Erhard Barends led St Andrew’s School to a seven-wicket win in the Free State’s rain Schools SA20 competition on Wednesday with an impactful all-round performance.
Playing at home on Vossie’s Field, the all-rounder captured a decisive 4/12 in four overs against Hoërskool Fichardtpark.
Reuben van Rensburg lent good support and continued his wicket-taking form, recording 3/17 from three overs, while left-arm spinner Ryle Beckmann snared 2/19 from four as Fichies totalled just 72 all out in 15 overs.
Jaden Geldenhuys, batting at four, top-scored for the visitors with a run-a-ball 16.
Behrends then shared opening duties in the Saints’ reply and top-scored with 24 runs off 17 balls, hitting three fours.
Harbin Smith, at three, then smashed two sixes and a four in a rapid 19 off seven, while Spencer Murray remained not out on 12 as the hosts reached 77/3 in the eighth over.
Dillian Geringer was the best of the Fichardtpark bowlers, claiming 2/28 in 3.4 overs.
Grey College also won, defeating Hoërskool Sentraal by 34 runs on the Johan Volsteedt Oval.
The hosts batted first, and Hendré Bothma hammered four fours and three sixes in a telling 55 off only 38 deliveries.
Bergh Vorster arrived at the crease in the tenth over with Grey on a middling 67/4. He took up the challenge, thumping four fours and four sixes in an electric unbeaten 59 off 27 balls to boost the home side’s innings.
He and Stefan Jansen van Vuuren, who weighed in with 20, combined to score 65 runs off just 32 balls for the sixth wicket.
Sentraal’s Danny Botes bowled well, knocking over 3/24 from four overs, while Ruardt Kleynhans picked up 2/30 in four as Grey College finished with 186/6 from their 20 overs.
Sentraal’s run chase started well. Top-order batsmen Damian Smith and Erik Prinsloo tallied 49 runs for the second wicket, with Smith collecting seven fours in his 43 off 32, while Prinsloo struck four fours and two sixes in his 47 off 37.
Janré Bornman, the number four batsman, made 34 off 26, sending four balls to the boundary. However, the visitors fell behind the challenging required run rate of 9.35 runs per over, finishing on 152/5.
Wilhelmus van der Schyff, who was named the bowler of the tournament at the Wildeklawer Noord-Suid T20, impressed with 2/29 from four overs, and Bergh Vorster nabbed 2/30 in four.
Welkom Gimnasium opted to bat first in their rain Schools SA20 match at Hoërskool Bethlehem Voortrekker.
Opener Luan Botha stuck around for most of their innings, tallying 33 off 41 balls. Lower down the order, at eight, Owen Hobbs contributed a fiery 24 off only eight balls, slamming two sixes and three fours, which helped the visitors to 130/7.
Fourie Scheepers restricted Gimmies with a decisive return of 4/27 from his four overs, which prevented the hosts from building dangerous partnerships in the latter third of their innings.
Voortrekker opening batsman Vuyo Maqhubu then set the home side on course for victory by cracking four fours and three sixes in his innings of 41 off 26 balls. His fellow opener, Janno Olivier, played patiently, making 26 off 34 as the pair put up 51 runs for the first wicket.
Welkom Gim fought back, with Aiden Hewitt snaffling 3/19 and Dian Erasmus 2/22 as Voortrekker slipped from 51/1 to 82/5.
Number six batsman Ruan Harris stood strong, however, bludgeoning the home side to victory in the 19th over, with his aggressive 39 off only 20 balls, featuring four fours and two sixes, steering Voortrekker to 133/6.
Summarised Scorecards:
Hoërskool Fichardtpark 72/10 (Jaden Geldenhuys 16; Erhard Barends 4/12, Reuben van Rensburg 3/17, Ryle Beckmann 2/19). St Andrew’s School 77/3 (Erhard Barends 24; Dillian Geringer 2/28). Saints won by seven wickets.
Grey College 186/6 (Bergh Vorster 59*, Hendré Bothma 55, Wilhelmus van der Schyff 22*, Stefan Jansen van Vuuren 20; Danny Botes 3/24, Ruardt Kleynhans 2/30). Hoërskool Sentraal 152/5 (Erik Prinsloo 47, Damian Smith 43, Janré Bornman 34; Wilhelmus van der Schyff 2/29, Bergh Vorster 2/30). Grey College won by 34 runs.
Welkom Gimnasium 130/7 (Luan Botha 33, Extras 22, Owen Hobbs 24; Fourie Scheepers 4/27). Hoërskool Bethlehem Voortrekker 133/6 (Vuyo Maqhubu 41, Ruan Harris 39*, Janno Olivier 26; Aidan Hewitt 3/19, Dian Erasmus 2/22). Voortrekker won by four wickets.
