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Wednesday’s opening round of W100 fixtures in the Dolphins‘ region delivered exciting and unpredictable action-packed cricket.

Clifton College pulled off a nail-biting win over the five-time defending champion, Westville Boys’ High, Northwood reversed their weekend’s loss to Glenwood, and Durban High School (DHS) bounced back from a defeat at Michaelhouse to down Kearsney College.

Westville Boys’ High vs Clifton College

On Saturday, Clifton had appeared undercooked in a loss to Hilton College, who had captured the KZN Switch Schools SA20 crown the previous day after an unbeaten run. On Wednesday, Clifton shook off that sobering defeat in style.

Playing away from home against the team Hilton beat in the Schools SA20 final, Clifton’s captain Shiraz Perumal made an interesting decision to bowl first. Good call! His side picked up two early wickets to have Westville in early trouble on 11/2.

Luca Roddan and Tristin Delvin got the home team on track, though, with a 35-run partnership from 23 balls, before Eli van Jaarsveld got rid of Roddan for 16, which included two sixes. Delvin followed for 25, Van Jaarsveld’s second victim.

Unfortunately, for Clifton, those two wickets brought Kai Cotton and Liam de Villiers together, and they took it to the visitors’ attack, adding 64 runs in only 34 deliveries before Perumal bowled De Villiers for 31 from 19.

Cotton and Aarin Rasmussen continued to go after the Clifton bowlers and, by the end of their 100 balls, the Griffins had hustled along to a compelling 168/5, with the duo tacking on 44 from 29 balls.

Cotton was Westville’s mainstay, smashing two sixes and six fours in an action-packed 31-ball stay that brought him 54 not out. Rasmussen finished with an unbeaten 20 from 16.

Van Jaarsveld, with 2/23 from 15 balls, did well, while Perumal was the most economical of the Clifton bowlers, returning 1/21 from his 20 deliveries.

Faced with a challenging run chase, Clifton had to go hard from the first ball, but it cost them two batsmen for single-figure scores. That, however, resulted in opener, Daniyaal Klinck, being joined by Hayden Drieselmann, and they set about the Westville attack with vigour, with Drieselmann, especially, producing fireworks.

Klinck stuck around and helped to advance the total to 55 before he became the third man out, having scored 36 from 26 balls, with three fours and two sixes.

Enter Shiraz Perumal. A star bowler for the 1st XI over the past two seasons, he has been tasked with taking on a greater role with his batting in 2026, and he showed that he is fully capable of meeting that challenge with a match-winning knock.

He and Drieselmann devastated the Westville bowlers with an all-out attack that brought them a partnership of 104 from just 42 deliveries.

With 16 balls left in the innings, the hosts, at last, broke the stand, with Drieselmann caught behind off Kyle McGough for 27 from 24 balls, five of which he launched for six. None went for four.

In the next seven balls, Clifton added only five runs. Then, Daniel Rea was run out for three, which brought Veer Ramouthar to the crease. Just two more runs were added before Perumal lost his wicket, caught by Ewan du Toit off Misbah Nair for a splendid 60 from 29 balls. His aggressive knock had featured five sixes and three fours.

There was still work to do for Clifton, but Ramouthar and Jack Snaith got it done with only one ball to spare. After 99 deliveries, Clifton sneaked past Westville’s healthy 168/5, reaching 169/6, to snatch a memorable four-wicket victory.

Westville used nine bowlers, with most coming in for stick. Kyle McGough, the last of those, slowed Clifton down by picking up 1/9 in 14 balls, while Lwandle Bulose, with 0/11 from 10, helped to stifle the run-scoring spree.

Glenwood vs Northwood

On Saturday, on Dixon’s Oval, Glenwood beat Northwood by two wickets after enjoying early success against the Knights‘ top order batsmen. On Wednesday, at the same venue, that narrative was reversed, with Northwood’s bowlers doing the job against the Green Machine‘s top order, while the visitors’ top order made runs.

When the toss went their way, Glenwood opted to bowl first, hoping to repeat Saturday’s winning formula, but this time it didn’t work out as well.

After Ross McGlashan fell for seven, David de Bruyn and Luc Boyall got on top of the home side’s bowlers, racing along at over two runs per ball as they added 58 from 27 for the second wicket. Esihle Gasa stopped Boyall, but not before the Northwood batsman had struck two fours and a six in a hasty 25 from 14 deliveries.

