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The South Africa u19 Women clinched the Youth T20 Tri-Series title with a five-wicket victory off the penultimate delivery of the final over against the Cricket South Africa (CSA) Youth XI at the Chatsworth Oval, in Durban, on Sunday.

Ashleigh van Wyk grabbed 3/24 as the SA u19s restricted the Youth XI to 114/8 in their 20 overs before Mieke van Voorst expertly led the run chase, scoring a measured 42 off 41 balls, including three fours, to help get her side over the line with one ball to spare.

After winning the toss and opting to bat first, the CSA Youth XI made a positive start. Jezé Campher struck three boundaries on her way to 21 from 22 balls and shared an opening partnership of 34 with Deidré van Rensburg (33) before being caught off the bowling of Anelisa Mhlongo (1/12) in the fifth over.

Van Rensburg continued to apply pressure alongside Chanel Venter (23), with the pair adding a vital 50 runs for the second wicket as the Youth XI took the game to their opponents. The breakthrough South Africa needed arrived in the 14th over when Ashley Barnard (1/9) beat Van Rensburg’s bat, and Karabo Meso completed a stumping.

That dismissal sparked a collapse for the invitational side, who slipped from 84/2 to 103/7 in six overs. Van Wyk led the charge, removing Venter, Siphokuhle Masilela (6), and Gabriella Sequira (2), while Maria van der Vyfer (1) was run out and Ashley Sibanda (0) fell to Miya Lalor (2/18).

Simoné Lourens contributed a valuable run-a-ball 15 before becoming Lalor’s second victim and the final batter to fall, as the Youth XI closed their innings on 114/8.

Chasing 115 to secure the title, the SA u19 Women struggled to find their rhythm at the crease early on as Sibanda (1/10) and Bruzaan Goosen (1/18) removed Lalor (7) and Meso (1) inside the first five overs, leaving South Africa on 25/2.

Opener Ashley Barnard (33) then combined with van Voorst for the third wicket to bring calm to their dressing room, adding 48 runs to propel their team to 73/2 in the 12th over before Van der Vyfer (1/24) broke the stand by rearranging Barnard’s furniture.

Van Voorst followed up with another important stand, this time alongside wicketkeeper-batter Jae-Leigh Filander (13*), as the duo added 26 runs to move South Africa to the brink of victory. Van Voorst was eventually dismissed by Puseletso Sekhuthe (1/19), leaving the hosts with work still to do.

They required 16 runs from the final three overs, and, despite losing Ashleigh van Wyk (3) in the 18th, the SA u19 Women held their nerve. Filander and Nobubelebesisa Zwane (9*) guided their side home with one ball remaining to seal an unbeaten campaign and the Youth T20 Tri-Series trophy.

Van Voorst was deservedly named Player of the Series following a standout tournament, finishing as the leading run-scorer with 201 runs in five innings at an average of 50.3 and a strike rate of 121.8, including one half-century.

SA u19 Women Squad

Ashley Barnard (Mpumalanga), Chris-Mari Bezuidenhout (Mpumalanga), Jae-Leigh Filander (Western Province), Miya Lalor (Western Province), Karabo Meso (Central Gauteng Lions), Anelisa Mhlongo (KZN Coastal), Ziya Mohanlall (KZN Coastal), Shelfa Mukhari (Limpopo), Shreeya Subbiah (KZN Coastal), Melissa van der Merwe (Boland), Mieke van Voorst (Eastern Storm), Ashleigh van Wyk (Eastern Storm), Cayleigh Wanckel (Eastern Province), Nobubelebesisa Zwane (KZN Coastal)

CSA Youth XI Squad

Jemma Botha (Western Province), Jezé Campher (Garden Route Badgers), Bruzaan Goosen (Eastern Storm), Simone Lourens (Titans), Siphokuhle Masilela (Eastern Storm), Nthabiseng Nini (North West), Diara Ramlakan (Central Gauteng Lions), Puseletso Sekhute (North West), Gabriella Sequeira (Titans), Ashley Sibanda (Central Gauteng Lions), Oluhle Siyo (Western Province), Maria van der Vyfer (Boland), Deidré van Rensburg (North West), Chanel Venter (Titans)

SA u19 Women’s Youth T20 Tri-Series against Zimbabwe u19 Women and CSA Youth XI

1st T20
SA u19 135/4 (Mieke van Voorst 35, Karabo Meso 29; Buhlebenkosi Maposa 1/32, Salem Maseka 1/30); Zimbabwe u19 104/8 (R. Mpofu 15, Lorraine Pemhiwa 14; Miya Lalor 2/13, Ziya Mohanlall 2/18). SA u19 won by 31 runs.

