Sohail Seonath and Tim Gordon scored brilliant hundreds to set up St David’s Marist Inanda and Pretoria Boys High (PBHS) for victories over the Tuskers Invitation XI and Maritzburg College at the Oppenheimer Michaelmas Cricket Week on Friday.
Seonath faced the first delivery of his side’s 50-over game on Maritzburg College’s Barns Field after the Tuskers Invitation side won the toss and chose to bowl first. He immediately took charge, facing 146 balls and contributing 136 to the St David’s total of 301 all out.
The St David’s captain then used his bowlers well, limiting the Tuskers to 201 all out in reply, to score a comfortable 100-run win.
Seonath’s innings included 13 fours and five sixes, and he shared an outstanding 123-run opening partnership with Roberto Mariano, who scored a steady 55 off 67 balls.
The rest of the St David’s batting lineup struggled to develop a foothold, but that didn’t matter; Seonath and Mariano had set them up for victory.
When the Tuskers replied, Christopher Emslie ensured their run chase didn’t develop momentum. He claimed 4/52 runs in 8.2 overs, which included dismissing the Tuskers’ top-scorer, Khethelo Mkhize, who cantered to 66 from only 56 deliveries.
Emslie was well supported by Kairav Koobair, who captured 3/54 runs in 10 overs, and Kyle Butler, who returned 2/43.
Pretoria Boys High vs Maritzburg College
On Goldstone’s, Tim Gordon and Louis Kruyshaar performed a sensational rebuilding effort, leading to Pretoria Boys High (PBHS) scoring a hard-fought 15-run win over Maritzburg College.
The toss went the visitors’ way, and they made good use of their decision to bat first, motoring their way to 283/7. Their bowlers came under pressure, but they rallied and dismissed Maritzburg College for 268 with one ball to spare in the home side’s innings.
Gordon led the way with an assured 154 from 133 deliveries, stroking 13 fours and bashing eight sixes. He shared a formidable 217-run third-wicket partnership with Kruyshaar, who adopted a more watchful approach, which brought him 94 runs from 121 balls. Remarkably, no other PBHS batsmen reached double figures. But Gordon and Kruyshaar had done enough.
Daz Jursa (52), Kyle de Bruyn (45), and Reece Wilson (44) made life tough on the Pretoria Boys High bowlers and brought College to within striking distance of the visitors’ total. In the end, though, they came up short.
A large reason for that was the six wickets shared by Wian Smit and Caden Barnes. Barnes was the pick of the PBHS bowlers, knocking over 3/42 in 10 overs. Smit chipped in with 3/60 from 9.5 overs.
St Stithians vs DHS
Thumped by Hilton College on Thursday, St Stithians reversed their fortunes and won on Friday.
Ombesa Matsha compiled a composed half-century to guide Saints to a five-wicket win over Durban High School (DHS) at Collegians.
A decision by the Johannesburg school to bowl first paid off, and they skittled DHS for only 127 in 32 overs. It took St Stithians 33 overs to reach 131/5 to secure victory.
Nqaba Matunda, Didier le Roux, and Chris Collins all captured a wicket each in the powerplay to place Saints on the front foot. Rameez Asmall and Jeremiah Joseph provided some resistance, but their scores weren’t substantial, with both making 21.
Le Roux was the pick of the St Stithians’ bowlers, snapping up 3/10 in five overs. Chris Collins was well nigh unplayable, dislodging two batsmen for only six runs from his four overs, while Thomas Collins contributed a couple of scalps for 22 runs in five overs.
Matsha then took control of the chase, leading the way with an unbeaten 63 from 81 balls, while sharing the crease with six batsmen. He and Nicholas Bayly (26) put on 48 for the third wicket, before Matsha and Le Roux (18*) combined for an unbroken 42 for the sixth wicket to see their side to victory.
Westville Boys’ High vs St John’s
At the Beaumont Eston Farmers Club, Kyle McGough carved a brisk half-century to steer Westville to a six-wicket win over St John’s College.
The men from Gauteng won the toss, chose to bat first, but found the going at the crease tough and were bowled out for 137 runs in 45.4 overs. In response, Westville breezed to 140/4 in 26.2 overs.
McGough arrived at the crease in the first over after Aidan Baudach‘s early dismissal. Over the next 21 overs, he struck 13 fours and a six, scoring 74 off 65 balls. After Gough’s demise, Tristin Delvin took the reins and saw Westville over the line with an unbeaten 28 from 32 balls.
Earlier in the day, Ewan du Toit and Aarin Rasmussen took six wickets between them to bring St John’s to their knees. Du Toit led the charge with 3/23 from 10 overs of accurate left-arm spin. Rasmussen also gave little away, nabbing 3/16 in seven overs.
Herman Basson top-scored for St John’s, batting patiently for 22 from 58 deliveries, while Nkosana Sibiya also put his head down and worked hard, adding 20 from 55 balls.
Northwood vs Jeppe
After an impressive win over King Edward VII (KES) on Thursday, Northwood recorded a comfortable 58-run victory over KES’s Johannesburg rivals, Jeppe at Lynwood.
Northwood, who were inserted to bat first, tallied 216 all out in 48.5 overs. Their bowlers, who set up the Knights‘ win over KES, again did a tidy job and dismissed Jeppe for 158 in 40.2 overs.
David de Bruyn was Northwood’s leading scorer for a second successive day, charging to 40 off only 26 balls, while Thomas Oosthuizen pushed the Durban side forward with a steady 37 from 47 deliveries.
Ryan van Zyl then played a major role in helping Northwood defend their total, removing three batsmen in 6.2 overs for only 12 runs. James Searle provided good support and dialled up the pressure by claiming 3/23 in six overs.
Summarised Scorecards
St David’s Marist Inanda 301/10 (Sohail Seonath 136, Roberto Mariano 55; Asande Mhlongo 3/33, Caleb Thomas 2/37). Tuskers Invitation 201/10 (Khethelo Mkhize 66, Kwanele Nqayi 23; Christopher Emslie 4/52, Kairav Koobair 3/54). St David’s Marist Inanda won by 100 runs.
Pretoria Boys High 283/7 (Tim Gordon 154, Louis Kruyshaar 94; Reece Wilson 3/40, Luke Venter 1/39). Maritzburg College 268 (Dax Jursa 52, Kyle de Bruyn 45; Caden Barnes 3/42, Wian Smit 3/60). Pretoria Boys High won by 15 runs.
Durban High School 127/10 (Jeremiah Joseph 21, Rameez Asmall 21; Didier Le Roux 3/10, Chris Collins 2/6). St Stithians College 131/5 (Ombesa Matsha 63*, Nicholas Bayly 26; Joshua Morley 3/31, Bonga Maphanga 1/31). St Stithians College won by five wickets.
St John’s College 137/10 (Herman Basson 22, Nkosana Sibiya 20; Ewan du Toit 3/23, Aarin Rasmussen 3/16). Westville Boys’ High 140/4 (Kyle McGough 74, Tristin Delvin 28*; Herman Basson 3/23, Juan de Villiers 1/25). Westville Boys’ High won by six wickets.
Northwood 216/10 (Dawid de Bruyn 40, Thomas Oosthuizen 37; Phemelo Sekopane 2/7, Ahmed Goolam 2/20, Ethan Ferguson 2/20). Jeppe 158/10 (Vegas Scott 28, Ahmed Goolam 20; Ryan van Zyl 3/12, James Searle 3/23). Northwood won by 58 runs.