His replacement in the middle, Keegan Reeves, then joined forces with De Bruyn, and they maintained a healthy run rate, putting on 70 for the third wicket in only 48 balls before De Bruyn’s telling knock was finally ended, with Gasa, once more, picking up a wicket by bowling the batsman. De Bruyn had faced 45 balls for his 57, hitting one four and launching five sixes.

Reeves went on to tally 38 from 26 as Northwood finished with 161/5. He was one of three batsmen to lose his wicket to Mishael Gunawardana, who returned a fine 3/19 from 15 balls, while Esihle Gasa shone with 2/14 from 15.

Chasing 162 to win in 100 balls on Dixon’s is a tough ask, and Glenwood’s challenge was stymied almost before it had begun. Just 20 balls in, they were floundering on 14/5.

Keegan Reeves, after his solid 38, did an even better job with the ball, removing four of Glenwood’s top five, on his way to a match-deciding haul of 4/11 from only 20 balls. Josh Mills started the ball rolling by getting rid of the dangerous Kreesan Pillai with the first ball of the innings.

From 14/5, there was no coming back for the Green Machine. Jonah Chaita showed some fight, cracking two sixes in his 27 from 24 balls, but only Kamo Moloto, with 11, joined him in double figures. It was Northwood’s day.

Luc Boyall showed off his all-round game, snapping up 2/12 from 15 balls, and Hamza Amla grabbed the last two wickets to take a tidy 2/2 from six as Glenwood was bowled out in 91 balls for 74.

Victory to Northwood by 87 runs.

Kearsney College vs Durban High School (DHS)

Kearsney College, fresh off a narrow nine-run win over St Charles College, hosted DHS, losers by six wickets at Michaelhouse, on the AH Smith Oval, where captain Keegan de Jager decided the home side would bat first. They made a steady start.

Gary Verbaan and Aaron Blackburn put up 34 off 32 balls for the first wicket before Blackburn was caught by Suliman Jadwat off the bowling of Bonga Mapanga for seven.

Verbaan and De Jager then upped the scoring rate, adding 33 from 18, before De Jager departed after an explosive 27 from just 13 balls, which included two fours and two sixes.

Asher Hollister then took on the lead role and, with Verbaan, kept the scoreboard moving along nicely with 47 runs for the third wicket from 33 deliveries. In just 16 balls, Hollister made 29 and sent a couple of deliveries over the boundary.

At the end of their innings, Kearsney had compiled 136/3. Verbaan was unbeaten on 49 from 48, with six fours.

Mapanga was the pick of the DHS bowlers, sending two batsmen packing while giving up only 12 runs from his 19 deliveries. His economy rate of 3.2 was, by far, the best of the innings. Seth Edwards was tidy, too, claiming 1/19 from 15.

In reply, DHS lost Josh van Biljon early for 10, but Ismaeel Omar and Taine Havermann didn’t blink. They calmly set about the Kearsney attack, adding 103 runs from 80 balls before Omar was caught by Rivaan Moodley off Daniel Miskey for 49 from 45.

DHS still had some work to do. They needed 17 runs to win and seven balls in which to get them. No problem! Havermann and Bonga Mapanga delivered the victory.

Mapanga replaced Omar and promptly struck the next two balls for a four and a six. The next delivery, to Havermann, was deposited over the boundary, and when the next ball produced a bye, DHS had won by eight wickets with three balls to spare.

Havermann was unbeaten on 54 from 43, which featured a lone four and four sixes. Mapanga’s two-ball innings produced a crucial 10 runs.

Matthew Rice, who claimed the prized wicket of Josh van Biljon, sparkled with 1/16 from 15 balls, while Matthew Gorrie kept DHS at bay with 0/14 from his 15.

Summarised scorecards

Westville Boys’ High 168/5 (Kai Cotton 54*, Liam de Villiers 31, Tristin Delvin 25; Eli van Jaarsveld 2/23, Shiraz Perumal 1/21); Clifton College 169/6 (Shiraz Perumal 60, Hayden Drieselmann 47, Daniyaal Klinck 36; Kyle McGough 1/9, Ewan du Toit 1/16, Misban Nair 1/17). Clifton won by four wickets.

Northwood 161/5 (David de Bruyn 57, Keegan Reeves 28, Luc Boyall 25; Mishael Gunawardana 3/19, Esihle Gasa 2/14); Glenwood 74/10 (Jonah Chaita 27; Keegan Reeves 4/11, Hamza Amla 2/2, Luc Boyall 2/13). Northwood won by 87 runs.

