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Saturday, 2 November, will be a special day for Hoërskool Middelburg‘s 1st XI, regardless of the result of their Fain Noordvaal semi-final.

Follow all the action live on SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com)

The Middies face the tournament favourites, Hoërskool Waterkloof, in their first-ever trip to the final four.

Optimism about the Middies’ cricket programme is high, with some of the school’s top performers still having a number of years in the 1st XI ahead of them.

Gavin Genis has been his side’s best player throughout the year, even though he is in Grade 10. In the seven 50-over matches in which he has batted, the young all-rounder has scored a total of 456 runs at an impressive average of 76, hitting two centuries and three half-centuries.

He’s also stamped his authority with the ball, snapping up 22 wickets at an economy rate of 4.75. He’s bagged successive five-wicket hauls in his most recent outings. If Middies are to pull off a shock and upset Waterkloof, who boast a powerful batting lineup, the off-spinner will have to perform well with the ball.

Alongside Genis, in the bowling department, a lot will fall on the shoulders of Eduan Strydom. He’s developed a useful habit of snapping up wickets at just the right time. His stats also speak for themselves: he’s taken 25 wickets at just 3.9 runs per over.

Playing away from home is never as comfortable as playing at home, and the Klofies will be challenged by Hoërskool Middelburg’s lower and slower wicket. Waterkloof’s batsmen have, however, proved their adaptability, apart from in one game against a high-class spin bowling attack from Grey College in the Westvaal North-South T20 tournament.

Last week, they welcomed back from injury their best player of spin, captain Beukes van den Berg.

Divan Behrens will be oozing confidence after his fantastic 173 not out against Merensky Landbou Akademie last time out. He’s put together an outstanding 2024, tallying over 1 500 runs.

Left-arm spinner Marcus Bakker will, meanwhile, look forward to the assistance he will get from a slower wicket, which might also suit, Klofies’ unsung hero Ruan Ferreira.

Ferreira’s economical right-arm seam bowling has played an integral part in Waterkloof making early inroads into their opposition’s batting. His consistency and accuracy might just be the right combination for the wicket in Middelburg.

Hoërskool Hans Moore will relish their opportunity to make the final of the Fain Noordvaal competition on Saturday.

Follow all the action live on SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com)

The side from Benoni is on course for the big game after claiming a couple of big scalps on their way to the semi-finals. They ousted Hoërskool Garsfontein and then, most recently, convincingly dealt with last year’s runners-up, Hoërskool Marais Viljoen.

However, beating Menlopark’s young team, under the guidance of seasoned coach, Arno van Wyk, will be no easy feat.

The Parkies have won both of their Noordvaal games relatively easily, despite playing without some of their bigger names. The youngsters, who have filled in for them have risen to the occasion. Dian van Zyl and Jan-Willem Pienaar, especially, have been noteworthy contributors over the past couple of weeks.

Both batted well and were the mainstays of Menlopark’s batting in their victory over Hoërskool Pietersburg in the quarterfinals last week. This week, playing at home in Pretoria, they face a big threat from Hans Moore’s spearhead, Kenan Shaw. He has enjoyed an extremely fruitful season with the ball, boasting an astonishing 54 wickets from just 148 overs.

The visitors also have a couple of stars in their batting lineup. Captain Warren Minnaar has been in sublime form in 2024, scoring 1 312 runs in 29 matches at an impressive average of 45.64, while Xavier Coetzee has tallied 1 202 runs, including a sensational double-century earlier in the year. Their battle with the Parkies’ spin attack promises loads of excitement.

The tall right-arm off-spinner, Murray Hofmeyr has enjoyed a strong season with the ball, and in recent weeks Matt van der Westhuizen has, also, come to the fore. He’s a dual threat as one of Menlopark’s top batsmen, too.

The stage has been set for a fascinating race to the final, with Saturday’s winner hoping to dethrone Hoërskool Waterkloof, the champion of the competition for the past three seasons.

