St Andrew’s School hosted St Alban’s College on Saturday, with the sides meeting over two days in a double-innings contest on Vossie’s Field, where the visitors took the opportunity to bat first after winning the toss.
Five of the Pretoria school’s batsmen scored between 25 and 31 runs in a steady innings.
Batting at seven, Jesse Eckard fared better. He top-scored and hit four fours in a run-a-ball 57. Zayd Mohanlall made 29 and contributed 71 runs with Eckard for the sixth wicket.
Bohloka Leketa disrupted the St Alban’s batting effort and led the St Andrew’s attack, claiming 3/26 in nine overs as the Pretoria boys totalled 216 all out, losing their last wicket in the 65th over.
Erhard Barends bowled a dot ball for every run he conceded in his 2/41 from 12, while spinner Ryle Beckmann sent down 18 overs and returned 2/53.
St Andrew’s responded with 267 all out to claim a 51-run first-innings lead.
Like St Alban’s, Saints’ top run-scorer was their number seven batsman. Berno Coetsee launched a six and sent eight fours to the boundary in his 59 off 83, while Logan Colly, batting at nine, struck six fours and weighed in with 41 runs in their eighth-wicket stand worth 90 runs.
The home side’s top order also made meaningful contributions. Spencer Murray stroked six fours in his 45, and Grové du Preez hit seven fours and a six in his 46 as they shared a 65-run fourth-wicket partnership.
Jesse Eckard, the visitors’ top scorer, was also their best bowler. In 17.5 overs, he snared 4/54, while Joshua Jordan chipped in with 2/11 from his three-over spell.
With only 60 overs of play left, St Alban’s batted out a draw, ending the match on 139/9 in their second innings.
Opening batsman Thomas Hall was solid, spending 75 balls over his 41, which included four fours, while Zayd Mohanlall produced a good follow-up to his first innings’ 29. He scored 43 from 72 deliveries, with five fours, to complete a sound showing with the bat.
Reuben van Rensburg damaged the visitors with a haul of 4/46 from 13 overs. Schalk van Rensburg slowed the scoring to a trickle, snaring 2/18 from 12 overs, and Berno Coetsee was also tight, snaffling 2/9 in seven overs.
In the south of Bloemfontein, Hoërskool Fichardtpark opted to bat first in a 50-over clash against Hoërskool Sentraal on Saturday.
Number three batsman, Pieter de Bruyn, missed out on a half-century by only one run, with his 49 including six fours.
Christiaan Myburg added impetus to Fichies‘ innings, adding a quickfire 41 off 32 deliveries. He also partnered with Neven Oliver for a 76-run sixth-wicket stand. Olivier’s contribution was 38.
Only Janré Bornman, with 3/37 from nine overs, took more than one wicket for Sentraal as Fichardtpark posted 269/8.
When the visitors replied, number five batsman, Erik Prinsloo, stole the show, smashing five sixes and a whopping 13 fours in a match-winning 109 not out off only 81 deliveries.
Damian Smith weighed in with a crucial 59 off 64, cracking four sixes and three fours, and they shared the match’s best partnership of 150 for the fourth wicket, taking only 121 balls, as they drove Fichies towards victory.
Damian Mulder bowled tidily, claiming an efficient 1/13. However, Sentraal had the bit between their teeth and powered over the line in the 41st over, reaching 270/4 to win by a comfortable six wickets.
Summarised Scorecards:
First Innings
St Alban’s College 216/10 (Jesse Eckard 57, Tiashin Naidoo 31, Zayd Mohanlall 29, Ethan Detert 29, Thomas Hall 26, Joshua Jordaan 25; Bohloka Leketa 3/26, Erhard Barends 2/41, Ryle Beckman 2/53). St Andrew’s School 267/10 (Berno Coetsee 59, Grové du Preez 46, Spencer Murray 45, Logan Collay 41; Jesse Eckard 4/54, Joshua Jordaan 2/10).
Second Innings
St Alban’s College 139/9 (Zayd Mohanlall 43, Thomas Hall 41; Ruben van Rensburg 4/46, Berno Coetsee 2/9, Schalk van Rensburg 2/18). Match drawn.
Hoërskool Fichardtpark 269/8 (Pieter de Bruyn 49, Extras 46, Christiaan Myburg 41, Neven Olivier 38, Diederick de Vos 27, Heinrich Kemp 25, Roelof Herbst 20*; Janré Bornman 3/37). Hoërskool Sentraal 270/4 (Erik Prinsloo 109*, Damian Smith 59, Pieter Steyn 36, Extras 35; Damian Mulder 1/13). Sentraal won by six wickets.
