Lincoln Casais and Liam Roets struck superb centuries to steer Jeppe High School for Boys and Hoërskool Noordheuwel to dominant victories over King Edward VII (KES) and St Benedict’s College, respectively, in 50-over matches on Saturday.
Playing at home, on the AH Childe Oval, Jeppe registered a 95-run win over the Reds.
Their victory was set up by a strong showing at the crease, where they totalled 315/7 from their 50 overs. Jeppe’s bowlers then made life difficult for KES, bowling them out for 220 in 40.2 overs.
Casais constructed a top-class innings and top-scored for the Black Caps with 105 from 101 balls. Batting at three, he walked to the crease in the 13th over and stuck around in the middle until the 49th over.
He cobbled together a 79-run second-wicket stand with his captain, Vegas Scott, which ended when the skipper lost his wicket in the 24th over, out for 73 from 86 balls. Their partnership was built on the foundation laid by Scott’s 48-run opening partnership with Ethan van Dyk, who chipped in with 20 runs.
Casais continued, eventually exiting with only seven balls remaining in Jeppe’s innings. By then, they had reached 301, on their way to 315, setting a daunting victory target for KES.
The visitors’ bowlers struggled to contain Jeppe’s rampant batsmen, but Tyler Cloete claimed 2/55 and Matthew de Jong 2/59.
In reply, Kyle Henenne and Keagan Hendey kept the Reds in the contest with well-played half-centuries. Hendey top-scored with 59 from 54 balls, and Hendey made 52 off 59.
Urav Mukhija scored 26 at the top of the order, and the last two batsmen, Tyler Cloete and Phenyo Madiba, contributed 20 and 23 not out, respectively, adding a stubborn 36 runs for the tenth wicket. But KES needed more from the rest of their batsmen.
Ethan Ferguson was the pick of the Jeppe bowlers, knocking over 3/43 in nine overs, while Zizi Mkhize, Boitumelo Skunka, and Chad Willemse claimed two wickets apiece.
Hoërskool Noordheuwel vs St Benedict’s College
Noordheuwel made their trip to Bedfordview on a scorching October day worth it by recording a comprehensive seven-wicket win over St Benedict’s College.
The hosts won the toss, batted first, and posted a solid 251/5 from their 50 overs. Noordheuwel, in an astonishing response, needed only 28.3 overs to power their way to 255/3.
Liam Roets was in a belligerent mood, blasting 14 fours and 13 sixes in an imperious 151 from just 77 balls after entering the game in the fourth over following the dismissal of opening batsman, Iwan Oosthuizen.
After Logan Swart fell for 29, leaving the visitors on 88/2 in the 10th over, Roets and Juwan Lamont ripped into the Bennies’ bowlers, adding a rapid 156 runs for the third wicket in only 18.2 overs.
When Roets was eventually dismissed, Noordheuwel was on 244/3 and needed only eight runs to win. Lamont, who scored an unbeaten 52 from 60, with six fours and two sixes, saw Nories over the finishing line.
Earlier in the day, three St Benedict’s batsmen scored half-centuries: Sanjay Wengat made 76, Treasure Dube 70, and Shae Pollard an unbeaten 65. However, those strong efforts were not enough to combat Liam Roets’s explosive knock.
Dihan Grové was Noordheuwel’s most successful bowler, with 2/44 runs from eight overs, while Drew Phillips and Juwan Lamont chipped in with a wicket each.
Summarised Scorecards
Jeppe 315/7 (Lincoln Casais 105, Vegas Scott 73, Zizi Mkhize 34; Tyler Cloete 2/55, Matthew de Jong 2/59, Kyle Henenne 1/43). KES 220/10 (Keagan Hendey 59, Kyle Henenne 52, Urav Mukhija 26; Ethan Ferguson 3/38, Zizi Mkhize 2/38, Chad Willemse 40). Jeppe won by 95 runs.
St Benedict’s 251/5 (Sanjay Wengat 76, Treasure Dube 70, Shae Pollard 65*; Dihan Grové 2/44, Juwan Lamont 1/40, Drew Phillips 1/48). Noordheuwel 255/3 (Liam Roets 151, Juwan Lamont 52*, Logan Swart 29; Tine Muganyi 1/23, Matthew Lewis 1/32, Dylan Botha 1/22). Noordheuwel won by seven wickets.