Well beaten by St Charles College two weeks ago, Maritzburg College avenged that defeat by ousting Saints in the semi-finals of the Tuskers’ Schools SA20 at Hilton College on Friday.

In a low-scoring contest, the Red, Black, and White won by two wickets, with nine balls to spare.

St Charles chose to bat first after the flip of the coin went their way and while the top four in their order all made it into double figures, they struggled to get on top of the College bowling.

Rico Honiball and Christiaan Prinsloo shared an opening stand of 24 before Honiball was caught behind by wicketkeeper Tian van Niekerk off Karl Dedekind for 17 from 20.

Prinsloo and Thando Zama moved the total along to 49 before Prinsloo was caught by Joseph Currie off Dedekind for 11 from 28 deliveries. After 10.4 overs, Saints were on a rather pedestrian 49/2.

Zama was the third man to depart, run out by Samuel Hughes for 29 from 24, with four fours. His knock proved to be the highest of the St Charles’ innings.

Rowen Rajah added 15 from 21, but after the top four batsmen in the order, no other batsmen came close to making it to double figures. Connor Vogt, with six not out, was the next best, as College’s bowlers took charge.

From 67/3 just before the end of the 14th over, following the dismissal of Zama, Saints struggled, unable to seriously ramp up their run-scoring production as they lost five more wickets.

They were restricted to only 100/8, with Dedekind claiming 2/15 in three, and Reece Willson returning 2/22 from four. Nathan Pembridge kept the St Charles batsmen in check, taking 1/15 in three, while Sphamandla Dzanibe did a splendid job, picking up 1/10 in three. Sam Hughes, who took the new ball, also dialled up the pressure, conceding only 12 runs from his four overs.

Maritzburg College started their reply quickly, but they lost Tian van Niekerk in the first over for eight. His opening partner, Daniel Nadasan followed for two in the third over, a second victim of fast bowler Rowen Rajah.

Sphamandla Dzanibe and Karl Dedekind stopped the St Charles bowlers for a while, partnering for 42 from 43 balls before Dzanibe fell to Keegan Vermaak for 34, the highest score of the match, which had included a six and three fours. He faced 44 deliveries.

Dedekind made 14 and Doelyn Naidoo 12, but, much like Saints, little came from the lower order. There was, however, another contributor that made a big difference, and that was extras. St Charles gave up 17, including 12 wides, while College surrendered nine, of which only five were wides. In a low-scoring game, that played a massive role in the outcome.

College claimed victory off the third ball of the second last over, moving to 104/8 to book their place in the final against Hilton College.

Keegan Vermaak, whose wickets included those of College’s two highest scorers, Dzanibe and Dedekind, snapped up a sharp 3/13 in four overs., while Rowen Rajah knocked over 2/20 in his four, and Covhan Baaitjies took 2/16 in 2.3, but those extras hurt Saints.

Summarised Scorecards

St Charles College 100/8 (Thando Zama 29, Rico Honiball 17, Karl Dedekind 2/15, Reece Willson 2/22, Sphamandla Dzanibe 1/10, Nathan Pembridge 1/15); Maritzburg College 104/8 (Sphamandla Dzanibe 34, Karl Dedekind 14, Keegan Vermaak 3/13, Covhan Baaitjies 2/16, Rowen Rajah 2/20).

Maritzburg College won by two wickets.

Hilton College got one over their great rivals, Michaelhouse, in the semi-finals of Tuskers’ Schools SA20 on Friday. In a tight contest, Hilton claimed a four-wicket win with four balls to spare.

Batting first, away from home, after winning the toss, ‘House tallied 143/4, led by their in-form opener, Graydon Leslie, who followed up his top-scoring effort against Northwood last weekend with the top score again for the Balgowan boys.

After losing his opening partner, Henry Love, to the first ball of the innings, Leslie was joined by Ben Heuer, and they added 38 in 32 balls before Heuer was bowled by Jayden Roux for 22 from 41 deliveries. He had struck four fours.

James Mallett and Leslie, then, combined for a 78-run partnership from 68 balls before Leslie’s knock was brought to an end by Sechaba Gude, who bowled the opening batsman for 52 from 39 deliveries, which had featured six fours.