Kearsney College 136/3 (Gary Verbaan 49*, Asher Hollister 29, Keegan de Jager 27; Bonga Mapanga 2/12, Seth Edwards 1/19); Durban High School 137/3 (Taine Havermann 54*, Ismaeel Omar 49; Matthew Rice 1/16, Daniel Miskey 1/25). DHS won by eight wickets.

A batting masterclass from wicketkeeper-batsman Rico van der Walt ensured that the Finsbury League‘s defending A Section champions, Hoërskool Waterkloof, made a rousing start to their campaign on Wednesday afternoon.

The Klofies faced the 2025 runners-up, Hoërskool Eldoraigne, on the Eldos‘ home field in Centurion under lights, a rarity in schools’ cricket, in conditions that suited the stroke-makers.

Van der Walt spearheaded an aggressive run chase of 197 for victory after a disciplined and collective bowling effort from Waterkloof.

As is often the case with Klofies, no single performance dominated their efforts, although Vorster de Villiers led the way with the best figures, claiming 3/50 from his nine overs.

The rest of the attack supported him well. Rian Klopper (2/13) and Christiaan Smit (2/32) made early inroads, sharing four wickets, to leave Eldoraigne reeling at 57/4 inside the first 10 overs. Left-arm off-spinner Rivan Booysen played his part, returning 2/22, as pressure was relentlessly applied.

For the hosts, Jean du Randt stood firm in the face of a sustained assault. He compiled a composed half-century, scoring a patient 57 from 82 balls as wickets fell around him. His only meaningful support came from Logan Early (24), who also had to graft hard for his runs.

Klofies didn’t enjoy the smoothest of starts in reply, losing three early wickets, but the in-form Wian du Plessis provided stability with a well-crafted 53 from 60 balls. At the other end, Van der Walt struck an unbeaten 81 from just 59 deliveries, lashing six sixes and five fours to unleash devastation on the home team’s bowlers.

It was a fitting performance on the same ground where he scored a magnificent 125 in last season’s Finsbury League final, and one that gave the champions a winning start to their defence of the title.

Summarised scorecard

Eldoraigne 196 (Jean du Randt 57, Extras 32, Logan Early 24; Vorster de Villiers 3/50, Rian Klopper 2/13, Rivan Booysen 2/22, Christiaan Smit 2/32); Waterkloof 197/5 (Rico van der Walt 81*, Wian du Plessis 53; Angus Myers 2/39). Waterkloof won by five wickets. 

St John’s College snatched a stunning last-ball six-wicket win over Pretoria Boys High (PBHS) in their T20 encounter at PBHS on Wednesday afternoon.

The win extends St John’s unbeaten run to four games in a row.

PBHS won the toss, elected to bat first, and made their way to a laboured 130/9. The Blues kept spectators on the edge of their seats as they battled their way to 133/4 in reply.

Throughout their innings, St John’s kept abreast with the required run rate, thanks to important contributions from Connor van der Walt (37) and Herman Basson (25).

The Blues’ most important partnerships were the third-wicket stand between Basson and Joshua Hall that added 41 runs to the total and the 61-run fourth-wicket partnership between Hall and Van der Walt.

Those impactful back-to-back partnerships ensured that the Blues stayed on course and were held together by Hall’s patient, unbeaten 41 from 46 deliveries.

With two overs remaining, St John’s needed 16 runs to win. Victory appeared all but certain. However, Justin Basdeo had other ideas. He produced four dot balls in an over that cost the hosts only three runs and swung the pendulum in their favour.

Tapiwa Chikwava and Hall had it all to do in the last six balls. They ran hard, converted ones into twos and pushed to run three off what should have been two runs. Then, almost unbelievably, Chikwava slogged a six off the final delivery to grab victory for the visitors. He finished unbeaten on 14 from eight balls.

Earlier in the day, Bryn Gilmore led a gritty effort from the St John’s bowling attack, which ensured that Boys High was kept in check. The leg spinner snagged 3/28 in four overs to undermine the hosts’ batting efforts.

Chikwava and Luke Hartman, with a brace of wickets each, chipped in, too, with Chikwava claiming 2/21 in four, and Hartman returning 2/22 in four, also.

Tim Gordan, with 27, and Ethan Nel, with 21, were the only PBHS batsmen to make it past 20. Dylan Kruger (19), Tshepang Baloyi (13), Victor Louw (13), and Euan Gottfried (11) all reached double figures but failed to kick on.

Summarised Scorecard

Pretoria Boys High 130/9 (Tim Gordan 27, Ethan Nel 21; Bryn Gilmore 3/28, Tapiwa Chikwava 2/21, Luke Hartman 2/22). St John’s College 133/4 (Joshua Hall 41*, Connor van der Walt 37; Euan Gottfried 2/27, Justin Basdeo 1/18). St John’s won by six wickets.

