The Wildeklawer Diamantveld T20 dished up three thrilling contests that went down to the wire on Friday, with Hoërskool Outeniqua holding off Helpmekaar Kollege to win by four runs, Hoërskool Eldoraigne claiming a tight three-wicket win over Hoërskool Framesby, and Hoërskool Kempton Park winning by seven runs against Hoërskool Montana.
At Kimberley Boys’ High, extras favoured Outeniqua by six runs over Helpmekaar – 17 to 11 – and that proved to be pivotal. Batting first, they totalled 176/4, thanks mostly to a 115-run partnership between Daniel du Preez and Hanno Swart for the third wicket.
Du Preez took on the aggressor’s role, striking eight fours and three sixes in his 46-ball innings, which produced 68 runs. Swart, who opened the innings, finished undefeated on 51 off 51.
Jonathan Tullenken, with a quickfire 19 not out off nine balls, gave the Outeniqua innings a vital late boost, while four bowlers claimed a wicket each.
Helpies replied with 172/7.
They started well, with Stian van den Berg and Keegan van Schoor sharing an opening stand of 48 in 6.4 overs before Van den Berg fell for 22. Van Schoor continued and weighed in with a useful 33 off 24 balls, hitting four fours and a six before Ross Taljaard bowled him.
Outeniqua came under threat when Zuan Joubert, batting at four, set about the Western Cape side’s bowlers. He sent five deliveries for six and another three for four in a hasty 63 off only 35 balls. He was the last man out, falling to the first ball of the 18th over, which left the Johannesburg school on 145/7. They added another 27 runs in their remaining 17 balls.
Three bowlers picked up two wickets each – Rikus Human, 2/15, Johalin Oosthuizen, 2/23, and Ross Taljaard, 2/25 – and Outeniqua survived a strong challenge from Helpmekaar.
Hoërskool Eldoraigne vs Hoërskool Framesby
At the Kimberley Country Club, Framesby posted 147/8, batting first against Eldoraigne, with Miles Feltham, their top scorer against Garsfontein on Thursday, again their leading scorer, this time with 42 off 40 balls, with five fours and a six.
Renquin Goliath, their best bowler against Garsies, bashed three sixes and two fours in his fun 32 off 17 deliveries, but Zavier Zeelie, with 3/16 in three overs, and Rowan Mclaren, with 2/16 in four, put the skids under the Gqeberha side.
The Eldos‘ reply started hesitatingly, and they clawed their way to 34/3 after seven overs. Ben Morkel came to the rescue by going on the offensive. In a 31-ball stay, he smashed seven sixes and four fours, racing to a match-winning 68 runs.
Jean du Randt made 21 in a 72-run fourth-wicket stand with Morkel, while Matthew Sampson contributed an unbeaten 15 off 11 balls to see Eldoraigne to victory.
Dandre Henwick caused the Pretoria side problems, knocking over 3/20 in his four overs, while Corbin Fleetwood bowled tidily, recording 1/19 in four.
Hoërskool Kempton Park vs Hoërskool Montana
At Kimberley Boys’ High, another tightly contested clash resulted in a seven-run win for Hoërskool Kempton Park over Hoërskool Montana.
After losing an early wicket, Kempies‘ second-wicket pairing – Sheldon Kruger, with 58 off 32 balls, and Xavier van Biljon, with 42 off 23 – tacked on 72 runs in only 6.5 overs. Hanroux Siemens, with 21, and Paul Matlala, with 20, helped to lift the Johannesburg outfit to 170/7 from their 20 overs.
Migael Kock enjoyed success with the ball, picking up 2/19 in three overs, while Leejan van Jaarsveld took 2/28 in four.
Montana got off to a scintillating start in their run chase, with Maans De Roubaix and Marco Rudolph tearing apart the Kempton Park bowling attack. They rushed to 105 in less than eight overs before De Roubaix’s onslaught was stopped.
When Ruan Pretorius bowled him, he had already made 32 off only 16 balls, with three fours and two sixes. Rudolph, however, was a bigger problem. He rocketed on to 75 from just 35 balls, smashing five sixes and seven fours.
It was a sensational opening partnership, but Montana failed to make full use of it. Leejan van Jaarsveld contributed an unbeaten, run-a-ball 28, but the other batsmen didn’t offer much, and Kempies surrendered only six extras.
At the end of their 20 overs, Montana had reached 163/7.
Three bowlers stood out for Kempton Park, with Ethan Kotze claiming 2/17 from three overs, while Francois Marais took 2/18 and Ruan Pretorius 2/19, both from four overs.
Summarised Scorecards:
Hoërskool Outeniqua 176/4 (Daniel du Preez 68, Hanno Swart 51*; Jandre Spangenberg 1/11)’ Helpmekaar Kollege 172/7 (Zuan Joubert 63, Keegan van Schoor 33, Stian van den Berg 22; Rikus Human 2/15, Johalin Oosthuizen 2/23, Ross Taljaard 2/25). Hoërskool Outeniqua won by four runs.
Hoërskool Framesby 147/8 (Miles Feltham 42, Renquin Goliath 32; Zavier Zeelie 3/16, Rowan Mclaren 2/16); Hoërskool Eldoraigne 148/7 (Ben Morkel 68, Jean du Randt 21; Dandre Henwick 3/20). Hoërskool Eldoraigne won by three wickets.
Hoërskool Kempton Park 170/7 (Sheldon Kruger 56, Xavier van Biljon 42, Hanroux Siemens 21, Paul Matlala 20; Migael Kock 2/19, Leejan van Jaarsveld 2/28). Hoërskool Montana 163/7 (Marco Rudolph 75, Maans De Roubaix 32, Leejan van Jaarsveld 28*; Ethan Kotze 2/17, Francois Marais 2/18, Ruan Pretorius 2/19). Hoërskool Kempton Park won by seven runs.