Mallett went on to finish with an unbeaten 44 from 48, with only one four, while Ethan Muir chipped in with 10, and Rex Wardlaw managed an unbeaten three from the only ball he faced.

Gude and Roux were the only Hilton bowlers to pick up wickets, but they dismissed two batsmen each, with Gude bagging 2/26 in four, and Roux claiming 2/35 in his four. Luke Campbell bowled tidily to finish with figures of 0/15 from four.

Hilton’s reply began solidly enough. However, SA u19 Emerging batsman Ben Hockly was sent packing in the fourth over, caught by Wardlaw off the bowling of Heuer for 14 from 13, with the total on 24.

Alex Pitman and Robert Burman quickly took charge for Hilton, though, advancing their side’s total to 66 in the 10th over before Pitman lost his wicket, caught by Wardlaw off Liam O’Dwyer for 29 from 28, with four fours, after they had added 42 runs.

The very next ball, Jayden Roux was caught and bowled O’Dwyer, but Ben Erasmus negotiated the hat-trick ball as Hilton fought back. He and Burman added 28 from 31 deliveries before Erasmus was run out by Ethan Muir for 12.

Burman was doing most of the heavy lifting and he and Stewart Falconer added 32 from 17 before Falconer was trapped in front by Wardlaw for six.

Burman became the sixth man out, with the total on 134, caught by O’Dwyer off the bowling of Thandanani Zuma for a decisive 59 from 38 balls, two of which he struck for six, while five more went for four.

When he departed, 11 balls remained and Hilton required 10 to win. They needed others to step up and that got the response they needed. Simon Steyn and Luke Campbell saw the hosts home with four balls in hand.

Steyn crushed a six and a four in his unbeaten 15 from nine, while Campbell did his bit, chipping in with five from two to guide the home team to a hard-fought win, which also reversed the result of the most recent T20 meeting of the sides two weeks ago when Michaelhouse won by three runs.

Liam O’Dwyer led the ‘House bowlers, snaring 2/21 in four, while Rex Wardlaw took 1/29 in his four, and Thandanani Zuma 1/41 in four.

Hilton and Michaelhouse meet again on Saturday, 9 November, in the annual Pink Day match.

SCORES

Michaelhouse 143/4 (Graydon Leslie 52, James Mallett 44*, Ben Heuer 22, Sechaba Gude 2/26, Jayden Roux 2/35); Hilton College 147/6 (Robert Burman 59, Alex Pitman 29, Liam O’Dwyer 2/21, Ben Heuer 1/22).

Hilton College won by four wickets.

Kearsney College hosted Westville Boys‘ High on the AH Smith Oval in Botha’s Hill on Thursday in a Dolphins’ Schools SA20 quarterfinal clash that went down to the wire, with Westville pulling off a heart-stopping one-run victory.

The visitors batted first after winning the toss and posted 169/5 in their 20 overs.

They lost Dolphins’ u16 batsman Kyle McGough in the second over, but Bhaskar Sewlal and Seth Simpson, then, steadied their innings with an attacking second-wicket partnership that produced 63 runs from 36 deliveries before the departure of number three batsman Simpson. He was the aggressor, blasting four sixes and three fours in a key innings of 44 from 23 balls.

Sewlal followed one run later, run out by Nic Comrie for 21 from 20.

Sean McGough made 16 at just over a run a ball. His dismissal, which left Westville on 87/4 after 11.3 overs, brought Tristin Delvin to the crease. His contribution would prove to be one of the keys to the Griffins’ narrow victory.

Delvin cracked an unbeaten 52 from only 34 deliveries, striking six fours and a six to help Westville to a solid total. Meanwhile, Miz Nair weighed in with 11 off eight, and Aiden Baudach finished on 18 not out from 18.

Keegan de Jager picked up 1/12 from two overs, while Bonga Maphanga bowled his full complement of four overs and claimed 1/24. Left-arm paceman, Litha Gonya, finished with 1/26 from three.