The schools’ hockey season officially gets underway in late February, but some of the country’s top players have already laced up and are back on the artificial turf.

The pre-season is in full swing in the Western Cape, with the annual Prestige Champions Cup set to take place this weekend.

The independent tournament, in its second edition, was carefully designed to offer players in the Boland region, its surrounding areas, and from further afield high-quality pre-season game time.

The event has a franchise-style feel, and players will ply their respective trades for either the Dolphins, Dragons, Macaws, or Otters.

“With it being the second tournament on the back of a successful 2025 event, there was no doubt in my mind that it had to continue,” tournament director Scott Hendricks told SuperSport Schools Plus.

“The idea came about when I saw there was a gap in nearly all the schools’ calendars nationwide. It’s the first time players will get to play matches because pre-season at their schools only starts in March.”

The tournament has u14, u16, and u19 age groups. Matches will be played at Rhenish Girls’ High, HMS Bloemhof, and Hoërskool Stellenbosch.

The event also attracts some of the best players and coaches in the school game, including the trio of Paarl Gimnasium coaches, Danelle van Zyl, Jacques Grobler, and Ian Naude.

Chris Gerber, who led Rhenish Girls’ High to a superb season in 2025, will be in the mix alongside coach Marc Landman, from Paarl Girls’ High, and Reddam House Constantia‘s Chris Hibbert.

It’s fair to say that there’s an A-list of players involved.

Alanda Rademeyer, who caused havoc while inspiring Paarl Gim to victory at the Super 12 last year, needs no introduction, and she’ll run out for the defending champions, the Macaws.

Chelsey Woolf and Sarah-Ellen Groenewald, from Rhenish, will represent the Otters, while their school teammate, Pippa Viljoen, will feature for the Dragons.

Other big names involved include Anya Swanepoel and Karli van Deventer (Paarl Gim), Chelsey McGregor (St Cyprian’s), Zani Boezaart, Emeri Botes (HMS Bloemhof), and Emma Hibbert (Reddam).

There’s some Northern Gauteng and Eastern Cape flavour added to the tournament with Lenique Vogel, from Hoërskool Waterkloof, also part of the action.

The skillful Kerrin Gillies, from Collegiate Girls’ High, the explosive Lucy Holderness, from DSG Makhanda, and Pearson High‘s Lisa de Villiers will also make their way to the Cape for the event.

“I am very happy with the quality,” Hendricks said.

“It has become an important event for coaches and players, as they see it as a huge opportunity to get ahead of the curve.”

When asked what spectators can expect, he said: “Electric, fast-paced, and tactical chess-match-styled games that require players to think and push themselves to be better all round. We are looking forward to what promises to be a powerhouse of a tournament.”

For more information and fixtures, click HERE.

Six boys and three girls teams will contest the second phase of the Western Cape’s Switch Schools SA20 Volume Two competition, with the honour of representing the region at the national final on the line.

Stellenbosch and Somerset West host the playoff matches from Friday to Sunday.

The boys’ teams feature the top two sides from the Western Province, Boland, and South Western Districts (SWD) respectively. The girls’ line-up features the winners from those regions.

Bishops Diocesan College, who were, once again, the Western Province winners, Paarl Gimnasium, and the SWD champs, Bridgton Hub, make up the boys’ sides in Pool A. Paarl Boys’ High, the winners of the Boland region, Wynberg Boys’ High, and Hoërskool Outeniqua are in Pool B.

Stellenberg High, the Western Province winners; HTS Drostdy, the Boland winners; and Bridgton Hub, the SWD champs, make up the girls’ contingent.

Bishops bear watching. In 2025, they qualified for the third phase of the competition and went on to win the national title, defeating St David’s Marist Inanda in the title game.

Hard-hitting Litha Mbiko was the joint top-scorer with 22 runs in that final, and will be a big threat to those teams intent on dethroning the champions. It will, though, take something special for one of the other outfits to usurp Bishops’ Western Cape title.

In the girls’ competition, Stellenberg is a force to be reckoned with. The Jade Brigade will fancy their chances, but one cannot underestimate the fighting spirit of the Bridgton Hub and HTS Drostdy.

