In the first of two 20-over battles against Paarl Boys’ High on Saturday, Boland Landbou won the toss and made a solid start after choosing to bat first on their Stiaan van Zyl Oval.
While there were no big individual scores, the Paarl Farmers received numerous solid contributions, which lifted them to a decent 156/7 by their innings’ end.
Wicketkeeper Divan Meyer, batting at seven, brought excitement to the home side’s innings, clubbing two sixes and two fours in his quickfire 27 off 18 balls.
Kobus Conradie top-scored for Boland Landbou, with 29, while Louis du Plessis made 27, with both batsmen facing 28 deliveries.
Boishaai captain Aden Batt led from the front, capturing 2/10 in two overs of left-arm off-spin. Tellingly, he got rid of two of the home team’s dangermen, captain Francois Prins and Matthew Geldenhuys.
Reese Petersen was the only other Paarl Boys’ High bowler to claim multiple wickets, returning 2/31 from three overs.
Boishaai opener AB Jacobs was dismissed early, run out by Louis du Plessis, but the visitors took that setback in their stride and took it to the Boland Landbou bowlers.
Opener Neil Louw and number three batsman Christo Muller combined for 106 runs from only 62 deliveries for the second wicket.
Muller top-scored with 70 runs, facing just 33 balls, six of which he crushed for six, and another five which he sent to the boundary. Louw weighed in with an undefeated 46 off 42, which included six fours.
Prins was the best of the home attack, picking up 2/25 in 3.4 overs. Paarl Boys’ High, though, comfortably overhauled the hosts with 3.2 overs to spare, winning by six wickets.
When the toss went their way again in the second match, Boland Landbou opted to bowl first.
This time, Boishaai opener Jacobs had a chance to make an impact, bashing a four and two sixes in his 21 off 16 balls. Roan Heyns, batting at four, played a composed innings, cracking five fours and two sixes in his 43 off 32.
The Farmers, though, did a better job of limiting Paarl Boys’ High the second time around, limiting the visitors to 131/7 after their 20 overs.
Opening bowler Troy Davis claimed 2/17 in four overs, while Gunther Schmidt took 2/35, also in four.
Matthew Geldenhuys was back to his best when Boland Landbou batted again, stroking three fours and hitting three sixes in his 42 as he and Prins, who made 13, produced a 52-run opening stand.
Louis du Plessis weighed in with an unbeaten 29 off 38, as he rotated the strike with his batting partners, but not many partnerships lasted long after the opening stand ended.
Boishaai’s Divan Fourie clamped down on Boland Landbou, snaring 2/11 in four overs as the home side was restricted to 111/7 in their reply, leaving Paarl Boys’ High the victors by 14 runs.
Summarised Scorecards:
Boland Landbou 156/7 (Kobus Conradie 29, Divan Meyer 27, Louis du Plessis 27, Extras 22; Aden Batt 2/10, Reese Petersen 2/31). Paarl Boys’ High 160/4 (Christo Muller 70, Neil Louw 46*; Francois Prins 2/25). Paarl Boys’ High won by six wickets.
Paarl Boys’ High 131/7 (Roan Heyns 43, AB Jacobs 21; Troy Davis 2/17, Gunther Schmidt 2/35). Boland Landbou 117/6 (Matthew Geldenhuys 42, Louis du Plessis 29*; Divan Fourie 2/11). Paarl Boys’ High won by 14 runs.