Kearsney, in their reply, lost Jonty Wiggett with the total on 13, but Jason De Gryse and Keegan de Jager strung together a good partnership following the opener’s departure, adding 70 from 45 balls before De Gryse’s innings was ended when Caleb van Loenen caught him off the bowling of Ashton Kidgell for 26 from 25 deliveries, which included four fours.

De Jager was joined by Cole Young and they added another 33 runs, although the run rate dropped, with that partnership coming from 27 balls. Having reached exactly 50, De Jager was run out by Chad van Breda. he had faced 35 balls and hit two sixes and four fours. When he was dismissed, Kearsney had reached 116/3 after 14.2 overs.

Young and Aaron Blackburn took up the run chase, tacking on 51 runs in 34 balls before, critically, Young was run out by Caleb van Loenen off the second-last ball of the innings, leaving Kearsney on 167/4, still needing three runs to win. Young had scored 46 from 38, with three sixes and one four.

Westville conceded only one run off the last delivery to snatch a nail-biting one-run win.

Blackburn finished with 24 not out from 15 balls, having blasted a couple of sixes and a four.

The two runs out by Westville changed the outcome of the contest. Only Dayalan Boyce, with 1/38 in four, and Ashton Kidgell, with 1/15 in two, picked up wickets, but Heath Stott‘s 0/17 in three overs was an important contribution in the context of the match.

Summarised Scorecard

Westville Boys’ High 169/5 (Tristin Delvin 52*, Seth Simpson 44, Bhaskar Sewlal 21, Keegan de Jager 1/12, Bonga Maphanga 1/24); Kearsney College 168/4 (Keegan de Jager 50, Cole Young, 46, Jason De Gryse 26, Ashton Kidgell 1/15).

Westville Boys’ High won by one run.

In a move set to positively influence the landscape of schools’ sports in South Africa, SuperSport Schools, the premier streaming and broadcast platform for schools and youth sports broadcasting, and SABC Sport, a division of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), are excited to announce yet another joint initiative in the growing partnerships between the public broadcaster and SuperSport.

The collaboration will see the launch of a fully curated SuperSport Schools channel on the SABC Plus streaming platform, complementing the access South Africans already have to high-quality schools and youth sports through the SuperSport Schools streaming platform.

This partnership marks another milestone in broadcasting schools and youth sports in South Africa. The new channel on SABC Plus will feature a selection of content from SuperSport Schools’ extensive portfolio, which includes over 60,000 matches in 2024 across a variety of sports disciplines. The channel will focus on a diverse range of schools and youth sports, including football, netball, rugby, athletics, hockey and basketball.

The aim is to leverage the expertise and platforms of both entities, enhancing the viewer experience and further promoting community engagement. SuperSport Schools is renowned for its high-quality broadcasts and innovative use of technology in sports coverage.

By partnering with SABC Sport, SuperSport Schools, which has more than one million registered users, is extending its commitment to being a driving force behind youth sport. Young athletes will have more opportunities to showcase their talent, with increased potential to open doors to sporting opportunities.

“One of the core pillars of this collaboration is ongoing promotion of community engagement, fostering a deeper connection between schools and their surrounding communities. We want to encourage participation in sports at a grassroots level and reignite interest in sports across all schools in the country. Both SuperSport and the SABC share a common vision of providing young athletes with a platform to shine and inspiring future generations of sportsmen and women,” Said SuperSport CEO Rendani Ramovha.

Kelvin Watt, CEO of SuperSport Schools,  “We are thrilled that the SABC is joining us in the promotion of schools’ sport. This partnership aligns perfectly with our mission to nurture young talent and make schools and youth sports a key part of South Africa’s cultural fabric.  After all, world cups are won 10 years before they are played,” expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating,

“SABC Sport is dedicated to providing our viewers with the best local sports content, and this new venture with SuperSport Schools will allow us to bring even more exciting and inspirational content to South African homes. Schools and youth sport not only foster community and youth development but also bring us the stars of tomorrow. We are proud to be a part of this initiative,” added Keletso Totlhanyo, Head of SABC Sport.

