Playing at home on Saturday, Paarl Boys’ High made the right decision when they opted to bat first in their 50-over clash against Boland Landbou.
They made an explosive start, with Neil Louw and AB Jacobs combining for a 134-run opening stand.
Louw struck 12 fours and two sixes in an outstanding unbeaten 137 off 141 balls, while AB Jacobs was more combustible, blasting five fours and six sixes in his 73 from 62 balls.
Batting at five, Christo Muller loaded up and went after the Boland Landbou bowlers, cracking six fours and seven maximums in an entertaining 105 off only 66 balls.
Together, he and Neil Louw advanced the Boishaai total by 172 runs from only 120 deliveries for the fourth wicket.
The visitors’ bowlers came in for stick, but Matthew Geldenhuys recorded 2/45 in six overs, and Louis du Plessis, in the context of Paarl Boys’ High’s mammoth 375/5, did well to claim 2/67 in 10.
After watching their batsmen take the fight to the Farmers, the Boishaai bowlers were just as relentless as their batting counterparts.
Zavier Swartz led the attack, knocking over 4/12 across six overs, while Ra-eez Isaacs snapped up 2/19 from seven. Divan Fourie wrapped up the visitors’ innings in his fourth over, finishing with 2/8, as Boland Landbou was toppled for only 70 in just over 27 overs.
The visitors’ scoresheet didn’t make for pleasant reading as only three batsmen reached double figures. Emile Goosen and Troy Davis shared the top score with 12, while Gideon Koetze made 10, and Paarl Boys’ High powered their way to a 305-run win.
In a southern suburbs’ derby, Bishops hosted Wynberg Boys’ High in a 50-over battle at the Frank Reid Oval. Runs were hard to come by, with only 199 being scored in the entire game.
The home side was sent in to bat first, and Wynberg quickly justified that decision as Bishops struggled to gain a foothold.
Imraan Leith, batting at seven, was the match’s highest scorer, contributing 36 runs off 67 balls. He and Max Morgan, who made 12, shared a 40-run seventh-wicket partnership.
Wynberg’s quick opening bowler, Damien Harris, has kept opposition batsmen on their toes all season long, and that was again the case on Saturday. In nine overs, he produced three maidens and captured 5/25, leading the way as the Bishops’ innings ended in the 38th over, all out for 114.
That wasn’t an intimidating total, but Wynberg endured an even tougher time at the crease, mustering only 85 all out as Bishops claimed a battling 29-run victory.
Their captain, Michail Tarentaal, was Wynberg’s leading scorer with a cautious 28 off 59 deliveries. Qaeed Shaik, at four, was the only other player to reach double figures, contributing 17 runs. Both players struck three fours, and they shared a 33-run fourth-wicket stand.
Bishops’ opening bowler, Waco Bassick, made life miserable for the visitors, bagging a stingy 3/13 and two maidens from his nine overs, and Bulela Klaas brought Wynberg’s resistance to an end in his sixth over, finishing with 2/10.
Matthew Schulz picked up an economical 2/15 from eight overs, while Imraan Leith sent down three maidens and returned 2/16, also from eight.
Summarised Scorecards:
Paarl Boys’ High 375/5 (Neil Louw 137*, Christo Muller 105, AB Jacobs 73, Extras 27; Matthew Geldenhuys 2/45, Louis du Plessis 2/67). Boland Landbou 70/10 (Emile Goosen 12; Zavier Swartz 4/12, Divan Fourie 2/8, Ra-eez Isaacs 2/19). Paarl Boys’ High won by 305 runs.
Bishops 114/10 (Imraan Leith 36; Damien Harris 5/25). Wynberg Boys’ High 85/10 (Michail Tarentaal 28; Waco Bassick 3/13, Bulela Klaas 2/10, Matthew Schultz 2/15, Imraan Leith 2/16). Bishops won by 29 runs.