2nd T20

SA u19 78/6 after 10 overs ( Karabo Meso 36, Mieke van Voorst 23; Nthabiseng Nini 4/15, Jeze Campher 1/7); CSA Youth XI 67/3 after 10 overs (Jemma Botha 24, Chanel Venter 18; Cayleigh Wanckel 1/17, Shelfa Mukhari 1/3). SA u19 won by 21 runs.

3rd T20
SA u19 152/5 (Mieke van Voorst 56, Miya Lalor 45; Nthabiseng Nini 2/31, Bruzaan Goosen 1/33); CSA Youth XI 132/7 (Chanel Venter 45, Deidré van Rensburg 24; Cayleigh Wanckel 1/22, Miya Lalor 1/23). SA u19 won by 20 runs

4th T20
CSA Youth XI 134/7 (Jeze Campher 37, Gabriella Sequira 22, Tadiwa Garutsa 2/14, Christina Mutasa 1/24); Zimbabwe u19 116/8 (Makanaka Zinyama 41, Nokutenda Makanhiwa 24; Jeze Camphor 3/15, Puseletso Sekhuthe 2/18). CSA Youth XI won by 18 runs.

5th T20

Zimbabwe u19 95/10 (Makanaka Zinyama 23, Christina Mutasa 12; Ziya Mohanlall 3/12, Melissa van der Merwe 3/12); SA u19 96/5 after 14.2 overs (Mieke van Voorst 45, Miya Lalor 16; S. Museka 3/22, Buhlebenkosi Maposa 1/11). SA u19 won by 5 wickets.

6th T20

Zimbabwe u19 120/5 (Salem Museka 40, Nokutenda Makanhiwa 25; Nthabiseng Nini 2/19); CSA Youth XI 89/10 (Maria van der Vyfer 19, Ashley Sibanda 17*; Salem Museka 4/15, Buhlebenkosi Maposa 2/13). Zimbabwe u19 won by 31 runs.

Final

CSA Youth XI 114/8 (Deidré van Rensburg 33, Chanel Venter 23; Ashleigh van Wyk 3/24, Miya Lalor 2/18); SA u19 115/5 after 19.5 overs (Mieke van Voorst 42, Ashleigh Barnard 33; Ashley Sibanda 1/10, Nthabiseng Nini 1/15). SA u19 won by 5 wickets.

Issued by: Cricket South Africa – Corporate Communications

Josh Wilkie hit an unbeaten half-century to shepherd Selborne College to a comfortable eight-wicket win over St Andrew’s College in the final of the Eastern Cape leg of the Switch Schools SA20 Volume Two Phase Two tournament at Selborne on Sunday afternoon in East London.

The win, their second over St Andrew’s in Phase Two, secured Selborne the Eastern Cape’s slot at the National Final in March.

Rhys Wiblin, the St Andrew’s captain, won the toss, elected to bat first, and helped his side to 122/7 in 20 overs, scoring almost half their runs. Wilkie was in top form for Selborne, hitting an unbeaten half-century to help them to 123/2 in 16.4 overs, which kept intact their clean record in Phase Two.

Wilkie, who was the top run-scorer in the tournament, with 188 from five innings, struck an undefeated 57 from 50 balls, which included seven fours, in his match-winning innings.

He and Thomas Lyon, who made 18, put together a 33-run opening stand. Wilkie and Cian O’Neil, who made 12, then further bolstered Selborne’s innings with 20 from only 12 balls. Later, Wilkie joined forces with Matthew Hendry, and they shared an unbroken 70-run third-wicket stand that saw them past the finish line, with Hendry ending on 27 not out.

Wiblin had earlier anchored the St Andrew’s innings with a steady 60 off 64 balls that spanned 19.4 overs as he tried to navigate the visitors to a winning total. Unfortunately, for the St Andrew’s captain, support from his teammates was sparse.

The Makhanda school’s highest partnership was 46 between Wiblin and Mida Nkontso for the third wicket, with Nkontso contributing 18 from 22 balls. Connor Holder and William Stevens, with 10 runs apiece, were the only other batsmen to reach double figures.

At the heart of the St Andrew’s batting struggles was Selborne’s star bowler, Dan Tarr, who knocked over 3/15 in three overs. Reid Drake lent good support, snagging 2/20 in two, and Rosh Els played his part by picking up 1/18 in three.

Summarised Scorecard

St Andrew’s College 122/7 (Rhys Wiblin 60, Mida Nkontso 18; Dan Tarr 3/15, Reid Drake 2/20). Selborne College 123/2 (Josh Wilkie 57*, Matthew Hendry 27*; William Stevens 2/27). Selborne won by eight wickets.