For more information about the SuperSport Schools and SABC Sport partnership and to access the curated content, please visit the SABC Plus website or download the SABC Plus app available on all major platforms.

FAQs

What can viewers expect?

The curated content will focus on some of the most popular and significant sports in South Africa, including football, netball, rugby, athletics, hockey, and basketball. This selection is designed to cater to the diverse interests of South African sports fans and to promote a wide array of young talent from schools and clubs across the country.

Will the broadcast quality be affected?

SuperSport Schools is renowned for its high-quality broadcasts and innovative use of technology in sports coverage. By partnering with SABC Sport and leveraging the SABC Plus platform, SuperSport Schools is extending its commitment to making youth sports accessible to diverse audiences.

Will SuperSport Schools enhance my SABC Plus viewing experience?

SABC Plus, the  OTT service provided by the South African Broadcasting Corporation, is set to enrich its offering with this unique channel, adding significant value to its viewers and reinforcing its role in the digital transformation of sports broadcasting in South Africa.

After finishing fourth at the Dato Mirnawan Cup in Malaysia in 2023, the South African u17 girls’ hockey team enters this year’s event focused on being in the mix for the silverware.

The competition, which is in its third year, runs from 1-10 November in Kuala Lumpur.

Stay glued to SuperSport Schools Plus for all the updates.

In 2023, coach Omari Pienaar-Geyer’s side won three of their six matches, beating Malaysia A, Malaysia B, and India. However, in the bronze medal match, the Indians reversed their earlier defeat, scoring a 2-0 win.

A new crop of talent, co-captained by Jehan Abrahams and Amber Fairon, with Caprice Bengtson serving as the vice-captain,  will be flying the flag of the Rainbow Nation.

That trio participated in last year’s Mirnawan Cup and will carry with them valuable lessons learnt from that experience.

The dangerous Abrahams plies her trade for Wynberg Girls’ High and represented Western Province during the u18 SASHOC National Week.

Fairon is a product of Dainfern College and played for the Southern Gauteng team that won the u18 title at the SASHOC National Week for the first time in 14 years; meanwhile, Bengston will be flying the Durban Girls’ College and KZN Coastal flag high in Malaysia.

Eastern Province has three representatives, including Diocesan School for Girls‘ Holderness sisters, Lucy and Abigail, who have jumped on the plane with Collegiate Girls’ High star, Emihle Mazomba.

Apart from skipper Abrahams, Western Province will be represented by Chelsey McGregor (St Cyprian’s School) and Peyton Marais from Curro Durbanville.

Boland, on the other hand, has the most representatives, with five players. They include three – Sarah-Ellen Groenewald, Grace Hobbs, and Philippa Viljoen – from the Fairtree Super 12-winning Rhenish Girls’ High. They are joined by the Paarl Gimnasium duo of Alanda Rademeyer and Karli van Deventer.

For KZN Coastal, it’s Bengston, Chelsey Woolf, and Asanele Zuma from Durban Girls’ College, and Sibabalwe Mfazwe, from St Mary’s DSG (Kloof).

Southern Free State‘s Kirstin Booysen, from Oranje, and Northern Gauteng’s Lenique Vogel, who like the team’s coach Omari Geyer-Pienaar, hails from Hoërskool Waterkloof. complete the squad.

SuperSport Schools Plus caught up with head coach Pienaar-Geyer ahead of the tournament to discuss the team’s preparations.

“The team is feeling really excited and optimistic ahead of our hockey tour to Malaysia,” she said.

“We’ve been training hard, both as a team and individually, and we are excited to showcase our skills on an international stage.

“There’s a great sense of team spirit, excitement, and determination among the players, and we’re all looking forward to the adventure, challenges, and opportunities that this tour will bring us.”

In an attempt to improve on last year’s fourth-place finish, and taking lessons learnt from that tournament, the team has adopted different methods of preparation, including training at a high intensity in hot conditions.

