In the first round of the Free State Rain Schools SA20 Volume 3, Hoërskool Goudveld hosted Hoërskool Bethlehem Voortrekker in Welkom on Thursday.
The visitors won the toss and took to the crease first, where opener Buyo Maqhubu hit a patient 25 off 35 deliveries.
Batting at four, Aiden Pretorius hit a run-a-ball 22. The last two batsmen to enter the innings, Rodney Turner and Andries Rautenbach, combined for a telling, unbroken fifth-wicket partnership, which produced 64 runs off just 28 balls.
Rautenbach thumped four fours and three sixes in his explosive 46 off only 17 deliveries. Turner also faced 17 balls and struck five fours in his 32.
Thanks to their rapid stand, Voortrekker reached 157/4 after 20 overs.
Nathan Lourens was the most dangerous of the home bowlers, capturing 2/22 in his three-over spell.
Goudveld made a catastrophic start to their run chase, losing their first three batsmen for ducks. Number four batsman, Vian Boardman, halted the slide with his side’s top score of 30. It came off 35 deliveries and included three fours.
Captain Jayden Strydom was largely responsible for Voortrekker’s opening onslaught, claiming 2/4 in two overs. However, Tiaan van Wyk accrued the best bowling figures of the game, snaring 3/21 in four overs.
After only 14 overs, Goudveld was bowled out for 79, leaving Bethlehem Voortrekker with a solid 78-run margin of victory.
In the first of Friday’s two games, Hoërskool Jim Fouché (JF) hosted the Botshabelo Hub. JF batted first and profited from number three batsman Eckard Meyer‘s fiery approach.
He launched three sixes and powered eight fours to the boundary, racing to 84 off just 54 balls. Meyer, together with Reghardt Viviers, built a 49-run partnership for the third wicket, with Viviers contributing 22 runs.
The Hub side let themselves down by conceding a massive 51 extras, of which 36 were wides. Tumelo Maputle claimed 2/44 in four overs and was the lone Hub bowler to take more than one wicket.
After their 20 overs, Jim Fouché had posted an imposing 236/7.
The Botshabelo Hub’s run chase floundered from the start. By the sixth over, they were in trouble on 21/4.
The sixth man to the crease, Itumeleng Mathle, fought back, hitting three fours and a six in a 43-ball stay that brought him an unbeaten 47. Unfortunately for Mathle, none of his teammates stuck around long enough to build solid partnerships.
The visitors completed their innings on 100/7 after 20 overs, resulting in Jim Fouché ending the day with a handsome 136-run triumph.
Jareth Scott was highly influential early in the Hub’s innings and captured a miserly 3/6 in three overs. Wihan Paulsen nabbed 2/18 from four overs, and was the only bowler in the match to record a maiden over.
In Bethlehem, Hoërskool Witteberg batted first against the Kroonstad Hub.
Captain Janco Botha, batting third in the order, stroked nine fours in a fine 67 off 49 deliveries. His sixth-wicket stand with the next highest scorer, Juan du Toit, produced 67 runs off only 37 deliveries, with Du Toit chipping in with 38 off 25, including three fours.
Goitsemang Francis was the best of the Kroonstad Hub bowlers, grabbing 2/21 in four overs. Katleho Motsoane also picked up two wickets from four overs but conceded 35 runs.
The Hub was set 180 to win after Witteberg posted 179/8. They didn’t come close.
Opening batsman Thapelo Mokhethi was the only visiting batsman to make it beyond the teens, hitting four fours and a six in his 25 off 19 balls.
Each of the three Witteberg bowlers to bowl four overs picked up multiple wickets. Heino Bruwer damaged the Hub’s top order and claimed 3/19, Anru Erasmus returned 3/25, bowling in the middle overs, and Lwazi Mosea recorded a miserly return of 2/14.
After 17.2 overs, the Kroonstad Hub was dismissed for 105, leaving Witteberg with an emphatic 74-run victory.
Summarised Scorecards:
Hoërskool Bethlehem Voortrekker 157/4 (Andries Rautenbach 46*, Rodney Turner 32*, Vuyo Maqhubu 25, Extras 24, Aiden Pretorious 22; Nathan Lourens 2/22). Hoërskool Goudveld 79/10 (Vian Boardman 30, Extras 28; Tiaan van Wyk 3/21, Jayden Strydom 2/4). Bethlehem Voortrekker won by 78 runs.
Hoërskool Jim Fouché 236/7 (Eckard Meyer 84, Extras 51, Reghardt Viviers 22, Adriaan Engelbrecht 20, Joden Vorster 20; Tumelo Maputle 2/44). Botshabelo Hub 100/7 (Itumeleng Mathle 47*; Jareth Scott 3/6, Wihan Paulsen 2/18). Jim Fouché won by 136 runs.
Hoërskool Witteberg 179/8 (Janco Botha 67, Juan du Toit 38, Extras 26, Xander Fourie 21; Goitsemang Francis 2/21, Katleho Motsoane 2/35). Kroonstad Hub 105/10 (Thapelo Mokhethi 25, Extras 23; Heino Bruwer 3/19, Anru Erasmus 3/25, Lwazi Mosea 2/14). Witteberg won by 74 runs.
