Beaten by 14 runs in a T20 on Friday, Grey High School reversed the result on Saturday, defeating St Andrew’s College by 25 runs in a high-scoring limited-overs clash on Lower Field in Makhanda.
The visitors’ batsmen produced a consistent effort after the toss went their way, and they chose to bat first.
It began up front, with Matthew Marshbank and Joe Stone putting on 42 for the first wicket. Then Stone and Connor Parry tacked on another 106 runs off 100 balls before Parry was LBW to Warrick Campbell for 32.
Stone continued and was eventually the third man to lose his wicket, leaving Grey High on 167/3 in the 29th over. He had made the innings’ top score of 77 from 78 balls, striking 11 fours.
Following the opener’s departure, St Andrew’s College enjoyed a good spell, claiming another four wickets for 60 runs. Reece Bailes and Micah Wessels then combined for a pivotal 61-run partnership for the seventh wicket to lift the visitors to 269 before Bailes was run out for 35, with three overs remaining.
Wessels was out with an over to go after a crucial 46 from 48 balls, six of which he sent to the boundary.
At the end of their 50 overs, Grey High had tallied a sturdy 296/8, with 27 extras helping their cause.
St Andrew’s College used eight bowlers in their efforts to slow the visitors, but it was tough sledding. Warrick Campbell, the last man brought into the attack, returned the best figures, however, claiming 3/40 from eight overs, while Charlie Broster, the first-change bowler, bagged 2/40 from eight.
Faced with a stiff victory target, the home team lost two batsmen by the time they reached 50. Then Connor Holder joined Rhys Wiblin in the middle, and they batted their side into a strong position, advancing the total by 117 runs from 143 balls before Matthew Tinley trapped Holder in front for 63. He had faced 78 balls and hit seven fours.
After 32 overs, St Andrew’s College had reached 167/3, giving them a decent platform from which to challenge Grey High’s big total.
Callum Taggert chipped in with 20. Then Rhys Wiblin became the fifth man to lose his wicket, out on 239 at the start of the 44th over for 113 from 125 deliveries, with 12 fours.
His exit triggered a slide for St Andrew’s. From 239/4, they tumbled to 271 all out in 5.1 overs.
Connor Parry, who claimed the big wicket of Wiblin, and Anfred Jansen were the primary drivers of the home side’s downfall, with Parry nabbing 5/57 from nine overs and Jansen picking up 3/50 from 8.2.
Graeme College vs Pearson High
In Gqeberha, Graeme College beat Pearson High by five wickets in a limited-overs match that lasted only 61 overs in total.
Sent in to bat, the home side mustered just 110 all out in 34 overs as Graeme’s bowlers dominated. Five batsmen made it into the teens, but none beyond that, with Callum Peltenberg and Ruan Coetzee sharing the innings’ top scores of 18 runs. Their second-wicket partnership of 37 was also the best of the innings.
Corbin Tidbury and James Muir led Graeme’s successes with the ball, with Tidbury snaring a tidy 3/23 from 10 overs and Muir grabbing 3/17 from seven. Lisekho Zinyane chipped in with 2/16, and Caleb Jattiem claimed 2/30.
Set a modest total to chase, the run-scoring rate was not a big challenge, but Graeme needed to keep their wickets. They lost five along the way, but clinched victory after 27 overs when they reached 114/5.
Zuko Pontshi scored 21, batting at three, but James Muir was the star of the show. He headed to the crease when Graeme was wobbling on 60/5 and promptly took charge, going after the Pearson bowlers, clubbing five sixes and a four in a 37-ball stay that brought him 37 not out and spirited the home side across the line.
Opening bowler Callum Armstrong claimed 2/21 in five overs for Pearson, while James Fullbrook placed Graeme under pressure with his 2/25 from eight overs.
Summarised Scorecards:
Grey High 296/8 (Joe Stone 77, Micah Wessels 46, Reece Bailes 35, Connor Parry 32, Matthew Marshbank 27, Extras 27; Warrick Campbell 3/40, Charlie Broster 2/40); St Andrew’s College 271/10 (Rhys Wiblin 113, Connor Holder 63, Callum Taggert 20; Connor Parry 5/57, Anfred Jansen 3/50). Grey High won by 25 runs.
Pearson High 110/10 (Callum Peltenberg 18, Ruan Coetzee 18; James Muir 3/17, Corbin Tidbury 3/23, Lisekho Zinyane 2/16, Caleb Jattiem 2/30); Graeme College 114/5 (James Muir 37*, Zuko Pontshi 21; Callum Armstrong 2/21, James Fullbrook 2/25). Graeme College won by five wickets.