Pienaar-Geyer said 2023’s experiences have equipped her charges to compete well in Malaysia.

“I think we are a lot more prepared than last year,” she explained. “We have had the opportunity to play as a team, and that’s something I feel would have been really beneficial for last year’s team.

“Also, with having experience from last year, it was a lot easier for us to get across to the girls the extreme conditions we would be playing in, which has been so helpful in mentally preparing the team.

“In comparison to last year, we have had a lot more structured training schedule and high-performance plan, which has the girls feeling confident and ready, which we lacked last year. Overall, the girls are fit and ready to take on Malaysia.”

Emulating the SA u17 boys’ team, which will do battle in the same tournament, the girls have set their sights high.

“As a team we have goals: firstly to go and compete, not to just participate,” Geyer-Pienaar said.

“I would say [we’re] putting ourselves outside of our comfort zone and gradually building our team’s confidence much higher than what it is and hoping to bring home the gold when we’ve played well and ticked all of our personal and team goals.

“The ideal goal would be to do better than fourth place last year,” she concluded.

South Africa u17 Girls Squad

Jehan Abrahams, Chelsey McGregor, Peyton Marais (Western Province), Caprice Bengston, Sibabalwe Mfazwe, Chelsey Woolf, Asanele Zuma (KZN Coastal), Kirstin Booysen (Southern Free State), Amber Fairon (Southern Gauteng), Sarah-Ellen Groenewald, Philippa Viljoen, Grace Hobbs, Alanda Rademeyer, Karli van Deventer (Boland), Lucy Holderness, Emihle Mazomba, Abigail Holderness (Eastern Province), Lenique Vogel (Northern Tigers).

Staff

Manager: Pearl Mashego
Head Coach: Omari Pienaar-Geyer
Assistant Coach: Chardinay Penniston
Video Analyst: Jamie Smith

Group Y: South Africa, Japan, Malaysia Tigers.

Group Fixtures

3 November

20:00 – South Africa vs Malaysia Tigers

5 November

18:00 – South Africa vs Japan

A monumental battle awaits in the final of the Titans’ leg of the Schools SA20 competition after Hoërskool Garsfontein and Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool (Affies) cruised past their respective opponents in the semi-finals on Wednesday.

Relive all the action on SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com)

Playing away against the unpredictable Prestige College on their home field in Hammanskraal, the Garsie Ysbere made good use of the opportunity to bowl first.

Garsfontein’s opening bowler, Xander Venter, was in the thick of things again, delivering the goods as he snapped up 2/20, including the wicket of the dangerous Thabang Kutumela, in his four overs.

However, Jared Carr was the pick of the visiting bowlers. In his four overs, Carr removed two batsmen cheaply, going for only 14 runs.  Together, Carr and Venter tied down the home side’s batsmen, who were unable to score freely. Lesedi Mabena fought valiantly, but even his 30 runs came at less than a run a ball.

Omphile Maredi was the only other batsman to make a noteworthy contribution, a hard-fought 22 runs from 29 deliveries, but it was, unfortunately, not sufficient to see the home team crack triple figures. They finished on a disappointing 99/6 from their 20 overs.

Prestige College knew they were unlikely to be able to restrict Garsfontein to less than 100, so taking wickets was their path to success. They started well when Lethabo Kunene struck on the fourth ball of the Ysbere’s innings. Heinrich Badenhorst, however, didn’t seem to be bothered by his opening partner’s early departure. He stuck to his guns and smashed six fours and two sixes to race to an unbeaten 55 from only 39 deliveries.

Carr played yet another significant role in the match, this time with the bat, contributing 23 to the pair’s 58-run partnership, which saw the Ysbere across the line from the final ball of the 14th over.

Affies were just as dominant in their semi-final against Cornwall Hill College. The talented all-rounder Ruben Groenewald seemingly can’t be kept out of the action, especially in the shorter form of the game and he delivered yet another noteworthy contribution with the ball, shredding the Cornwall batting lineup with an impressive return of 3/16 in four overs.

