A decision to bowl first against Durban High School (DHS) the previous weekend paid dividends for Glenwood High, with runs a scarce commodity on Dixon’s Field. On Saturday, however, the same ground delivered 480 runs as Northwood powered to a 126-run win over the Green Machine in a 50-over match.
Sent in to bat, Northwood lost a wicket off the first ball of the innings. However, it took more than 30 overs before Glenwood celebrated again.
By then, though, Ross McGlashan and David de Bruyn had added 179 runs from 183 balls to set up a big Knights‘ total. Qhamani Sikutshwa bowled McGlashan to break the stand, with the opener out for 61, which included 10 fours.
Unfortunately for Glenwood, Northwood kept the momentum going, with David de Bruyn and Ryan Willis tacking on another 55 runs before Esihle Gasa trapped De Bruyn LBW. By then, the number three batsman had inflicted terminal damage. In 112 balls, he tallied 120, striking 16 fours and four sixes.
Glenwood quickly picked up another wicket, leaving Northwood on 241/4 in the 42nd over, but the Knights found their way once more, with Willis and Jamie Wimble combining for 53 from 40 balls before Wimble departed for 28.
After 50 overs, the visitors finished on 303/8 – a very good total on Dixon’s Field – with Ryan Willis unbeaten on 56.
Qhamani Sikutshwa was the best of the home side’s bowlers, nabbing 3/42 from eight overs, while Kamo Moloto picked up 2/33 from five, and Esihle Gasa returned 2/51 from 10.
Faced with a daunting run chase, Glenwood made a terrible start, losing three wickets in quick succession. They were punch drunk, on 4/3 in the fourth over, with Josh Mills responsible for two batsmen making ducks.
The reliable Sebastian Oertel steadied matters, adding 44 for the fourth wicket with Mishael Gunawardana, but it was slow going, with their stand lasting 85 balls before Gunawardana exited for 16. Soon after, Oertel was on his way, caught by Jamie Wimble off Hamza Amla for 25.
When Glenwood lost another two wickets, including Jonah Chaita for 24, they were staring down the barrel on 78/7, but the Green Machine still had plenty of fight left in them, adding another 99 runs for the loss of only one wicket before they ran out of overs.
Charles Nkwanyana led the way, while Neel Patel provided the support, as they shared a 55-run eighth-wicket stand, which ended when Ryan van Zyl bowled Nkwanyana for 44 from only 41 deliveries. He had smashed four sixes and three fours.
Patel continued his resistance, aided by Esihle Gasa, and they saw out the remaining 10.5 overs, lifting Glenwood to 177/8. Patel was 28 not out and Gasa 19 not out.
In their efforts to dismiss Glenwood, Northwood employed 10 bowlers.
Hamza Amla enjoyed the most success, snaring 3/25 from 10 tight overs, while the opening pair of Ryan van Zyl and Josh Mills also gave little away. Van Zyl returned 2/11 from seven overs, and Mills bagged 2/7 from five.
Summarised Scorecard:
Northwood 303/8 (David de Bruyn 120, Ross McGlashan 61, Ryan Willis 56, Jamie Wimble 28; Qhamani Skutshwa 3/42, Kamo Moloto 2/33, Esihle Gasa 2/51); Glenwood High 177/9 (Jonah Chaita 42, Neel Patel 28*, Sebastian Oertel 25; Hamza Amla 3/25, Josh Mills 2/7, Ryan van Zyl 2/11). Northwood won by 126 runs.