FIXTURES

Boys

Friday, 23 January, 09:30 

Paarl Boys’ High vs Bishops Diocesan College (Paul Roos Oval)
Wynberg Boys’ High vs Hoërskool Outeniqua (Markötter One Oval)
Paarl Gimnasium vs Bridgton Hub (Paul Roos B Oval)

Girls – Stellenberg High vs HTS Drostdy (Distell Cricket Field).

14:00

Paarl Gimnasium vs Bishops Diocesan College (Paul Roos Oval)
Wynberg Boys’ High vs Bridgton Hub (Markötter One Oval)
Hoërskool Outeniqua vs Paarl Boys’ High (Paul Roos B Oval)

Girls

HTS Drostdy vs Bridgton Hub (Distell Cricket Field).

Saturday, 24 January, 09:30

Boys

Wynberg Boys’ High vs Paarl Boys’ High (Taberer Oval)
Hoërskool Outeniqua vs Paarl Gimnasium (Somerset College A Oval)
Bridgton Hub vs Bishops Diocesan College (Somerset College B Oval)

Girls

Bridgton Hub vs Stellenberg High (Somerset College C Oval)

Saturday, 24 January, 14:00 

Boys – First place in Pool A will face the second-place finisher from Pool B, while the second-place finisher from Pool A will take on Pool B’s winner.

Girls’ final – A combination of win average and net run rate will be used to determine the finalists.

Sunday, 25 January, 09:30

Boys’ final

Matthew Bromley scored a superb half-century to shepherd King Edward VII (KES) to a 32-run win over St David’s Marist Inanda in their Johnny Waite Trophy clash on the La Valla Oval at St David’s on Wednesday afternoon.

Bromley, the KES captain, called correctly at the toss and chose to bat first. He turned that decision into an excellent one by assuming control of the innings to power the visitors to 172/5, before his bowling attack restricted St David’s to 140/7 in reply.

From just 63 balls, Bromley struck a match-winning 87, with nine fours and three sixes. He and his fellow opener, Tiago Dias, who weighed in with an aggressive 46 from only 28 balls, partnered for 86 runs for the first wicket.

The KES skipper was happy to be the foil to Dias’s aggressive stroke play as they laid a solid foundation for the middle order to exploit.

After the opening pair were parted, Bromley and Troy Gordon kept the innings chugging along with a 49-run second-wicket stand. Bromley’s was part of one more meaningful stand, adding 32 runs with Abdullah Mohammed (12*) for the third wicket.

St David’s, who lost Roberto Mariano before he could get his eye in, consolidated and put themselves in a position to go for the win with a steady 61-run second-wicket partnership between Sohail Seonath (36) and Jonah Gruskin (44). Their partnership was broken by Luke Clark in the 12th over.

Michael Smithyman (23) and Kyle Butler (11) gave the St David’s innings a boost with their strike rates of 143.75 and 275. Unfortunately, for the home team, they didn’t stay in the middle long enough to make a significant impact.

Tyler Cloete was KES’s most successful bowler, knocking over 3/29 in four overs, while Keagan Hendey, Connor Kuijers, and Luke Clark chipped in with a wicket each.

St Stithians vs Parktown

Matthew Katzenstein slashed an unbeaten half-century to set St Stithians up for a comfortable 46-run win over Parktown Boys High on the Jamieson 1 field in Wednesday’s other Johnny Waite tie.

Katzenstein answered his captain’s call to bat first, blasting four sixes and six fours in an outstanding unbeaten 75 from 58 balls to lead Saints to 170/1. The home side’s bowling attack then restricted Parktown’s reply to 124/9.

The groundwork for the hosts’ success was laid by Katzenstein and Akhil Chilla (47), who shared an impressive 91-run opening partnership. Thomas Collins (39*), who replaced Challa in the 12th over, picked up from where the opener had left off and stitched together an unbroken 79-run second-wicket partnership with Katzenstein.

Parktown was soon on the back foot in their reply. Tendai Kadyamadare captured two wickets in the second over of their innings, accounting for openers Abdulla Wadee and Siya Dube, and from there it was an uphill slog.

Later in the innings, the pacer added two more wickets to finish with a decisive 4/36 from his four overs.

Challa emulated Kadyamadare and also struck twice in a single over to finish the match with 2/3 from one over.

Hlasi Mqingwana was Parktown’s shining light with a well-played 58 from 45 deliveries, but Mikaeel Garda (19) and Emile Fourie (15) were the only other batsmen to reach double figures in the match.

Summarised Scorecards

KES 172/5 (Matthew Bromley 87, Tiago Dias 46; Hayden Campbell 3/38, Christopher Emslie 1/23). St David’s 140/7 (Jonah Gruskin 44, Sohail Seonath 36; Tyler Cloete 3/29, Keagan Hendey 1/14). KES won by 32 runs.