Vihan Pretorius provided good support, chipping in with two wickets, as the home side found themselves in deep trouble on 71/8 in the 15th over.

Cornwall’s Trent Hardie gave his team’s innings a much-needed late boost, sending six balls to the boundary in a counterattacking knock of 36 from 22 balls. Despite Hardie’s aggressive hitting, Cornwall Hill mustered only 112, losing their last wicket off the last ball of their innings.

As was the case in the other semi-final, Cornwall needed to strike early, and they did, with Ethan Williams falling victim to Ethan Feris-Philander in the second over.

Affies, though, possesses a strong batting lineup and they were not about to fluff their lines. Iwan van der Lith set things up nicely with a contribution of 26 runs. When he departed, the in-form pair of Henré Smith and Vihan Pretorius saw their team to victory.

Smith led their 61-run partnership with a mature 35 runs, while Pretorius backed up his good bowling performance by weighing in with an unbeaten 34 to steer Affies across the line in the 18th over and into the final.

Summarised scorecard

Prestige College 99/6 (Lesedi Mabena 30, Omphile Maredi 22; Xander Venter 2/20, Jared Carr 2/14); Garsfontein 101/3 (Heinrich Badenhorst 55, Jared Carr 23; Lethabo Kunene 1/14). Garsfontein won by seven wickets.

Cornwall Hill College 112/10 (Trent Hardie 36, Kian Blignaut 20; Ruben Groenewald 3/16, Vihan Pretorius 2/20); Affies 113/2 (Henré Smith 35*, Vihan Pretorius 34*, Iwan van der Lith 26; Oliver Richards 1/16). Affies won by eight wickets.

Darshik Lutchman scored an imperious half-century to lead St John’s College to a 30-run victory over Steyn City in a Johnny Waite T20 match at St John’s on Wednesday.

The home side won the toss, elected to bat first, and scored a flying 214/7 in their 20 overs. Steyn City gave the run chase a good go, but they were restricted to 184/6 in reply.

Lutchman was in great form as he stroked eight fours and lofted two sixes on his way to a brilliant 63 off 29 deliveries. His innings was the difference between St John’s finishing with a total of around 180 and them chalking up an unassailable total.

When Lutchman arrived at the crease, the hosts were on 113/2, and they had lost two wickets in five deliveries. That double strike came courtesy of Austin van Jaarsveld‘s third over, which provided Steyn City with a desperately needed breakthrough.

Nkosana Sibiya and James Yuill had given the visitors nightmares by sharing a 107-run opening stand. The first to depart was Yuill, who was run out for a well-played 50 off 33 balls that featured nine fours. He was followed back into the dugout by his erstwhile partner before he had removed his pads.

Sibiya is leading the St John’s side in the absence of their regular captain, Alec Loveland, who is out of action due to injury. He will also captain the team when they tackle their neighbours, King Edward VII School (KES), on Saturday. Against Steyn City, he barely missed out on a half-century of his own, falling after scoring a 38-ball 49.

After the dismissals of Yuill and Sibiya, Lutchman and Malan du Plessis (21) shared a 51-run third-wicket stand. However, there were no other substantial partnerships after that.

Keegan Smallbone was the pick of the Steyn City bowlers, with a return of two wickets for 41 runs from four overs. Austin van Jaarsveld and Kurt Losch bagged a wicket each.

Steyn City made a brisk start in pursuit of a large total, scoring 28 runs in the first three overs. However, that came at the cost of a wicket. That did not bother Matthew Barbour, who creamed seven fours and two sixes in a 37-ball 57. Barbour gave the visitors their best shot of chasing down a daunting total, but they needed to pick up from where he left off following his dismissal.

Sachin Sunker (31) and Keegan Smallbone (42) rose to the task, scoring at run rates of 140 and 175 respectively. However, Steyn City’s issue was that the rest of the batsmen that followed were unable to match that high tempo, and none lasted long enough to make the needed impact.

Sibiya showed off his all-round abilities by claiming two wickets for 36 runs in four overs. Malan du Plessis and Ethan Robinson picked up a wicket each, while both Lwazi Khupe and James Yuill pulled off run outs.