Summarised scorecard 

St Andrew’s School 144/4 (FG Botha 57*, Jonathan Hickley 26, Grové du Preez 24; Thian Labuschagne 1/14); Hoërskool Rustenburg 107/5 (Callie Fryer 54*, Tristan van der Linde 22; Nikhil Sukraj 2/14, Erhard Barends 2/20). St Andrew’s School won by 37 runs.

Michaelhouse vs Durban High School

Michaelhouse welcomed Durban High School to the Roy Gathorne Oval on Saturday for a limited overs match, but they were less hospitable when on the field, restricting School to just 133/7 from 50 overs before going on to win by six wickets.

A decision by ‘House skipper Graydon Leslie to bowl first paid off. It was a grind, though. The home team kept DHS in check with tight bowling, but established star batsmen, Ismaeel Omar and Josh van Biljon, demonstrated great powers of concentration to spend 18.1 overs together for the second wicket before they were parted.

Their stand produced 57 runs from 110 deliveries, but when Van Biljon was caught by Leslie off Preston Greene for 25, DHS suffered a collapse, slipping from 75/1 to 89/6 in just under eight overs. They struggled to accelerate their run-scoring rate after that, despite having 22.2 overs in hand when the second wicket went down.

Omar followed only two runs after Van Biljon with the innings’ top score of 35, but it took him 74 balls to get there. Aktar Bashar, batting at eight, finished on 27 not out as DHS batted at only 2.7 runs per over.

Liam O’Dwyer inflicted severe damage on the visitors’ innings, capturing a miserly 4/18 from his 10 overs as Michaelhouse clamped down on the visiting batsmen. A measure of their economy was the fact that Rendani Nonge, who gave up 3.7 runs per over in his 0/26 from seven, was the most expensive of the seven bowlers.

Rex Wardlow, with 1/20 from eight, and Preston Greene, with 1/24 from 10, also succeeded in ratcheting up the pressure on School.

When Michaelhouse batted, they advanced two runs per over faster than DHS, replying with 136/4 from 29 overs to record an impressive win.

Opening batsman, Cody Sander, produced a focused performance, scoring 36 not out from 74 balls at the top of the order. He also shared a 27-run fourth-wicket stand with Rex Wardlaw, who struck three fours in his 20 from 18 deliveries. After Wardlaw was bowled by Josh Morley, though, the innings caught fire behind Ben Heuer‘s aggressive hitting.

He flayed an unbeaten 50 from only 34 balls, launching two sixes and sending five deliveries to the boundary, while partnering with Sander for an unbroken 72.

Morley stood out for DHS, also getting rid of Victor North, on his way to figures of 2/23 from 10 overs. But it was Michaelhouse’s day.

Glenwood vs Northwood

On Dixon’s Oval, Glenwood and Northwood staged a thrilling limited overs clash, with the Green Machine clawing their way to a morale-boosting two-run win despite being minus-17 on the tally of extras.

When they won the toss, Glenwood put Northwood in and immediately made that decision count, with Vincenzo Loutz removing Ross McGlashan and Hamza Amla, while Jonah Chaita accounted for David de Bruyn, to leave the Knights staggered on 9/3 in the fifth over.

Luc Boyall and Josh Mills slowed the onslaught briefly, but when Esihle Gasa bowled Boyall, Northwood slipped to 25/4. Then, a run out of Mills for 14 further complicated matters for the visitors, leaving them wobbling on 42/5 in the 21st over. That, however, was when they began their fightback.

Thomas Oosthuizen and Max Nicholson joined forces and patiently added 45 runs from the next 112 balls. It was slow going, but it was what was needed. After Oosthuizen departed for 27, Nicholson was the next to go, out for 19, which left Northwood on 113/7 with 9.1 overs remaining.

That’s when Keegan Reeves brought life to their innings. He cracked five fours in his 50 from only 37 deliveries before being run out by Loutz, but he and Thabiso Mtambo had added 49 from only 42 balls. Mtambo and Trevor van Volenstee then shared another 15 runs to lift Northwood to 177/8, with Mtambo undefeated on 24.

Aided by 27 extras, the Knights had posted 177/8 and given themselves a chance to win.

Vicenzo Loutz led Glenwood’s bowling attack with 2/17 from six overs, while Esihle Gasa gave little way in his 10 overs, claiming 1/19.

When Glenwood batted, Northwood struck two early blows, with Josh Mills dismissing JP Pillay and Nuzayh Mohammed, both caught by Van Volenstee, before Glenwood had reached double figures. The home side settled, though, when Kreesan Pillai joined Akhil Sinath at the crease. Together, they added a watchful 51 from 85 balls.

