{"id":90593,"date":"2026-02-16T12:49:19","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T10:49:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=90593"},"modified":"2026-02-16T12:49:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T10:49:19","slug":"waterkloof-are-kings-of-the-clifton-t20","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=90593","title":{"rendered":"Waterkloof are kings of the Clifton T20"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Clifton
Clifton College’s Executive Headmaster, Adam Rogers, presented Waterkloof captain Franco Schmidt with the magnificent Clifton Centenary Cup. Photo: Brad Morgan.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ho\u00ebrskool Waterkloof<\/strong> succeeded Durban High School (DHS)<\/strong> as the Clifton T20<\/strong> Tournament<\/strong> champion with a hard-fought four-wicket victory over Kearsney College<\/strong> with four balls to spare in the final, played at the Crusaders Club<\/strong> on Sunday in front of a lively crowd.<\/p>\n

Left-arm spinner Johan Liebenberg<\/strong> did a fine job for Klofies<\/strong> <\/em>after Kearsney won the toss and chose to bat first.<\/p>\n

He took the new ball and challenged the batsmen with a tantalising combination of flight, spin, and drift, which brought him the wickets of Gary Verbaan<\/strong> and captain Keegan de Jager<\/strong>, both bowled. Asher Hollister<\/strong> then holed out to Frank van der Westhuizen<\/strong> off the bowling of Rian Klopper<\/strong> to leave the KZN side wobbling on 20\/3 in the sixth over.<\/p>\n

With Liebenberg dialling up the pressure, Kearsney went too hard too soon, trying to break the shackles, and it cost them. They enjoyed a brief respite when Aaron Blackburn<\/strong> and Rivaan Moodley<\/strong> added 23 in 24 balls for the fourth wicket, but Moodley, after striking a four and a six, then lofted a delivery off the back foot right down the throat of the fielder sweeping on the offside boundary. He’d made 16 off 13.<\/p>\n

Three balls later, Ryan Staats<\/strong> was caught off Frank van der Westhuizen, and Kearsney had slipped to 49\/5 midway through their innings.<\/p>\n

Blackburn maintained his composure and worked the ball around, and Luke Grobbelaar<\/strong> matched Rivaan Moodley’s innings exactly, striking a particularly huge six straight down the ground in his 16. After he exited on 65, Daniel Miskey<\/strong> joined Aaron Blackburn in the middle. At last, Kearsney enjoyed some success against the Waterkloof bowlers, adding 32 in 25 balls.<\/p>\n

Blackburn was out on 97 for 20 from 31 balls. It wasn’t an eye-catching knock, but it was exactly what Kearsney needed to steady their innings.\u00a0Miskey lasted until the second-last over, smashing two fours and a six in the innings’ top score of 28 off 19 deliveries.<\/p>\n

Michael Groom ended with 16 not out, and James Bishop was three not out as the Botha’s Hill boys finished with 124\/8.<\/p>\n

\"Johan
Johan Liebenberg bowled two of the Kearsney top-order batsmen in a superb spell that set his side up for victory. Photo: Brad Morgan.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Johan Liebenberg led Waterkloof’s bowling effort with an outstanding four-over spell, returning 2\/15. Frank van der Westhuizen used his height and bounce well to claim 2\/28 in four, and Jean Cloete<\/strong> picked up 2\/30 in three. Rivan Booysen<\/strong> was tidy, snaring 1\/16 in four overs of left-arm spin.<\/p>\n

Set 125 to win, it looked as if Waterkloof’s hard-hitting batsmen should cruise to victory, but Kearsney came at them hard. A strong bowling performance set them up for a semi-final win over Westville Boys’ High<\/strong>, and it almost brought them a win in the final.<\/p>\n

Left-arm paceman, Litha Gonya<\/strong>, set the tone, generating good pace and bounce, and he got rid of AJ de Villiers in the first over.<\/p>\n

Rico van der Walt<\/strong> and Juan Swart<\/strong> quickly settled in after that and advanced the score by 41 runs to 46 before Swart was out for 25 from 16 balls, which included two fours and a six. Then, it became a long, hard slog for Klofies as they dragged themselves towards the winning target.<\/p>\n

Van der Walt stood firm, but Vorster de Villiers<\/strong>, captain Franco Schmidt<\/strong>, and Jean Cloete departed cheaply, which left Waterkloof on 78\/5 in the 13th over of their reply. Johan Feuth<\/strong> helped Van der Walt to add 15 before Van der Walt’s resistance was ended by a run out. He had faced 48 balls, struck one six and one four, and contributed the match’s highest score of 49.<\/p>\n