Grey College‘s bowlers rose to the challenge after they won the toss and opted to field first against Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies) at Die Hoërskool Menlopark on Friday at the Wildeklawer Noord-Suid T20.
Opening batsman JP Botha was first in both the batting order and the top-scorer for Affies, hitting four fours and a six in his 25 runs off 15 balls.
Fellow opener AJ Morkel played a more conservative role, compiling 21 off 32 as they shared an opening stand of 33 runs, which proved to be the largest of the innings.
Number four batsman Christian Linde was the only other Pretoria local to score more than 20, adding 22 runs off 19 deliveries.
Grey College’s Wilhelmus van der Schyff continued his outstanding bowling form from Thursday, snapping up 3/12 across 1.5 overs to wrap up the Affies innings, which ended at 138 all out one ball from the end of their 20 overs.
Bergh Vorster shone, too, snaring 3/22, while opening bowler Daniel Hayidakis claimed 2/35.
Defending their moderate total, Affies fielded with the cohesion of an elite reconnaissance unit, and in no time at all Grey College found themselves deep in the mire on 15/5 after 3.2 overs.
Vihan Pretorius may not have yet made his mark with the bat, but he sure did shine with the ball, capturing an excellent 4/12 in four overs.
Zian Labuschagne was also lethal, collecting 3/9 in his 2.2-over spell. Armin Snyman, bowling in the middle overs, nabbed 2/19 in three overs.
After the fall of the fifth wicket, Hannes Peyper tried to rebuild the Grey innings with 28 off 34 balls, while the tail-enders, Albert Liebenberg and Jano Venter, resisted stubbornly, partnering for 32 runs for the 10th wicket, which was Grey’s best partnership. Venter made 21 off 17, while Liebenberg remained not out on a run-a-ball 20.
The Bloemfontein boys were all out for 109 in the 20th over, leaving Affies the winners by 29 runs.
Paarl Boys’ High vs Durban High School (DHS)
At the Hofmeyr Park A Oval, Paarl Boys’ High bowled first against Durban High School (DHS), and they made sure that decision was a good one.
It was a tough start for the Horseflies, who battled their way to 44/3 at the 6.2 over mark. Usually an opener, Ismaeel Omar, at number four, then stuck around for 35 off 35 deliveries, his side’s top score, producing two fours and a maximum.
Bonga Maphanga, at seven, did the most of the heavy lifting late in the innings, as he had done on Thursday, striking four fours in his 26 off 23.
Boishaai bowler Aden Batt troubled the Durbanites with his left-arm orthodox spin, snaffling 2/18 in four overs, while AB Jacobs was even more miserly, capturing 2/14 in his four overs.
DHS mustered 132/8 by the end of their innings.
After being bowled for a golden duck against Affies on Thursday, Paarl Boys’ High opener AB Jacobs produced a classic, rapid half-century. In only 35 balls, he hammered seven fours and three sixes to score 57 runs.
Gillmer Horn, the 14-year-old who scored an electric century against Affies, saw Boishaai to victory and was unbeaten on 27 off 33 balls when the Bolanders recorded an eight-wicket win.
Christo Muller, at four, partnered with Horn for an unbroken 62-run third-wicket partnership, with his contribution being 31 runs.
Rameez Asmall was the only wicket-taker for DHS, picking up 2/15 from four overs.
Summarised Scorecards:
Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies) 138/10 (JP Botha 25, Christian Linde 22, AJ Morkel 21; Wilhelmus van der Schyff 3/12, Bergh Vorster 3/22, Daniel Hayidakis 2/35). Grey College 109/10 (Hannes Peyper 28, Jano Venter 21, Albert Liebenberg 20*; Vihan Pretorius 4/12, Zian Labuschagne 3/9, Armin Snyman 2/19). Affies won by 29 runs.
Durban High School (DHS) 132/8 (Ismaeel Omar 35, Bonga Maphanga 26; AB Jacobs 2/14, Aden Batt 2/18). Paarl Boys’ High 133/2 (AB Jacobs 57, Christo Muller 31*, Gillmer Horn 27*; Rameez Asmall 2/15). Boishaai won by eight wickets.