St Stithians 170/1 (Matthew Katzenstein 75*, Akhil Challa 47; Josh van Rensburg 1/30, Ashton Govender 0/16). Parktown 124/9 (Hlasi Mqingwana 58, Mikaeel Garda 19; Tendai Kadyamadare 4/36, Akhil Challa 2/3). St Stithians won by 46 runs.

Bishops Diocesan College vs Rondebosch Boys’ High

The Frank Reid Oval hosted the Bish Bosch Day-Night T20 on Wednesday, where Rondebosch Boys’ High opted to bat first against Bishops Diocesan College after winning the toss.

Number three batsman for ‘Bosch, Tyler Heyns struck two fours and two sixes in an impressive 54 runs off 42 balls. In the middle order, at six, Raa’id Davids played some cracking shots, accumulating two fours and two maximums in his hurried 34 off 17.

The last Rondebosch wicket went down off the last ball of their 20 overs, with the visitors all out for 156.

Bishops’ captain, Alex Vintcent, was a constant threat with the ball, and although he went at 10 an over, he captured 3/30. Imran Leith bowled just one over, but made it count, snapping up 2/3.

Needing to score at 7.85 runs per over to win, openers Litha Mbiko and Ibraheem Taliep provided Bishops with a strong foundation. Following their dismissals, the hosts were on 73/2 after nine overs, thus requiring another 84 runs to win at 7.6 per over, with eight wickets in hand.

Mbiko’s contribution was a rapid 26 from 16 deliveries, with four fours and a six, while Taliep weighed in with three well-struck fours in his steady 35 off 35.

After the openers’ exits, however, it became a feeding frenzy for Ethan De Heer Kloots, and the left-arm off-spinner, Timothy Short. Short captured 3/20 in his four overs, while De Heer Kloots snagged 3/31 from his four.

Like Superman halting a train, the visiting fielding unit restricted the Bishops’ run scoring rate at the death, leaving them on 151/8, and Rondebosch the winners by a narrow five runs.

Wynberg Boys’ High vs HTS Drostdy

After a favourable toss, Wynberg Boys’ High made a relatively comfortable start, batting first in their T20 fixture against HTS Drostdy at the Jacques Kallis Oval on Wednesday afternoon.

Opener Fawaaz Hendricks smashed a four and a six each in his contribution of 35 runs off 37 deliveries to lead the home team’s batting effort, but the visitors did well to keep them in check.

Adriaan Krynauw and Karel Hugo spearheaded Drostdy’s bowling, with Krynauw claiming 2/29, while Hugo collected 2/32, both from four overs.

Their successes, along with two run outs, resulted in a bumpy ride for Wynberg, who stumbled from 84/3 after 13.1 overs to 120/8 by the end of their 20 overs.

In the run chase, Drostdy opener Christopher du Toit saw the ball with clarity and made hay, bashing seven fours and two sixes in an entertaining 50 off 40 balls.

Unfortunately for the Donkies, none of his teammates found their own rhythm, with his fellow opener Albert Nel‘s dozen runs being their second-highest tally.

Nicholas Stafford was the standout among the Wynberg bowlers, snaring a match-winning 4/20 from his four overs.

Only one of the home team’s bowlers went for more than six runs an over, which enabled the southern suburbs’ side to limit the Worcester locals’ reply to 114/7, leaving Wynberg with a slim six-run victory.

Summarised Scorecards

Rondebosch Boys’ High 156/10 (Tyler Heyns 54, Raa’id Davids 34; Alex Vintcent 3/30, Imran Leith 2/3); Bishops Diocesan College 151/8 (Ibraheem Taliep 35, Litha Mbiko 26, Thaaifer Japtha 20; Timothy Short 2/20, Ethan De Heer Kloots 2/31). Rondebosch Boys’ High won the match by five runs.

Wynberg Boys’ High 120/8 (Fawaaz Hendricks 35; Adriaan Krynauw 2/29, Karel Hugo 2/32); HTS Drostdy 114/7 (Christopher du Toit 50, Extras 20; Nicholas Stafford 4/20). Wynberg Boys’ High won the match by six runs.

Kearan Weyers was the central figure as Hoërskool Hans Moore recorded a comprehensive victory in their 2026 Finsbury League season opener on Wednesday.

