Merensky Landbou Akademie opening bowler Schalk Rossouw set his side on course for a convincing victory over Stanford Lake College in a Limpopo rain Schools SA20 clash on Saturday by capturing four wickets in three overs.
Rossouw removed four of the top six Stanford Lake batsmen to prevent the hosts from building any momentum. Wean Kruger started the ball rolling, however, accounting for opening batsman Caleb Jacobs in the first over.
By the time eight overs had been bowled, Stanford Lake was wobbling on 47/6, and Rossouw had already claimed his four victims.
Christian Jacobs, batting third in the order, decided attack was the best form of defence, and it worked. He top-scored with 29 from 26 deliveries, striking four fours, but only Mphokane Mashego, with 11, and Tristin Berry, with 12 not out, joined him in double figures as Stanford Lake mustered just 77/9.
Rossouw finished with 4/20, while Waldo Mouton claimed 2/20 from four, and the other three bowlers – Wean Kruger, Conrad Venter, and Yogi Brahmbhatt – picked up one wicket each.
Set a modest victory target, Merensky picked it off in just 10.3 overs.
Zander Botha and Willem Mostert gave their side a good start, putting up 35 for the first wicket before Botha was run out in the sixth over for 20.
Waldo Mouton didn’t last long, but Mostert and Schalk Rossouw tacked on 23 from just 14 balls to boost the visitors to 61/3 in the ninth over, which was when Rossouw departed for 14.
Mostert stayed composed, however, and partnered Wynand Benade, adding 20 off the next 14 deliveries to see their side to a seven-wicket victory with 57 balls in hand.
Mostert finished with 27 not out from 26 balls, while Benade was 14 not out off eight, with a six and a four.
Christian Jacobs picked up 1/27 from four overs, and Thatego Molokomme took 1/22 from 2.3.
Hoërskool Ben Vorster vs Phalaborwa Hub
In another Limpopo rain Schools SA20 match, Hoërskool Ben Vorster bounded to a big 87-run victory over the Phalaborwa Hub.
Batting first, Ben Vorster totalled a solid 146/7, led by Dirk Nortman‘s 36 off 32 balls, and an undefeated 31 off only 13 deliveries from Mpontsheng Mashalane.
Deserve Thako bowled tidily, claiming 2/24 from four, while Lesley Zimba took 2/32 from his four.
Sontaga Ramatsoma, with telling assists from Rivoningo Chauke and Mpontsheng Mashalane, ensured the Hub’s run chase floundered. Ramatsoma knocked over 4/15 in 3.5 overs, while Chauke and Mashalane both captured 2/2 from two overs as Phalaborwa slumped to 59 all out.
Hlulani Maluleke and Lesley Zimba, with only eight runs each, were the top scorers.
Summarised Scorecards:
Stanford Lake College 77/9 (Christian Jacobs 29; Schalk Rossouw 4/20, Waldo Mouton 2/20); Merensky Landbou Akademie 81/3 (Willem Mostert 27*, Zander Botha 20, Thatego Molokomme 1/22). Merensky Landbou Akademie won by seven wickets.
Hoërskool Ben Vorster 146/7 (Dirk Nortman 36, Mpontsheng Mashalane 31*, Sontaga Ramatsona 21; Deserve Thako 2/24, Lesley Zimba 2/32); Phalaborwa Hub 59/10 (Sontaga Ramatsona 4/15, Rivoningo Chauke 2/2, Mpontsheng Mashalane 2/2). Ben Vorster won by 87 runs.