Van Volenstee, then, grabbed his third catch off the leg spin of Max Nicholson, to send Sinath packing for 27. Glenwood lost their way somewhat after his departure, falling to 93/5 in the 31st over of their innings, before Pillai and Mishael Gunawardana played them back into the game with a partnership of 49 from only 54 balls for the sixth wicket.

Keegan Reeves ended it when he had Pillai stumped by McGlashan for 65, the highest score of the match. He had faced 93 balls and hit seven fours. When Pillai was removed, Glenwood was on 142/6. With just over 10 overs to go, they needed 36 to win.

That soon became 151/7 when Sebastien Oertel was run out, but, crucially, Gunawardana was still there. He helped Glenwood to within one big blow of victory before losing his wicket. His 36 runs, though, proved to be decisive.

Jonah Chaita, with whom Gunawardana shared a 21-run stand, was there at the end, unbeaten on 18, when Glenwood secured a two-wicket win with 14 balls to spare.

Max Nicholson tied the home side in knots, snaring 2/22 from 10 overs with his leg spin, while Josh Mills bagged 2/35 from nine overs, and Keegan Reeves 2/32 in 6.4.

Summarised scorecards

Durban High School 133/7 (Ismaeel Omar 35, Aktar Bashar 27*, Josh van Biljon 25; Liam O’Dwyer 4/18); Michaelhouse 136/4 (Ben Heuer 50*, Cody Sander 36*, Rex Wardlaw 20; Josh Morley 2/23). Michaelhouse won by six wickets.

Northwood 177/8 (Keegan Reeves 50, Thomas Oosthuizen 27, Thabiso Mtambo 24*; Vincenzo Loutz 2/17); Glenwood 179/8 (Kreesan Pillai 63, Mishael Gunawardana 36, Akhil Sinath 27; Max Nicholson 2/22, Keegan Reeves 2/32, Josh Mills 2/35). Glenwood won by two wickets.

Josh Wilkie struck a brilliant half-century to guide Selborne College to a three-wicket win over Alice RPC when they crossed swords in an Eastern Cape region Switch Schools SA20 Volume Two Phase Two semifinal tie on Selborne College’s Main Oval on Saturday.

In the other semi-final, St Andrew’s College thumped Grey High by nine wickets at Old Selbornian Club to set up a meeting with the local side, Selborne, in the regional final on Sunday morning.

Alice won the toss and, after electing to bat first, was restricted to 92/7. Wilkie, then, powered Selborne to 93/7 after only 11.4 overs.

He struck 53 runs from 26 balls, blasting five fours and four sixes in his 8.5-over stay in the middle. With those runs making up more than half of the required total, Wilkie ensured that the mini-collapse that followed his exit did not deny the host team victory.

He shared two crucial partnerships, with Cian O’Neil and Reid Drake. His second-wicket stand with O’Neil (18) was Selborne’s highest and produced 46 runs. Then, his 26-run third-wicket partnership with Drake (10), took them to the brink of victory.

When Alice batted, they lost two wickets in the fourth over and were unable to stage a strong recovery from there. Imange Nkubevana led their batting effort, top scoring with 24 from 33 balls. Only Yonela Mkholiswa (16) and Ambesa Linda (15) joined him with double figures.

Matthew Hendry was the most successful bowler in the match, capturing 3/7 for Selborne.

Grey High vs St Andrew’s College

At Old Selbornians, Grey High won the toss but battled at the crease and mustered only 90/9 from their 20 overs. St Andrew’s clinically chased that total down, reaching 91/1 after 17 overs.

Rhys Wiblin, the St Andrew’s captain, led from the front with both bat and ball to set up his side’s victory. With Grey taking to the crease first, he ripped through the Gqeberha school’s middle order, capturing 3/10 from four overs, to force them firmly onto the back foot.

Alejo Nota, with an unbeaten 29 from 34 balls, and Logan Groch, with 18 not out from 16, put up a valiant fight from numbers nine and 11, after Grey had stumbled to 48/9, but the tailenders’ efforts were too little too late after the top and middle order failed.

Despite their poor showing with the bat, Grey High might have thought that they, too, could cause Selborne problems at the crease when Nota dismissed Thomas Lake for nought with the last ball of the first over. However, Wiblin and Connor Holder responded with an unbeaten 91-run second-wicket partnership to see St Andrew’s home.

Wiblin struck an unbeaten 46 from 47 balls, while Holder finished not out on 40 from 52 balls.

When St Andrew’s and Selborne met in a round-robin match, it was the East London school that won, but that result will count for nothing when they meet for the title of champions of the Eastern Cape on Sunday.