The Moories travelled to Potchefstroom to face Potchefstroom Gimnasium in a B Section fixture that had been postponed due to the Gimmies’  involvement in the Central Region playoffs of the Switch Schools SA20 competition the previous weekend. It proved to be a fruitful journey as Weyers, almost single-handedly, dismantled the hosts with both bat and ball.

With his left-arm off-spin, he ripped through the Gimnasium batting line-up, removing four batsmen while conceding only 17 runs in a superb 8.3-over spell, which cost a miserly two runs per over.

Weyers enjoyed good support from Duan Maree (2/20), while only Lukas Kotze offered meaningful resistance for the hosts, compiling a patient 44 before becoming one of Maree’s victims.

The Potchefstroom Gimnasium innings lasted into the 36th over before they lost their last wicket on a modest 143.

The visitors, in reply, required just 15.1 overs to charge past that total, once again inspired by Weyers. Buoyed by his heroics with the ball, he unleashed a devastating assault at the top of the Moories’ order, smashing 12 fours and six sixes in a thundering 95 from only 43 deliveries.

When the Player of the Match eventually fell, caught by Damian Kruger off the bowling of Hendré Cronjé (1/31), he had already decided the outcome of the match.

Jahndré Coetzee (1/26) was the most economical bowler for the hosts, but that lone wicket proved to be little more than a consolation, with Weyers having already inflicted irreparable damage to seal an emphatic victory for the away team.

Summarised scorecard

Potchefstroom Gimnasium 143 (Lukas Kotze 44, Bernard Judels 20; Kearan Wyers 4/17, Duan Maree 2/20); Hans Moore 145/2 (Kearan Weyers 95; Jahndré Coetzee 1/26). Hans Moore won by eight wickets. 

Clifton College cricket captain Shiraz Perumal heads into 2026 aiming to emulate or even better a spectacular showing in 2025, which brought the leg-spinner a school record 95 wickets.

In his Grade 10 year, Perumal set a school record with 62 wickets. In Grade 11, last year, he shattered it, and it is doubtful that any player returning to school in 2026 matched his huge wicket haul.

He made his 1st XI debut in grade nine and was immediately up for the challenge, Clifton’s Director of Cricket and first team coach, Brandon Scullard, recalled: “In August [of that year], when he was in grade nine, one of our better spinners got injured. Two days before we departed on tour to St David’s for the Fasken Time Cricket Festival, I called him up.

“He was superb, so much so that on the last day of the festival against KES, he bowled an entire innings from one end. The KES coaches said they had not come across a leg-spinner like that the entire year.”

Don’t be misled by Perumal holding down an end, though, at St David’s, though. One of his strengths, which separates him from many other leg spin bowlers, is his attacking approach. “I’ve always thought of myself as a wicket-taker,” he told SuperSport Schools Plus. “Obviously, I can dot batsmen up, make them make a mistake, but it’s about attacking first, throwing the first punch.”

That mindset comes from the man who inspired him to change from being a pace bowler to a leg spinner when he was in primary school, the Australian legend, Shane Warne.

“I back myself,” the Clifton captain said. It’s that attacking mindset that makes Perumal a special weapon. “His number one strength is turning the ball. He’s not scared to get hit,” Scullard, a former Dolphins‘ fast bowler, said.

“If he goes for a boundary or bowls a bad ball, it doesn’t deter him. He is happy to throw the ball up and try to turn it. He has the courage to pitch the ball up and invite the batters to try and hit him.

“He has worked on his pace. He has become quicker, and his control has improved. He can bowl unplayable balls, and he has variations.”

That’s the thing about Shiraz Perumal. With the ball in his hand, his team almost always has a chance because he’s a strike bowler.

“I have never seen a player have such an impact on a cricket team – and I have coached [former SA u19 captain] Matthew Montgomery and others who have gone on to play professional cricket,” Scullard said.

“He’s won us games from unwinnable positions. He’s maintained that hunger for wickets and excellence. He is an extremely hard worker. He’s been a special talent to witness. I hope he pushes on after school.”

Perumal’s match-winning ability was to the fore at the Fasken Time Cricket Festival last year when he claimed successive six-wicket hauls for 12 wickets in the match in a win over  Hoërskool Noordheuwel.

He is also half of a Clifton spin bowling duo with Blake Johnson, which performed magnificently in 2025. Johnson, a tall orthodox left-arm spinner, who represented the Dolphins’ u16 side, picked up 57 wickets, not far off Perumal’s previous school record.

“Blake and I have been bowling together for a while. He’s usually holding down one end, and I’ll attack from the other end. That’s basically our plan,” Perumal said. “But, if he’s doing well, then I’ll adapt my plans to complement him. He does a good job.”

