Queens High and Hoërskool Linden punched their tickets to the next round of the rain Schools SA20 with wins over Fourways High and Hoërskool Riebeeckrand on Wednesday afternoon.
Playing away from home, Queens High pulled together as a unit to secure a tight two-wicket win over Fourways High. The hosts posted 111/8 after electing to bat first. In reply, Queens High took 16.4 overs to reach 113/8.
Opening batsman Dylan Coulentianos top-scored for Fourways High. His patient 48 from 62 balls was also the highest score of the match, and it held together the hosts’ innings for 18 overs. By the time he was dismissed, they had reached triple figures. Unfortunately, for the hosts, no other batsmen made it past 20, leaving Queens with a reasonable target to chase.
Queens began their innings positively. Gift Khoza made 21, and Prince Tola 13 as they put up 46 runs for the first wicket. However, once the openers exited, the visitors’ innings lost all momentum, with several batsmen removed for single-digit scores.
Two others, however, made it into the teens, with Tshimollo Makena contributing a vital 15 not out, and Lehlohonolo Mohlokane making 14.
After picking up so many wickets, Fourways might consider themselves unfortunate to have lost the match. The biggest contributor to the Queens’ total, though, was extras, with Fourways conceding 28, and that was a crucial factor in the outcome of the contest.
Riebeeckrand vs Linden
Nathan Bruynius shone, capturing 5/13 to set up Hoërskool Linden for a convincing nine-wicket win at Hoërskool Riebeeckrand in Randfontein.
The home side’s decision to bat first didn’t pay off, and their innings lasted only 14.2 overs. They were all out for 53, setting Linden an easy victory target, which they achieved in only 6.1 overs.
Bruynius profited from the work done by Linden’s new ball pair, Christo de Lange and Pieter Dirks, who accounted for the opposition’s openers in the first four overs of the contest. He then ran through the middle and lower order with impressive speed, and none of the Riebeeckrand batsmen reached double figures.
Dirks returned impressive figures, too, claiming 3/12 in 2.2 overs.
Bruynius demonstrated his all-round game in the run chase, opening the batting and hitting an unbeaten 28 from 24 balls to see Linden home.
He was the dominant partner in Linden’s 31-run opening stand with Dieter Swanepoel, who made four, and also led the way in an unbroken 23-run second-wicket stand with Tyler Mncube, who finished with seven not out.
Summarised Scorecards
Fourways High 111/8 (Dylan Coulentianos 48, Ethan Fish 15; Junior Mahlasela 3/10, Bongani Mkhwanazi 2/13, Sonti Mathabo 1/13). Queens High 113/8 (Gift Khoza 21, Tshimollo Makena 15*; Alex Heyns 3/32, Dominic Nganou 2/27, James Lottering 1/7). Queens won by two wickets.
Hoërskool Riebeeckrand 53/10 (Mattheu Jacobs 9, Barney Hayes 8; Nathan Bruynius 5/13, Pieter Dirks 3/12, Wynand van Zyl 1/3). Hoërskool Linden 54/1 (Nathan Bruynius 28*, Tyler Mncube 7*; Eaton Adams 1/35, Valentino Williams 0/15). Linden won by nine wickets.