The victory over Steyn City served as a solid warm-up and a good confidence boost for St John’s in preparation for their clash with KES over the weekend.

Summarised Scorecards

St John’s 214/7 (Darshik Lutchman 63, James Yuill 50; Keegan Smallbone 2/41, Austin van Jaarsveld1/41); Steyn City 184/6 (Matthew Barbour 57, Keegan Smallbone 42; Nkosana Sibiya 2/36, Malan du Plessis 1/31)

St John’s won by 30 runs.

The teams and fixtures for the Gauteng Women’s Soccer League (GWSL), formerly known as the Gauteng Women’s Soccer Tournament (GWST), have been officially announced. The competition kicks off on 2 November at Rovers FC in Alberton.

Mondli Dube, the Tournament Director, told SuperSport Schools Plus that the third edition of the tournament, which has been supported by a partnership with the Gauteng Department of Sports, Arts, Culture, and Recreation, is set to deliver an unforgettable event, with prizes to the value of R40 000 up for grabs.

The tournament will feature 20 teams competing in both league and knockout formats, with aQuellé and Sports Effect serving as the headline sponsors.

Heading into its third edition, the GWSL has quickly drawn public interest, particularly among football fans keen on promoting women’s football. In an interview with SuperSport Schools Plus, Dube expressed his satisfaction that the tournament has been embraced by football fans, adding that the resilience of his organising team had helped ensure the event’s support and success.

He described 2023’s second edition of the event, won by Raycon FC, after a 1-0 win over Diepkloof Ladies in the final, as remarkable. Raycon had finished as the runners-up in 2022, losing out to the team they beat for the title in 2023, Diepkloof Ladies.

“We are delighted to announce the third edition dedicated to women’s soccer, as the world of soccer expands and motivates all of us across the world,” Dube said.

“Thanks to the media houses that [have] covered this tournament. We hope that they can do the same again this year in November – the 2nd, 3rd, 9th, 10th, 16th, and 17th – at Rovers Football Club.”

The Tournament Director said women’s football continues to experience strong growth and its popularity is expanding rapidly. “With a rise in viewership numbers and heightened fan engagement, the GWSL is poised to achieve a significant milestone in the history of the sport”, he reckoned.

Dube also expressed his gratitude for the steadfast support of the Department of Sports, Arts, Culture, and Recreation.

“The third annual GWSL promises to be a celebration of talent, determination, and the indomitable spirit of women’s soccer,” he enthused. “As the teams prepare to take the field, they know they are not just playing for victory, but for the love of the game and the advancement of women’s soccer in Gauteng and beyond.”

FIXTURES 

2 November: Group A

09:00 – Field 1: Mito Stars vs Kempton Park Stars
09:00 – Field 2: Zebra Force vs FC Raycon
11:00 – Field 1 Kempton Park Stars vs Zebra Force

2 November: Group B

09:00 – Field 3: Electrical Ladies vs Springs Home Sweepers
09:00 – Field 3: Blue Birds Ladies vs Rovers FC
11:00 – Field 3: Rand Central LFA vs Electrical Ladies
11:00 – Field 4: Spring Home Sweepers vs Blue Birds Ladies
13:00 –  Field 2: Rovers FC vs Rand Central LFA

3 November: Group C

09:00 – Field 1: M.U.S.A vs Future Stars
09:00 – Field 2: Royal Lions vs JVW 1
11:00 – Field 1: RESA vs M.U.S.A
11:00 – Field 2: Future Stars vs Royal Lions
13:00 – Field 1: JVW 1 vs RESA

3 November: Group D

09:00 – Field 3: Luso Africa vs JVW 2
09:00 – Field 4: Mamelodi Sundowns vs Diepkloof Ladies
11:00 – Field 3: Wits University vs Luso Africa
11:00 – Field 4: JVW 2 vs Mamelodi Sundowns
13:00 – Field 2: Diepkloof Ladies vs Wits University