Summarised Scorecards

Alice RPC 92/7 (Imange Nkubevana 24, Yonela Mkholiswa 16; Matthew Hendry 3/7, Avetandwa Manyongo 1/17). Selborne College 93/7 (Josh Wilkie 53, Cian O’Neil 18; Akhanya Bontsi 3/20, Unakho Njalisa 2/10). Selborne won by three wickets.

Grey High 90/9 (Alejo Nota 29*, Logan Groch 18*; Rhys Wiblin 3/10, Thomas Bissiahn 2/13), St Andrew’s College 91/1 (Rhys Wiblin 46*, Connor Holder 40*; Alejo Nota 1/9). St Andrew’s College won by nine wickets.

Alice RPC 76/10 (Akhona Ntlathi 18*, Ambesa Linda 12; Luthando Gwazela 3/13, Bulumnko Didi 2/8). Mqanduli Village 70/10 (Siphumeze Nonwana 16, Sibahle Bango 11; Yonela Mkhohliswa 2/10, Awonke Ngini 2/13). Alice RPC won by six runs.

Nomandi 34/10 (Lelam Mdumba 20, Aphelele Ruze 7; Alejo Nota 3/3, Connor Parry 2/0). Grey High 35/0 (logan Goddard-Ford 16*, James Upton 13*; Aphelele Ruze 0/17, Thobela Sibonda 0/18). Grey High won by 10 wickets.

St Andrew’s College 104/8 (Thomas Lake 42, Oliver Whitaker 21*; Lwando Gwaza 3/10, Avetandwa Manyongo 2/16). Selborne College 107/6 (Josh Wilkie 49*, Cian O’Neil 15; Rhys Wiblin 3/26, Thomas Bussiahn 1/26). Selborne won by four wickets.

Clifton College vs Hilton College

Fresh off of winning the KZN Region’s Switch Schools SA20 Volume Two title on Friday, Hilton College took on Clifton College at the Riverside Sports Club on Saturday and continued their strong form, romping to an emphatic eight-wicket win over the home side.

The biggest difference between the teams was what had happened before Saturday’s match. Hilton had contested the Peninsula Cricket Festival and the Switch Schools SA20 Volume Two KZN Regional final, giving them nine testing games before Saturday’s clash. Clifton, by contrast, had played a couple of low-key warm-ups, and the difference in preparation showed.

The toss, at least, went Clifton’s way, and they opted to bat first. Much like Westville did in the Switch Schools SA20 final, they lived to regret that decision because one of Hilton’s strengths is their seam attack, and they quickly made inroads into the Clifton batting order.

Clifton kept the on-song Sechaba Gude at bay, but his new ball partner, Sange Qangule, captured 2/11 in five overs, and Luke Wilson kept it tight, conceding only six runs from his four overs while also removing opener, Matthias Samuel.

Obakeng Motsepa and Benoit Rey, then, accelerated Clifton’s batting downfall, with Motsepa knocking over 3/19 in six overs, while Rey kept the batsmen pinned in their crease, snaring 3/6 from 4.4 overs.

When the home side lost their first wicket on 16, it was the trigger for a further slide, with wickets tumbling with almost monotonous regularity. Some of the Clifton batsmen did themselves no favours with their shot selection, but Hilton bowled well, too, and Clifton was all out for a meagre 51 after only 24.4 overs.

Only the captain, Shiraz Perumal made it into double figures. He was not out on 13 at the end.

All Hilton needed to set up a victory was a reasonable partnership. The openers delivered it, with Barack Munawa and Ben Wilson combining for 44 for the first wicket.

Daniel Rea then got rid of Ben Wilson for 10 and Luke Wilson for a duck three balls later, but Hilton still had eight wickets in hand and needed only eight runs to win. Nine balls later, they sealed the victory.

Munawa finished with 21 not out, while Rea bagged 2/12 in 3.3 overs for Clifton.

St Charles College vs Kearsney College

Kearsney College travelled to Pietermaritzburg on Saturday to tackle St Charles College in a contest between two sides who displayed inconsistent form in pre-season festivals. They delivered a cracking game in a contest dominated by the bowlers, with Kearsney taking a tight and tense nine-run win.

They batted first after captain Keegan de Jager called the toss incorrectly and soon found themselves on the back foot on 19/2 after Ryan Clarke accounted for Gary Verbaan and Aaron Blackburn cheaply. De Jager followed for nine, caught and bowled Kaiyuran Naidoo, which left Kearsney on 41/3 in the fourteenth over.

Opener, Rivaan Moodley, though, stood firm. He was, eventually, the sixth man out with the total on 87, caught by Clarke off the bowling of Keegan Vermaak for a gritty 40 from 85 balls.

Luke Grobbelaar and Michael Groom added a vital 23 for the eighth wicket, which fell on 114. Further fighting batting from the lower order, which included 13 from Groom and 16 not out from James Bishop, helped Kearsney to 139 all out after 46.3 overs.

