In the Friday afternoon session at the Wildeklawer Noord-Suid T20, Paarl Boys’ High tallied 166/9, batting first against Grey College at Die Hoërskool Menlopark.
Opener AB Jacobs got the innings going with some big shots, hitting five fours. However, the candle that burns twice as bright only lasts half as long, and Jacobs was dismissed for an entertaining 24 off 15 balls.
Fellow opener Neil Louw added a run-a-ball 28 and enjoyed a 56-run second-wicket partnership with Gillmer Horn.
The 14-year-old struck a rapid 40 off 19, smashing three fours and three sixes. He’s made an eye-opening impact at the tournament.
Jano Venter was the pick of the Bloemfontein school’s bowlers, claiming 3/24 across four overs. Daniel Hattingh claimed 2/29 in four, while Juan Maree snapped up 2/26 in three.
After Grey’s top-order was dispatched for a combined eight runs in the run chase, Wilhelmus van der Schyff, at four, and Albert Liebenberg, at five, combined for a 75-run fourth-wicket partnership. Van der Schyff tallied seven fours in his 39 off 32 deliveries, while Liebenberg stroked 10 fours in his 69 off 45.
The Bloemfontein side’s innings was then reduced to 19 overs because of a lightning warning, and their target was revised to 160.
In four overs each, Ra-eez Isaacs picked up 2/30, and Ra’ed Fredericks returned 2/25 as Boishaai restricted Grey College to 158/6, thus winning the contest by a single run on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern Method.
At the Hofmeyr A Oval, Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies) posted 190/6, batting first against Durban High School (DHS).
Affies started relatively slow, but received a big boost when Zian Labuschagne entered the fray with the score on 82/4 in the eleventh over. The middle-order batsman went hard at the DHS bowlers, smashing three fours and four sixes in a speedy 57 off only 27 balls.
One spot below him, at seven, Paul Bester struck an undefeated 34 off 22, hitting three fours and two sixes of his own. Together, they batted at 11 runs per over, sharing a 66-run partnership off just six overs for the sixth-wicket.
Jeremiah Joseph bowled well, racking up 3/18, while Sharav Reddy collected 2/33 for the Horseflies.
The experience of Ismaeel Omar and Josh van Biljon was on display in DHS’s run chase. They built a phenomenal 136-run stand for the second wicket, with both players smacking seven fours and two sixes. Omar contributed 63 off 52 deliveries, and Van Biljon added 54 off 45.
A lightning warning caused the players to temporarily stop the match, resulting in the target being changed to 171 in 18 overs. That hurt DHS’s chances, and they fell 16 runs short, finishing on 154/3, leaving Affies with a perfect Pool B record of three wins from three matches.
Zian Labuschagne was the lone Pretoria local to pick up wickets, knocking over 2/7 in three overs. Omar was, meanwhile, a run victim, falling to a combination of Armin Snyman and wicketkeeper Daniel Murray.
Summarised Scorecards:
Paarl Boys’ High 166/9 (Gillmer Horn 40, Neil Louw 28, AB Jacobs 24, Roan Heyns 20; Jano Venter 3/24, Juan Maree 2/26, Daniel Hattingh 2/29). Grey College 136/5 (Albert Liebenberg 69, Wilhemus van der Schyff 39; Ra’ed Fredericks 2/25, Ra-eez Isaacs 2/30). Boishaai won by one run on the DLS Method.
Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies) 190/6 (Zian Labuschagne 57, Paul Bester 34*, Vihan Pretorius 29; Jeremiah Joseph 3/18, Sharav Reddy 2/33). Durban High School (DHS) 154/3 (Ismaeel Omar 63, Joshua van Biljon 54, Extras 24; Zian Labuschagne 2/7). Affies won by 16 runs on the DLS Method.
