Jeppe High dominated their games against Krugersdorp High and Hoërskool Bastion to book a place in the rain Schools SA20 semifinals in the Central Gauteng Lions‘ region on Friday.
Coach Casey Arnold’s men hammered Krugersdorp by 165 runs on the AH Childe Field at Jeppe in the morning and then sauntered to a 10-wicket victory over Bastion at Parktown Boys’ High later in the day.
After Vegas Scott, the Jeppe captain, won the toss and elected to bat first against Krugersdorp, he scored an imperious unbeaten century to lead them to 231/2 from their 20 overs. Jeppe’s bowlers then put on a show, dismissing the visitors for only 66 runs in 11.1 overs.
Scott plundered 10 fours and nine sixes in a whirlwind knock of 137 not out from 73 deliveries. He also shared a 125-run opening partnership with Ethan van Dyk, who hit five fours and two sixes in a brisk 50 from 34 balls. Their partnership lasted 12.5 overs and was all they needed to take the game away from the visitors.
In stark contrast to Jeppe’s innings, none of the Krugersdorp batsmen got going. Their highest scorer, Tiisetso Mbonxa, mustered 14 from 19 balls, while Qhawe Hlatshwayo showed good intent but scored only 10 runs from six deliveries.
Phemelo Sekopane led the Jeppe attack, snapping up 2/5 in two overs, while Chad Willemse and Goolam Ahmed also picked up two wickets each.
Jeppe vs Bastion
Jeppe went from one resounding victory to another when they took on Bastion. When the toss favoured the Black Caps for the second time on the day, they chose a different approach and fielded first. That decision paid dividends as they ran through the Bastion batting in double-quick time, bundling out their opposition for only 60 in 10.5 overs.
Set a modest victory target, Jeppe’s batsmen hit out from the first ball, powering their way to 63/0 in just 3.5 overs.
Sekopane set Jeppe on course for victory with a wicket in the first over of the game. Ethan Ferguson matched him by snaring a wicket of his own in the second over, and it was downhill from then on for Bastion.
Callum Beukes put up some stubborn resistance, making 26 from 22 deliveries, but it did little to stem the tide, which was moving in the opposite direction. CJ du Toit, who starred in their previous match against King College, was the only other batsman to reach double figures, and he just made it, scoring 10.
Blake Pinto was the Black Caps’ most successful bowler, nabbing 3/5 from 1.5 overs, while Zizi Mkhize and Ferguson claimed two scalps each.
Sekopane led the run chase with an unbeaten 38 from only 13 balls, while Ahmed finished the match not out with 23 runs from 10 deliveries.
Summarised Scorecards
Jeppe High School for Boys 231/2 (Vegas Scott 137*, Ethan van Dyk 50, Zizi Mkhize 19; Nkanyezi Nhlapo 1/36, Tumelo Tshabalala 1/38). Krugersdorp High 66/10 (Tiisetso Mbonxa 14, Qhawe Hlatshwayo 10; Phemelo Sekopane 2/5, Goolam Ahmed 2/7, Chad Willemse 2/19). Jeppe won by 165 runs.
Hoërskool Bastion 60/10 (Callum Beukes 14, CJ du Toit 10; Blake Pinto 3/5, Ethan Ferguson 2/1, Zizi Mkhize 2/8). Jeppe High School for Boys 63/0 (Phemelo Sekopane 38*, Goolam Ahmed 23*; CJ du Toit 0/14, Brayden Potgieter 0/25). Jeppe won by 10 wickets.
