Michaelhouse delivered a comprehensive all-round performance, outplaying Hilton College on the Roy Gathorne Oval in front of an enthusiastic crowd on Friday to power to an eight-wicket win with 17 balls in hand in a Schools SA20 Derby Series showdown.
The visitors’ captain Rob Burman won the toss and chose to bat first, but he was out in the first over, bowled by Cameron McCleary for a single after playing across the line.
Barack Munawa and Ben Wilson lent the innings some stability by adding 35 from 41 balls before Wilson attempted to sweep leg spinner Liam O’Dwyer and was bowled around his legs for 16.
Munawa continued to take it to the Michaelhouse bowlers with controlled aggression, however, and tacked on a further 32 runs with Obakeng Motsepa in only 23 balls before Motsepa became O’Dwyer’s second victim, caught by Riley Muir on the mid-wicket boundary for eight.
In a huge blow, O’Dwyer trapped the dangerous Sange Qanqule LBW the very next ball to reduce Hilton College to 72/4 in the 12th over.
The momentum swung firmly House‘s way when Munawa played a loose shot to backward point, where Ben Heuer took a comfortable catch to give Liam O’Dwyer his fourth wicket, leaving the visitors on 90/5.
Munawa had played well on both sides of the wicket, hitting three fours and two sixes in his 47 off 48 balls, the highest score of the innings.
Six overs remained, and the boys in black added 42 runs from them as the Hilton lower order showed good fight.
Ross Hill weighed in with 16 not out, including a six, from just 10 balls, while James Peattie played on after a run a ball 15, and Avi Nunna contributed 14 off 16 as Hilton College completed their 20 overs on 132/7.
Liam O’Dwyer shone for Michaelhouse, snaring a decisive 4/21 from four overs, which earned him the man of the match award. Rex Wardlaw chipped in with 1/26 from four, Preston Greene returned 1/32 from his four, and Cameron McCleary finished with 1/13 from two.
Needing to bat at 6.65 runs per over to win, Michaelhouse chased victory with aggression.
Captain Graydon Leslie and Victor North got them off to a flyer, posting 42 for the first wicket from only 26 balls by frequently hitting over the circle of close fielders.
Sechaba Gude ended the opening pair’s assault with his first ball, with North holing out to long on, where Rob Burman took the catch. North had made 17 off 13 balls, hitting three fours.
Unfortunately for Hilton College, his exit did little to slow the scoring. Cody Sander joined Graydon Leslie at the crease and they batted Michaelhouse to the brink of victory, adding 77 runs from only 68 balls.
Leslie, especially, made the visitors pay for any loose balls, striking eight fours by playing good cricket shots. Sander, meanwhile, added six fours of his own.
He offered a chance when House needed only 16 runs to win, but Hilton skipper Rob Burman put down a simple catch. The very next ball, however, Burman leapt high to take a good catch above his head, which brought Leslie’s innings to an end. He had contributed a pivotal 55 from 41 balls.
Michaelhouse was on 118/2, but only 10 balls later, it was all over when Michaelhouse reached 135/2.
Sander was not out, with 46 from 48 deliveries, while Ben Heuer was not out on four after a hard-hit cut to the boundary brought the winning runs.
Sechaba Gude was the best of the Hilton College bowlers, claiming 1/21 from three overs. Obakeng Motsepa, who removed Michaelhouse captain Leslie, finished with 1/23 from 3.1 overs.
Michaelhouse’s tighter effort in the field was reflected in the batsmen’s boundary scoring.
In their innings, Hilton College hit five fours and three sixes, thus scoring 38 runs in boundaries. Michaelhouse struck 18 fours, almost doubling up their rivals, with 72 runs in boundaries.
Summarised Scorecard:
Hilton College 132/7 (Barack Munawa 47; Liam O’Dwyer 4/21); Michaelhouse 135/2 (Graydon Leslie 55, Cody Sander 46*; Sechaba Gude 1/21). Michaelhouse won by eight wickets.