Clarke, with a miserly 3/17 from 10 overs, caused the visitors problems, while his fellow seamer, Jayden Saville, captured 3/21 from 7.3. Keegan Vermaak bowled well, too, snaring 2/24 from his seven overs.

Saints made a better start to their innings than Kearsney, with Christiaan Prinsloo and Keegan Vermaak putting on 29 for the first wicket. Prinsloo and Thando Zama, then, added 30 for the second wicket before Prinsloo exited for 27, caught by De Jager off Moodley. On 59/2 after 16.2 overs, the St Charles’ run chase was in a healthy state, nonetheless.

However, with Ryan Clarke and Thando Zama following Prinsloo within the space of two overs, both victims of the excellent Rivaan Moodley, the balance of the contest began to shift Kearsney’s way. Saints had 66/4 after 18.3 overs, and the match was delicately poised.

Connor Simpson and Caleb Sharp helped to snatch back some momentum for the home side, with a 21-run stand for the fifth wicket, but Simpson’s departure for 14 triggered another collapse. From 87/4, Saints crashed to 97/8, and the pressure on the lower order ramped up.

Connor Vogt and Relebogile Mokoena pushed back, partnering for 16, before Moodley added the wicket of Vogt, taking his haul to four.

Kaiyuran Naidoo and Mokoena took over with the total on 113/9. Defiantly, they tacked on another 22 runs, but vice-captain Michael Groom ended the Saints’ resistance when he had Naidoo caught behind by wicketkeeper, Asher Hollister, for six.

St Charles was all out for 130. Close, but no cigar.

Moodley’s leg spin brought him a superb 4/30 from 10 overs, giving him the best performance for a Kearsney player with both the bat and ball, while the skipper, Keegan de Jager, contributed 2/15 and Matthew Gorrie a tight 2/23 from eight overs.

Summarised scorecards

Clifton College 51/10 (Shiraz Perumal 13*; Benoit Rey 3/6, Obakeng Motsepa 3/10, Sange Qangule 2/11); Hilton College 52/2 (Barack Munawa 21*; Daniel Rea 2/12). Hilton College won by eight wickets.

Kearsney College 139/10 (Rivaan Moodley 40; Ryan Clarke 3/17, Jayden Saville 3/21, Keegan Vermaak 2/24); St Charles College 130/10 (Christiaan Prinsloo 27; Rivaan Moodley 4/30, Keegan de Jager 2/15, Matthew Gorrie 2/23). Kearsney won by nine runs.

It was a tough return to the top flight of the annual Finsbury League for Hoërskool Kempton Park on Saturday, with the visitors suffering a comprehensive seven-wicket defeat to Hoërskool Menlopark in Pretoria.

Parkies, perennial powerhouses in the competition, asserted their authority by brushing aside Kempies in a contest that lasted only 70.2 overs to claim their first victory of the new campaign.

Asked to bowl first on home soil, the Pretoria outfit made early inroads through Monré Koekemoer (1/16), before Jordan van Eck and Johan Bosch inflicted the bulk of the damage.

Van Eck, who shared the new ball with Koekemoer, was the home side’s leading bowler, claiming three wickets for 28 runs across two spells. He was ably supported by Bosch, who picked up 3/26 from his six overs.

With Kempton Park in deep trouble on 88/8, Kamogelo Matlala led a spirited resistance with a patient 39 runs. Useful contributions from Anthony Stockigt (25) and Hanroux Siemens (24) provided further support, which helped Kempies to a total of 146 all out.

In reply, Koekemoer once again played a decisive role, this time with the bat. He struck an unbeaten 45 from 65 deliveries, while Jacques de Villiers added a composed 25 not out as the pair’s unbroken 45-run partnership steered the home team to a comfortable victory.

The platform for the successful run chase had been laid by opening batsman, André Kruyshaar, who top-scored with a measured 49. His innings blunted the early threat posed by Matlala, who again impressed with the new ball, claiming two of the three wickets with successive balls in the sixth over, including the prized scalp of Jan-Willem Pienaar for a first-ball duck.

It was not enough to halt the momentum, however, as Hoërskool Menlopark opened their 2026 Finsbury League campaign with a commanding home victory.

Summarised scorecard

Hoërskool Kempton Park 146 (Kamogelo Matlala 39, Anthony Stockigt 25, Hanroux Siemens 24; Johan Bosch 3/26, Jordan van Eck 3/28); Menlopark 149/3 (André Kruyshaar 49, Monré Koekemoer 45*, Jacques de Villiers 25*; Kamogelo Matlala 2/26). Menlopark won by seven wickets. 

