s 13-10 Reddam House (Semifinal 2)

Day 4 Fixtures

07:00 – Grey Invitational vs Stirling High (9th/10th)
08:00 – Hudson Park vs Paarl Boys’ High (7th/8th)
09:00 – Pearson High vs Glenwood House (5th/6th)
10:00 – Woodridge College vs Reddam House (3rd/4th)
11:00 – Grey High vs St Andrew’s (Final)
12:00 – Prize giving

The hosts, Grey High School, and their Eastern Cape rivals, St Andrew’s College, maintained their unbeaten runs on day two of the Grey High School Water Polo Tournament in Gqeberha on Friday.

After an absorbing opening day, both upped the ante, played some smart ‘polo, and pulled clear from the chasing pack.

St Andrew’s had just one fixture on the day against a tough Woodridge College side in which coach Grant Mackenzie‘s boys were pushed to their limits. They responded with a resilient showing to secure a hard-fought 6-4 victory.

Senior players. Tiago Williams, Murray Copeland, Adam Ball, and Liam Nurse all had good run-outs to lead the Makhanda school to another win. Skipper and goalkeeper, Jacques Du Toit, came through in the clutch numerous times, pulling off good saves to keep his side in front.

While Woodridge lost against St Andrew’s, they picked up points later in the day, beating Hudson Park 11-4.

Pearson High was also on the money against Hudson Park, with their victory coming by a 9-4 margin. That left them in second place in their group after Friday’s action, based on goal difference.

While Hudson suffered two defeats, they also bagged their first win at the tournament after edging the Grey Invitational side 12-9.

In Pool B, it’s a battle between Reddam House Constantia and Glenwood House for second place after both went down 8-10 to Grey on day two, which left the home side sitting comfortably atop the pool.

Coach Ridge Snelling‘s troops didn’t have it easy and had to dig deep in both matches, but they came through with the desired wins.

Dane Paterson, who leads the top goal scorer chart with 13 goals, was influential in both outings along with Christian Horne, Caleb Levey, James De Lange, and shot stopper Gavin Peinke.

Reddam picked up two wins over Stirling High and Paarl Boys’ High, while Glenwood House held off Stirling 8-6.

Their talisman, Luca Whitehead, was on the scoresheet. He’s a key driver in his side’s quest for glory.

Day three’s action kicks off with a Pool A clash between Pearson High and St Andrew’s.

After the completion of the group stage matches, the competition heads into the quarterfinals. The day concludes with the two semifinals.

Day 2 Results

Pool A

Woodridge College 11-4 Hudson Park
Hudson Park 5-9 Pearson High
St Andrew’s College 6-4 Woodridge College
Hudson Park 12-9 Grey Invitational

Pool B

Stirling High 0-11 Reddam Constantia
Grey High 10-8 Glenwood House
Paarl Boys’ High 5-10 Reddam Constantia
Glenwood House 8-6 Stirling High
Reddam House 8-10 Grey High

Day 3 Fixtures

08:00 – Pearson High vs St Andrew’s
09:00 – Grey High vs Stirling High
10:00 – Glenwood House vs Paarl Boys’ High
11:00 – Woodridge vs Grey Invitational
14:00 – QF 1
15:00 – QF 2
16:00 – QF 3
17:00 – QF 4
18:00 – Semifinal 1
19:00 – Semifinal 2

In a Welkom derby, Welkom Gimnasium chose to field first when they won the toss in their limited-overs match at Hoërskool Goudveld on Friday morning. Good call!

From the start, the Gim bowling attack enjoyed frequent success. Luhan Botha impressed with a tidy 2/9 in five overs, while Dian Erasmus cleaned out 2/15 in a four-over spell. Henru Heiberg chipped in with 2/21 in six overs.

Goudveld was in big trouble early on, stumbling to 34/5 after 10.5 overs. Then, at last, they halted Welkom Gim’s onslaught for a while when Louw Fouché and Kamohelo Moloke combined for a 44-run sixth-wicket partnership.

Fouché’s innings was a study in patience. He arrived at the crease after the fall of the first wicket and stuck around for the rest of the innings for an undefeated 42 runs off 81 balls. Moloke was the only other Goudveld batsman to reach double digits, adding 10 runs to the home team’s tally.

The hosts’ innings, though, lasted only 29.5 overs and finished with Goudveld all out for 88.

Faced with a modest target for victory, Gim found themselves in a spot of bother when their reply slipped to 30/3 after 7.5 overs.

In came Aiden Hewitt at five, though, to save the visitors’ innings. Taking charge, he bashed two fours and three sixes and led the way with a rapid and unbeaten 41 off 26 deliveries to hurry Welkom Gimnasium to 93/4 after only 14.5 overs, and with that victory by six wickets.

Edrich du Plessis claimed 2/19 and Vian Boardman 2/28, but Hewitt’s fifth-wicket partnership of 45 runs with Carl van Vuuren, whose contribution was only one from six balls, powered the visitors to a convincing win.

Summarised Scorecards

Hoërskool Goudveld 88/10 (Louw Fouché 42*; Luhan Botha 2/9, Dian Erasmus 2/15, Henru Heiberg 2/21); Welkom Gimnasium 93/4 (Aiden Hewitt 41*; Edrich du Plessis 2/19, Vian Boardman 2/28). Welkom Gimnasium won the match by six wickets.