Scullard provided further insight. He explained: “They are two very different bowlers. Blake bowls flatter. He is more economical, and he builds pressure. He can bowl with the new ball and adapt to all types of situations.

“They have played a lot of cricket together, and they understand each other’s roles. They are our biggest threats. They push one another, and they hold each other to higher standards.”

This year, both will take on even greater responsibilities as batsmen. Perumal, in younger age groups, proved himself as a batsman, scoring a number of centuries.

“I’ll try, as a captain, to do the best that I can, play my role, and now I’m batting in the top six. Last year, I was batting seven or eight. I have to have a change of mindset, so now I have to put a greater price on my wicket,” he said.

Scullard expressed his belief in his spinners’ batting. “Shiraz and Blake have ability. It’s about exposing them to batting up the order. It’s about exposing them to those types of situations. Over the past two years, they didn’t have to do that. They have to take it on now and step up. They’re prepped.

“We need to grow them as batsmen, and the only way to do that is to expose them. These boys are going to be stars, and I need to give them a platform.”

Shiraz Perumal previously played under his brother, Shahzaad‘s captaincy in the Clifton 1st XI. “He was a bit of an aggressive captain,” Shiraz said with a chuckle. “I am similar, but I am not as hard on the boys. I try to keep things positive.”

He also credited his brother, who, like Shiraz, represented the Dolphins u19 team and the Coastal Conquerors, for helping him to become a better cricketer. “He pushes me a lot. It’s always a competition between him and me,” he admitted.

“He helped me a lot when I was starting out in the first team.”

When asked to name Clifton players who have helped him to elevate his game, Shiraz again pivoted to Shahzaad: “My brother, and Tim Saulez, bowling to him in the nets. He’s a top batsman.”

When it comes to coaches who have guided his growth as a leg spin bowler, he identified two. “Mr Scullard has helped me a lot over the last three years. He has given me many opportunities, and I’ve practiced with him a lot. Also, coach Yash Ebrahim has helped me a lot.”

In 2025, Shiraz Perumal set the bar extremely high. It will be difficult to reach those heights again, but his instinct is to attack challenges, and that’s what he intends to do.

He would like to represent the Dolphins at the Khaya Majola Week again, turn out for the Coastal Conquerors at the CSA Cubs Week, and, hopefully, make the SA u19 side.

After a resplendent season in 2025, the St David’s Marist Inanda water polo first team intends to build on the momentum of a memorable year in 2026.

The Sandton-based school impressed last year, playing a dynamic brand of water polo that saw them win the Vides Water Polo Tournament and finish second at the prestigious SACS Water Polo Tournament in Cape Town.

A talented group of players lifted their game to new heights under the guidance of head coach Dean Whyte.

Their 2026 campaign began shakily a week ago at the King Edward VII (KES) Thursday Night League, which hosted its inaugural games between KES, St David’s, St Stithians College, St John’s College, Jeppe High School for Boys, and St Benedict’s College.

St David’s narrowly lost 3-5 against Saints, and they’re eager to bounce back against KES this week.

“We had a lot of work to do on the drawing board; there’s lots of stuff to fix,” Whyte told SuperSport Schools Plus.

“We have to work on holistic points – from mobility to intensity, to the physiological side of things.

“One of the big things we want to put our focus on is that it’s a new year, a new team, a new us, and we’ve got to start from the ground and work right back up.”

The newly formed Night League means the Gauteng schools will battle each other weekly with silverware on the line. The final round takes place on Thursday, 19 February.

It’s an initiative that coach Whyte believes was needed in the region. “It’s great to finally have a night league,” he said.

“Although the Gauteng schools have a deeper range of alternative sports, I just find that it’s super busy, in particular with the swimming season. With that said, this is good. We need more games to close the gap in terms of competing.

“It also develops the sport and allows younger players to come into the fold and step up. It’s nice for blooding in some of our younger players as well.”

Apart from competing in the league, St David’s will also defend their Vides title next month in East London. Whyte, however, isn’t looking too far ahead.

“For us, it’s one game at a time. We will worry about the next game when it arrives,” he reckoned.

“I’m very focused when it comes to these things because school sports are not professional. We are not looking at six or seven games down the line.

“We will go with the intention to compete in every single game. We focus on good processes, and the outcomes we want will follow.”

St David’s locks horns with KES on Thursday at 18:00, while Jeppe takes on St Benedict’s at 18:45. St Stithians and St John’s will be in action at the SAC Shield in Makhanda.