Bishops Diocesan College vs Paarl Gimnasium (Round one)

In round one of Saturday’s two 20-over matches against Bishops Diocesan College, Paarl Gimnasium was blown out of the water after they won the toss and elected to bat on the Frank Reid Oval.

Their innings lasted only 12.4 overs, and it brought them a miserable 38 all out.

While there were no batting performances worth spotlighting, three bowlers shone. Daniel Perold snapped up 3/7 in three overs, while Thaaifer Japtha claimed 3/15 in four, and Alex Vintcent knocked over 2/6 in two.

Faced with a low victory target, Bishops went after it with aggression, rocketing to a 10-wicket win in just 2.5 overs.

Waco Bassick smashed three fours and two sixes in a brutal, unbeaten 29 runs off 12 balls, with Alex Vintcent, at the other end, providing support with four off five balls.

Bishops Diocesan College vs Paarl Gimnasium (Round two)

While the first match was surreal, the second clash was more ordinary, although Bishops again won convincingly.

They batted first, and opener, Litha Mbiko, gave the southern suburbs’ outfit a great start, thrashing 79 off 49 while going big with seven sixes and two fours.  Cameron Macbeth‘s undefeated 26 was the next best Bishops’ score.

Gim’s bowlers were unable to get much in return for their efforts, with Wian Munnik‘s 1/22 from three overs their most economic and best figures.

After 20 overs, Bishops posted a mighty total of 212/5. Given their collapse earlier in the day, it was a daunting task that faced the visitors when they attempted to chase it down.

Munnik, again, led Paarl Gim’s efforts, top scoring with 19 at the top of the order at almost a run a ball. Daniel Perold, though, had Paarl Gim’s number, and he captured 3/17 from three overs to ruin the visitors’ innings.

Harry Morgan and Matthew Edwards aided Perold towards the back end of the opposition’s innings, claiming 2/6 and 2/11 respectively, both from three overs.

Gim almost saw out their 20 overs, but nine balls short of completing their allotment, they were dismissed for 90, leaving Bishops the runaway winners by 122 runs.

Summarised Scorecards

Paarl Gimnasium 38/10 (Daniel Perold 3/7, Thaaifer Japtha 3/15, Alex Vintcent 2/6); Bishops Diocesan College 39/0 (Waco Bassick 29*). Bishops won by 10 wickets.

Bishops Diocesan College 212/5 (Litha Mbiko 79, Cameron Macbeth 26*, Inbraheem Taliep 25, Harry Morgan 25, Waco Bassick 23*); Paarl Gimnasium 90/10 (Daniel Perold 3/17, Harry Morgan 2/6, Matthew Edwards 2/11). Bishops won by 122 runs.

Boland Landbou vs Paul Roos Gimnasium

After a favourable coin flip, Boland Landbou captain, Francois Prins opted to field first against the visiting Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG) on the Stiaan van Zyl Oval on Saturday.

He, then, led from the front, top scoring with 45 from 71 balls, which included six fours before he fell victim to PRG’s James Holm, trapped LBW.

Holm set the standard for the visitors, snapping up 5/30 in 7.4 overs. Dion Slabber and Morné Pauw enjoyed success, too, chipping in with a handy two wickets apiece as the home team was limited to 160 all out after 40.4 overs.

When Paul Roos batted, Prins sent Aiden Titus packing via an LBW decision before a run had been scored, which brought Janko Webb to the crease.

The top order batsman proceeded to steal the spotlight, smashing six fours and six sixes in an excellent 100 off 110 deliveries.

Opener Enré van Zyl aided the PRG cause with a patient 38 off 89 balls and partnered Webb in a 140-run partnership from 193 deliveries for the second wicket, which carried the visitors to within sight of victory.

Three wickets in quick succession, which reduced the visitors from 140/1 to 147/4, caused a flutter in the Paul Roos ranks, but they went on to a six-wicket win after 42.3 overs when they reached 163/4.

Hoërskool Strand vs HTS Drostdy

HTS Drostdy‘s M-Jay van Reenen played the primary role in powering his side to a big 221/4 in their 20-over contest away at Hoërskool Strand.

He racked up a strike rate of 210, thumped eight fours and four sixes, in an explosive 47-ball stay, which cruelly ended on 99 when he was bowled by Nicolae Roux.

Opener Christopher du Toit tallied the Donkies’ second-highest score, clubbing three fours and four maximums in his 52 off 37, while Stephan Steyn also peppered the boundary in his quickfire 32 from 23.

Benjamin de Reuk was the pick of the Strand bowlers, claiming 2/30 in four overs.

