Selborne College hosted Queen’s College on Saturday in a limited-overs clash and got the better of the Komani school, with a focused effort in the field leading to a five-wicket win.
A decision by Queen’s to bat first didn’t pay off. They were unable to build momentum, batting at only 2.7 runs per over, as they totalled 119 all out.
Between them, Lwando Gwaza and Reid Drake captured eight wickets for 25 runs from 14 overs.
Gwaza, the second-change bowler, tightened the screws with a miserly 10 overs, which included three maidens and brought him 3/15, including two of the top three batsmen in the order.
Drake, the seventh bowler brought into the Selborne attack, ripped through the Queen’s batting, knocking over 5/10 in four overs, which included the dismissal of the visitors’ top scorer, Amila Maselane, for 38. Kungawo Zukiso, with 17, was their next-highest scorer, apart from 21 extras, that is.
Selborne’s reply was far livelier than Queen’s innings had been. In only 16.3 overs, they bounded to victory, although it was hardly a straightforward march.
In the early going, they were reduced to 19/3 within the first five overs. They lost their fourth wicket with 35 runs on the board. Then Jesse van Bronkhorst and captain Josh Wilkie wrestled control of the contest firmly away from Queen’s.
Wilkie did it by going on the attack, smashing four fours and two sixes in a fiery 21-ball stay that brought him an unbeaten 41 runs. Van Bronkhorst, meanwhile, weighed in with the game’s highest score, taking only 31 balls to hit 48, with six fours and a six.
Together, the pair shared a match-winning partnership of 77 runs from just 44 balls, which ended when Van Bronkhorst fell, caught and bowled by Kyle Scharneck, only eight runs from victory.
While Scharneck picked up the one wicket, opening bowler Mthokosizi Mbambo was Queen’s best bowler, capturing 3/20 in five overs.
Summarised Scorecard:
Queen’s College 119/10 (Amila Maselane 38; Reid Drake 5/10, Lwando Gwaza 3/15); Selborne College 121/5 (Jesse van Bronkhorst 48, Josh Wilkie 41*; Mthokosizi Mbambo 3/20). Selborne College won by five wickets.
