In the final battle for Boland Landbou‘s matrics at the Stiaan van Zyl Oval on Monday, the coin toss favoured the hosts, and they decided to bowl first in a 50-over match against Wynberg Boys’ High.
Playing their last match on their home ground, the Paarl Farmers‘ opening bowlers, Gunther Schmidt and captain Francois Prins, held nothing back in their final overs.
Schmidt bowled out Wynberg opener Matthew Saunders for a golden duck with the first ball of the match. He maintained his ferocious intensity to capture 2/31 in eight overs, while Prins claimed 2/23 in seven.
Towards the end of the Wynberg innings, Troy Davis was difficult to play, and he did a fine job of restricting the visitors’ scoring rate. Conceding less than a run an over while also removing two batsmen, he finished with 2/4 from five overs.
Kobus Conradie wrapped up the innings with 2/10 in 3.1 overs as Wynberg was dismissed for 132 after 35.1 overs.
Joshua Prince scored over a third of his side’s runs, hitting five fours and a six in his 45 runs off 47 balls, but Niyaaz Allie was the only other Wynberg batsman to score more than a dozen runs, cracking three fours and a six in his 31 off 44 deliveries.
Opening bowler Damien Harris performed well while protecting a low total, knocking over an efficient 2/18 in six overs, but he was the lone man among the visitors’ attack to dispose of more than one batsman.
Boland Landbou started poorly, losing their top three batsmen in the order within the space of 11 balls, and without a run on the board. It took their experienced matrics to lead a comeback.
Francois Prins, batting at four, chipped in a patient 30 off 51, which included three fours, while Kobus Conradie, at five, was circumspect, weighing in with four fours and 35 off 86. Together, they added a crucial 75 runs for the fourth wicket.
After their dismissals, Divan Meyer and Gunther Schmidt shared an unbeaten 36-run partnership for the sixth-wicket.
Meyer made 23 off 28, and Schmidt collected 14 off 24 as Boland Landbou, aided by 31 extras, reached 133/5 after 33.1 overs to win the match by five wickets.
Summarised Scorecard:
Wynberg Boys’ High 132/10 (Joshua Prince 45, Niyaaz Allie 31; Troy Davis 2/4, Kobus Conradie 2/10, Francois Prins 2/23, Gunther Schmidt 2/31). Boland Landbou 133/5 (Kobus Conradie 35, Extras 31, Francois Prins 30, Divan Meyer 23*; Damien Harris 2/18). Boland Landbou won by five wickets.
