In the first of St Andrew’s Schools’ two games at the Cape Schools’ Cricket Week, hosted by Graeme College, they won the toss and decided to bowl first in their 50-over match against Grey High on Friday.
The Gqeberha school found the going tough, limping to 92/7 in the 28th over before they finally halted the Saints‘ bowlers’ regular successes.
Anfred Jansen, at eight, and Micah Wessels, at nine, did it by going on the attack, sharing an 86-run eighth-wicket stand off only 71 balls.
Jansen hammered six fours and two sixes in his 59 off 46 balls, while Wessels hit five fours and a maximum in his run-a-ball 44.
BK Leketa starred for the Switch Schools SA20 national runner-up, knocking over 5/29 in nine overs as Grey High was bowled out for 194 in 44.2 overs.
Top-order batsman Schalk van Rensburg struck a crucial 59 off 85 balls in the Bloemfontein side’s run chase, bludgeoning eight fours and a six.
Spencer Murray complemented Van Rensburg with a patient 42 off 97 deliveries, and the fourth-wicket pair added a vital 96 off 140 balls.
Logan Goddard-Ford fought hard for Grey High, bowling all three of his victims to record figures of 3/30 in seven overs, while opening bowler Alojo Nota captured 3/30 in 10 overs.
After 44.4 overs, St Andrew’s reached 185/7 to record a hard-fought win over a respected opponent.
The weather was not kind and affected many of the festival’s matches, including the St Andrew’s School vs Kingswood College match on Sunday, which had to be abandoned after only 40 overs. By then, however, Saints had powered their way to 268/4.
Captain Reuben van Aarde led from the front, striking 11 fours and three sixes in a superb 113 off 102 deliveries.
Schalk van Rensburg, batting at three, weighed in with 23 runs and added 85 for the second wicket with his skipper.
Berno Coetsee and Van Aarde tacked on 75 runs for the fourth wicket, with Coetsee’s entertaining contribution being 55 runs from only 61 balls, with five fours and two sixes.
When he exited, Harbin Smith made his way to the crease and immediately set about the Kingswood attack, blasting five sixes and four fours in a 22-ball unbeaten knock of 56 not out. He and Van Aarde took just 37 balls to boost the St Andrew’s total by 89 runs in an unbroken fifth-wicket partnership.
Kingswood’s David Loudon maintained a stoic calm amidst the chaos, claiming an efficient 1/19 from eight overs, a tidy 2.68 runs per over, which stood out as his fellow bowlers were punished.
Summarised Scorecards:
Grey High 194/10 (Anfred Jansen 59, Micah Wessels 44, Cullen Marais 29, Extras 20; BK Leketa 5/21, Ryle Beckmann 2/22). St Andrew’s School 195/7 (Schalk van Rensburg 58, Spencer Murray 42, Harbin Smith 26, Extras 24; Alejo Nota 3/30, Logan Goddard-Ford 3/36). St Andrew’s School won by three wickets.
St Andrew’s School 268/4 (Reuben van Aarde 113*, Harbin Smith 56*, Berno Coetsee 55; David Loudon 1/19). Kingswood College 0/0. Match rained out.