Faced with a steep required run rate of 11.1 per over to win, Strand tried going hard from the very first ball. It was brave, but also somewhat reckless, with the batsmen hitting too many uncontrolled shots in the air, which resulted in the home side finding themselves in a deep hole on 50/5 after nine overs. All five of the departed batsmen had lost their wickets to catches.

Batting at eight, Robin Beukes played more conservatively, and it brought him the innings’ best score of 29 not out from 35 deliveries.

DJ Luck was the only Drostdy bowler to pick up more than one wicket, but his 4/23 was more than enough to seriously damage Strand’s slim hopes of a successful run chase. Two run outs helped, also.

Unfortunately for the hosts, they were never really in it, and they mustered only 104/9 after their 20 overs, leaving the Donkies with a large 117-run victory.

Summarised Scorecards

Boland Landbou 160/10 (Francois Prins 45, Extras 29, Juan Visagie 20*, Matthew Geldenhuys 20; James Holm 5/30, Morné Pauw 2/21, Dion Slabber 2/24); Paul Roos Gimnasium 163/4 (Janko Webb 100, Enré van Zyl 38). Paul Roos won by six wickets.

HTS Drostdy 221/4 (M-Jay van Reenen 99, Christopher du Toit 52, Stephan Steyn 32; Benjamin de Reuk 2/30); Hoërskool Strand 104/9 (Robin Beukes 29*; DJ Luck 4/23). HTS Drostdy won by 117 runs.

Hoërskool Parel Vallei vs SACS

After his side was instructed to field first at Parel Vallei High (PV) on Saturday, Saeed Conrad led a strong SACS bowling effort, picking up 3/29 in four overs, which included one top-order, one middle-order, and one lower-order batsman.

His peer, Aqeel Waggie, removed dangermen, Chris Hughes and Divan Sander, and returned a tidy 2/8 in six overs, helping to restrict the Somerset West school to only 81 all out from 26.2 of their 50 overs.

Opener Luke Engelbrecht was the only PV batsman to score more than a dozen, tallying a patient 36 runs off 87 balls.

When SACS batted, Hughes got his revenge on Waggie, dismissing the opener for just four runs.

From there, however, the other opener, Benjamin Blackburn, smashed six fours and three sixes in an unbeaten 48 off only 43 deliveries.

He was the primary driver for the Cape Town school, steering them to 84/2 after 17.4 overs and an eight-wicket victory.

Paarl Boys’ High vs Wynberg Boys’ High 

The hosts, Paarl Boys’ High, decided to bat first after winning the toss in their one-day, one-innings fixture against Wynberg Boys’ High, and Neil Louw took it to Wynberg, collecting a highlight reel of 11 fours in his impactful 82 runs off 153 balls.

Batting at four, Roan Heyns was the next highest scorer for the Paarl outfit, blasting five fours and a six in his otherwise conservative 43 off 82 deliveries.

Raihan Kahn was, meanwhile, the only member of the visiting bowling unit who looked at home on the Paarl pitch, taking 4/75 in 15 overs as Boishaai declared after 65 overs with 247/9 on the board.

Faced with a challenging run chase, Wynberg got off to a shaky start and veered off course to find themselves in early trouble on 33/4 after 13.2 overs.

Arriving at the crease after the fall of the second wicket, English exchange student, James Mitchell, hammered 14 fours and a six in a fighting knock of 108 off 136 balls, and captain Michail Tarentaal stuck around with him to share an 83-run fifth-wicket partnership, striking seven fours in his 35. Their efforts, though, weren’t enough as further batting support was sparse.

Aden Batt was one of the reasons for that, capturing 4/50 across a lengthy 18 overs. Ed Lee Koopman played his part, too, by dismissing two of the top order batsmen early. He finished with 2/30 from nine overs.

The visitors’ innings ended after 52.4 overs at the crease on 189 all out, leaving Boishaai the handsome winners by 58 runs. This is also the second year in a row in which Paarl Boys’ High has defeated Wynberg Boys’ High despite wearing the underdog collar. The fixture is turning into quite a fearsome rivalry.

Summarised Scorecards:

Hoërskool Parel Vallei 81/10 (Luke Engelbrecht 36; Saeed Conrad 3/29, Aqeel Waggie 2/8, Ronan Meintjies 2/20); SACS 84/2 (Benjamin Blackburn 48*, Ulrich Roth 27*). SACS won by eight wickets.

Paarl Boys’ High 247/9 dec. (Neil Louw 82, Roan Heyns 43, Ullrich Drotschie 27, Reese Peterson 24, Christo Muller 21; Raihan Khan 4/75); Wynberg Boys’ High 189/10 (James Mitchell 108, Michail Tarentaal 35; Aden Batt 4/50, Ed Lee Koopman 2/30). Paarl Boys’ High won the match by 58 runs.