Durban High School (DHS) scored a composed victory over Kearsney College in the One Insurance Eston T20 Night League
on Monday, winning by seven wickets.
On Saturday, winning the toss and bowling first worked out well when they faced Clifton in two T20s; they won when bowling first and lost when batting first. Again, winning the toss and choosing to bowl first proved to be a winning recipe.
At least four Kearsney batsmen made starts, but none pushed through to make a truly meaningful contribution. Christo Badenhorst, with 26 not out, was the top scorer. He faced 27 balls, hitting two of them for fours and one for six.
Aaron Blackburn, with 18, and Rivaan Moodley, with 17, were the next highest contributors, but neither was able to bat at better than a run a ball.
After 20 overs, Kearsney mustered only 107/7.
Jeremiah Joseph put the skids under Kearsney, snapping up 2/24 in four overs, while Josh Morley went wicketless with the new ball, but his two overs went for only five runs and put the Botha’s Hill boys under pressure.
Matt Potgieter, with a tidy 1/18 in four, added to the pressure, while Taine Havermann claimed 1/24 in four.
The DHS reply was solid rather than spectacular, with the Horseflies taking 18.3 overs to overhaul Kearsney’s total.
Ismaeel Omar and Suliman Jadwat put on 37 for the first wicket in 6.2 overs before Omar fell, caught by Aaron Blackburn off Rivaan Moodley for 25. Moodley was the pick of the Kearsney bowlers, clamping down on DHS with his tight leg-spin bowling, which brought him a fine return of 1/12 from four overs.
Jadwat went on to score 28 from 36 deliveries, holding down one end as the other batsmen set about chasing down Kearsney’s total.
Josh van Biljon and Mo Asmal chipped in with 11 and two, respectively, before Taine Havermann gave DHS the impetus they needed. He struck an unbeaten 30 from 30 balls, hitting three fours, and shared in an unbroken stand of 54 with Suliman Jadwat off 49 deliveries to see the Durban boys to victory.
Previously, in the Eston T20 Night League, Kearsney won against Michaelhouse but lost to Hilton College. DHS had a match against Michaelhouse abandoned.
Scorecard
Kearsney College 107/7 (Christo Badenhorst 26*, Aaron Blackburn 18; Jeremiah Joseph 2/14, Matt Potgieter 1/18, Ramsey Asmal 1/20); Durban High School 108/3 after 18.3 overs (Taine Havermann 30*, Suliman Jadwat 28*, Ismaeel Omar 25; Rivaan Moodley 1/12, Matthew Gorrie 1/22, Keegan de Jager 1/23). Durban High School won by seven wickets.
