Juvan Lamont and Lincoln Casais scored masterful hundreds, while Tapiwa Chikwava claimed a five-wicket haul on Thursday, the first day of the St David’s Marist Inanda Fasken Time Cricket Festival.
Hoërskool Noordheuwel’s captain, Heino Ferreira, backed his batsmen’s abilities when he won the toss and elected to bat first in their Declaration match against St Charles College on the La Rosey Oval at St David’s.
They repaid his trust in them as Nories tallied a big 400/8 after 65 overs, leaving them with a 212-run lead over St Charles College at stumps. The KZN side had reached 188/5 at the close of play.
Juvan Lamont answered his captain’s call with the innings’ high score, an inspired 173 from 139 balls. The number four batsman, who took ownership of his team’s purple cap at the day’s end, which is awarded to the best performer of each side, put his full range of shots on display, hammering 15 fours and 14 sixes.
Liam Roberts and Logan Swart also gave good accounts of themselves with scores of 69 and 65, respectively.
Noordheuwel’s bowlers weren’t under pressure, thanks to the excellent work of their batsmen, and they responded by denying the St Charles’ batsmen room to express themselves. Heinrich Smith led the charge, capturing 3/46. Captain Ferreira and Malan de Jager claimed a single scalp each.
Ryan Clarke stood firm for St Charles, contributing a steady 89 from 90 deliveries. Connor Simpson and Thando Zama chipped with 49 and 34 runs, respectively.
Jeppe vs Middelburg
Hoërskool Middelburg, who won the toss and elected to bat first on the Temba Bavuma Oval at St David’s, owned a 23-run lead at stumps in their match against Jeppe High School for Boys.
The Mpumalanga side scored 278/9 from 65 overs in the first innings, while Jeppe, who faced 38 overs, finished the day on a healthy 255/2.
Lincoln Casais, who came in at number three, scored an unbeaten 115 from 103 deliveries, including 11 fours, to leave Jeppe in a strong position ahead of the contest’s second day. He shared an unbroken 208-run third-wicket partnership with Zizi Mkhize, who was on 89 not out from 87 balls.
Earlier in the day, Jaunru Brazelle and Gavin Genis played well for their half-centuries, which helped to push Middelburg to a competitive first innings total. Brazelle was undefeated on 85 from 110 balls, while Genis scored 70 from 68 deliveries.
Keegan Cockburn was the pick of the bowlers for Jeppe, knocking back 3/50. Goolam Ahmed chipped in with 2/32 runs, and Blake Pinto and Mkhize claimed a wicket each.
St John’s College vs Waterkloof
Tapiwa Chikwava registered a five-wicket haul, playing a big role in St John’s College closing the day in a favourable position against Hoërskool Waterkloof on the Mitchell Oval. The hosts trailed Waterkloof by 29 runs at the close of play.
Chikwava put in an exemplary performance, accounting for two of the four top-order wickets and then three in the middle and lower order as St John’s bowled Waterkloof out for 223 in 62.4 overs. In reply, St John’s had marched to 194/3 by stumps.
Chikwava’s return was a sparkling 5/41 from 16.4 overs. Ethan Robinson weighed in with 2/35, while Jared Gilmour and Juan de Villiers took one wicket each.
Wian du Plessis and Jean Cloete top-scored for Waterkloof with 51 runs apiece.
Nkosana Sibiya took command of the Blues‘ reply, hitting 11 fours and a six in his 67 from 70 balls. Herman Basson carried the torch after his skipper’s departure, finishing with a composed 61 not out from 93 balls.
Lions Invitational XI vs King Edward VII (KES)
The Lions Invitational XI enjoyed a 23-run lead at the close of play in their fixture against KES on the Gier Oval at St David’s.
After Zuan Joubert won the toss, he elected to bat first, and the composite side tallied 291/8 in their 65 overs. In reply, KES had reached 268/7 after 58 overs.
Bulumuko Magatya led the scoring for the Lions side, striking 12 fours in an evenly paced 72 from 87 balls. Stiaan van den Berg and Dominic Tait made useful contributions with 41 runs apiece. Phenyo Madiba, who dismissed Magatya, was KES’s leading wicket-taker with 2/80.
In response, Steven Potgieter and Jamie van Tonder excelled for KES, with each notching up a half-century. Potgieter top-scored with 94 from 98 balls, while Van Tonder was unbeaten on 55 from 59 at the close of play.
Potgieter fell to Bokomoso Banje‘s bowling. He was the Lions’ best bowler and finished the day with 3/54.
Summarised Scoresheets
Noordheuwel 400/8 (Juvan Lamont 173, Liam Roberts 69, Logan Swart 65; Caleb Sharp 3/65, Jack Richards 1/21, Jayden Saville 1/58). St Charles 188/5 (Ryan Clarke 89, Connor Simpson 69, Thando Zama 65; Heinrich Smith 3/46, Malan de Jager 1/18, Heino Ferreira 1/41). Noordheuwel leads by 212 runs.
Middelburg 278/9 (Juanru Brazelle 85*, Gavin Genis 70, Frederik Boshoff 41; Keegan Cockburn 3/50, Ahmed Goolam 2/32). Jeppe 255/2 (Lincoln Casais 115*, Zizi Mkhize 89*, Vegas Scott 36; Nijan Swart 1/48, JP Nel 1/11). Middelburg leads by 23 runs.
Waterkloof 223/10 (Wian du Plessis 51, Jean Cloete 51, Rian Klopper 39*; Tapiwa Chikwava 5/41, Ethan Robinson 2/35). St John’s 194/3 (Nkosana Sibiya 67, Herman Basson 61*, Bryn Gilmour 35; Ruan de Meyer 2/31, Rudo Rheeders 1/5). Waterkloof leads by 23 runs.
Lions Invitational XI 291/8 (Bulumuko Magatya 72, Dominic Tait 41*, Stiaan van den Berg 41; Phenyo Madiba 2/80, Tyler Cloete 1/33). KES 268/7 (Stephan Potgieter 94, Jamie van Tonder 55*, Cian Sullivan 43; Bokomoso Banje 3/54, Josh van Rensburg 2/46). Lions Invitational XI leads by 23 runs.
