Boland Landbou set HTS Drostdy 130 runs to win in a Boland rain Schools SA20 semi-final played at the Stiaan van Zyl Oval on Tuesday.
After 12.1 overs, on 69/5, the visitors looked as if they wouldn’t have the firepower left to take victory.
However, just as they had done in their quarterfinal clash against Paarl Gimnasium, the Worcester locals found a way to come out on top.
The contest began with the Paarl Farmers winning the toss and opting to bat first.
Matthew Geldenhuys entered the fray after the fall of the first wicket and struck a speedy 42 runs off 23 balls, including three fours and two sixes.
No other home batsman could match the tempo he set, however, with their next-best tally coming from number six batsman, Caleb Seroot, who weighed in with a run-a-ball 20.
HTS Drostdy captain DJ Luck led from the front with the ball, capturing an impressive 3/10 in a two-over spell. Tehan Jonck snapped up an economical 2/5 in two overs, too.
That led to the home side struggling to build partnerships in the middle and latter overs of their innings, and they finished on 129/9.
After his bowling heroics, DJ Luck opened the batting for Drostdy and went after the Farmers’ bowling, slamming four sixes in a quick-fire 31 off 20. Despite his big hitting, however, the Donkies slid to 69/5.
With the contest finely balanced, Alex Matthee, at five, and Jannes Kruynauw, at seven, seized control for the visitors, combining for a 60-run sixth-wicket partnership off only 43 deliveries.
Matthee scored a run-a-ball 40, hitting three fours and two sixes, while Krynauw was on 15 not out when Drostdy achieved a three-wicket victory with two balls to spare.
Kobus Prins was the only home bowler to pick up more than one wicket, returning a solid 2/17.
With the victory, HTS Drostdy qualified to face Paarl Boys’ High in the Boland region’s Schools SA20 final.
The girls’ semifinals featured a Worcester derby between Worcester Gimnasium and HTS Drostdy at the Con de Lange Field, where Drostdy chose to field first.
Gim batted a bit too cautiously. Mienke Neethling top-scored for her side with an unbeaten 27 off 65 balls, and runs appeared hard to come by.
Worcester Gimnasium still had nine wickets in hand when their innings ended on 74/1, and a more aggressive approach might have produced a higher total.
Anke Britz was the sole wicket-taker for the Donkies, claiming 1/19 from four overs.
Lizé de Waal faced the first ball of the Drostdy run chase and played positively, hitting four fours and a six in an undefeated 33 off 30 balls.
Captain Daneli Boshoff chipped in with a four and a six in an innings of 15 not out as Drostdy bounded to 78/2 in the 10th over to score a resounding eight-wicket win, which secured them a place in the Boland final against the Paarl Hub.
Miché Kammies was the best of the Gim bowlers, claiming 1/9 from two overs.
Summarised Scorecards:
Boland Landbou 129/9 (Matthew Geldenhuys 42, Caleb Seroot 20; DJ Luck 3/10, Tehan Jonck 2/5). HTS Drostdy 130/7 (Alex Mathee 40, DJ Luck 31; Kobus Prins 2/17). Drostdy won by three wickets.
Worcester Gimnasium Girls 74/1 (Extras 36, Mienke Neethling 27*; Anke Brits 1/19). HTS Drostdy Girls 78/2 ( Lizé de Waal 33*; Miché Kammies 1/9). Drostdy won by eight wickets.
