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Since the Oppenheimer Michaelmas Cricket Week<\/strong>, the St John\u2019s College<\/strong> 1st XI has been in sparkling form, but they faced a stiff challenge on Saturday, tackling an equally in-form Affies<\/strong>‘ team. Together, the two sides produced a fantastic spectacle.<\/p>\n Batting first, St John\u2019s, somewhat predictably, owed plenty to their star batsman, Joe Macrobert<\/strong>, who top scored with 84 after going in at the first wicket down. He was harsh on the Affies’ bowlers, needing only 66 balls for his near-century, and striking 12 fours and a six.<\/p>\n Jacob Smith<\/strong> also made a telling contribution, scoring 57 from 78, with four fours and a six, as he and MacRobert, the player of the match, shared an outstanding partnership of 127 in 19.5 overs.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, five other batsmen made it into double figures without doing too much damage. Cole Francis<\/strong>, with 22, was the best of them.<\/p>\n Still, St John\u2019s put up a substantial 286 all out after 49.4 overs.<\/p>\n All-rounder Divan de Villiers<\/strong>, who seems to always find a way to make an important contribution, led the Affies’ attack, capturing 5 for 45 in 10 probing overs. Wihan Pretorius<\/strong> lent good support, taking 2 for 37 in 6.4.<\/p>\n Affies, in reply, made a slow start and lost Dillon Koegelenberg<\/strong> in the sixth over for a duck, bowled by Alec Loveland<\/strong>. At that stage, the total was just 4\/1.<\/p>\n JP Botha<\/strong> and Matthew Seymore<\/strong> set about getting Affies on track and provided the innings with some substance, combining for 68 for the second wicket before Seymore was caught by Luthando Masinda<\/strong> off the bowling of Oliver Tait<\/strong> for 22. After 19.2 overs, Affies were 72 for 2.<\/p>\n Opening batsman Botha eventually fell for 68 from 92 balls, which included five fours, with the total on 123. His contribution proved to be the highest of Affies’ innings.<\/p>\n Six more batsmen made between 22 and 35, however. The issue, though, was that at least one of them should have pressed on and turned a solid start into a more substantial innings.<\/p>\n The consistent Divan de Villiers made 35 from 43 balls, while Ruben Groenewald<\/strong> matched him, but needed only 36 deliveries. SF Vermeulen<\/strong> scored 31 from 30, and Wihan Pretorius struck only one four, but good running between the wickets took him to 26 from 27.<\/p>\n Malan du Plessis<\/strong>, though, kept the Affies\u2019 batsmen in check, taking 3 for 44 in nine overs, while Alec Loveland damaged the Pretoria school\u2019s efforts with an economical return of 1 for 35 from his 10 overs. That, and 31 extras in the St John\u2019s innings, to 20 in the Affies’ innings, proved to be of vital importance.<\/p>\n Zirk Meyer provided the Affies’ effort with a big boost at the end, smashing an unbeaten 28 from only 13 balls, with four fours and a six, while Petrus Rautenbach bashed 15 off six, with two fours and one maximum, but it wasn’t quite enough.<\/p>\n In a nail-biting finish, Affies ran out of overs, and finished on 280 for 7, a mere six runs shy of the St John\u2019s total.<\/p>\n That meant the school from Houghton, Johannesburg, had clinched a big scalp and an eighth victory on the trot since the Michaelmas Week. They also finished off their season with only six defeats from 38 matches, a sterling record.<\/p>\n Remember to submit your nominations for SuperSport Schools\u2019 \u201cThe Class of \u201923\u201d<\/strong>. We invite you to be a part of this journey by nominating unforgettable moments, outstanding athletes, and inspiring coaches.<\/em><\/p>\n