Two centurions powered St Stithians College to an impressive 28-run win over Grey College in a limited-overs match on Saturday, while Bryn Gilmour led with the bat in St John’s College’s convincing 79-run victory over St David’s Marist Inanda.
After the toss went their way, St Stithians batted first on the Dlamini Oval at St Stithians and tallied a healthy 287/4 in 45 overs. Grey College produced a brave run chase but were bowled out for 259 in 44.2 overs.
Ombesa Matsha and Thomas Collins led the way for Saints with centuries. Matsha top-scored with 107 from 109 balls, while Collins smashed seven sixes in his 105 off only 98 balls. The pair got together in the sixth over and shared a decisive 187-run second-wicket partnership. Matsha, who has enjoyed an outstanding season, lost his wicket in the 34th over, and Collins exited 10 overs later.
Didier Le Roux led St Stithians with the ball, knocking over 5/52 in nine overs, to ensure Grey College came up short in their run chase.
Opening batsman Bergh Vorster put up a brave fight for the visitors, top-scoring with 79 from 87 balls, while Hannes Peyper chipped in with a solid 47 from 45 balls, but when he fell on 254, the Bloemfontein boys were eight wickets down, and they added only five more runs before being dismissed.
Thomas Collins snapped up the last two wickets, finishing with 2/17 from 2.2 overs, while Nqaba Matunda, Chris Collins, and Yahya Chavoos each dislodged a single batsman.
St John’s College vs St David’s Marist Inanda
St John’s, playing at home on the Mitchell Oval, posted 236 all out in 46.5 overs before their bowlers delivered a convincing victory by dismissing St David’s for 157 in 41.4 overs.
Bryn Gilmour, who opened the batting for St John’s, set up a stall for 32.5 overs, scoring a well-paced 77 from 113 balls, which included a wonderful 117-run fourth-wicket stand with his brother, Jarred, who weighed in with 45. The brothers’ partnership was one of the keys to the Blues‘ winning total.
Alan McFerren made an important contribution of 30 from 29 balls, while Juan de Villiers finished with an unbeaten 18.
Kai Davis and Maru Challies shared six wickets between them, costing 100 runs, with Davis bagging 3/53 and Challies 3/47.
In their reply, the St David’s batsman struggled. Their top four batsmen all made starts but failed to convert them into substantial innings. Matthew Nicholson was the visitors’ highest scorer, with 41, while Sohail Seonath made 25, Josh King 22, and Neo Qhu 14.
Towards the end, Jordan Laschinger stubbornly tried to keep St David’s in the fight with 24, but it did not get them far. They were way off the pace.
Jarred Gilmour, whose all-round contribution fuelled the home side’s winning effort, was the pick of the bowlers for St John’s, capturing 3/29 in six overs, while Tapiwa Chikwava claimed 2/15 and Rohan Ninan 2/26 as the hosts celebrated a splendid victory.
Summarised Scorecards:
St Stithians College 287/4 (Ombesa Matsha 107, Thomas Collins 105, Jack Collins 33*; Bergh Vorster 3/41, Juan Nieuwenhuizen 1/35). Grey College 259/10 (Bergh Vorster 79, Hannes Peyper 47, Aiden Dodd 33; Didier le Roux 5/52, Thomas Collins 2/17, Yahya Chavoos 1/40). St Stithians won by 28 runs.
St John’s College 236/10 (Bryn Gilmour 77, Jarred Gilmour 45, Alan McFerren 30; Kai Davis 3/53, Maru Challies 3/47, Daniel King 2/16). St David’s Marist Inanda 157/10 (Matthew Nicholson 41, Jordan Leschinger 23, Josh King 22; Jarred Gilmour 3/29, Tapiwa Chikwava 2/15, Rohan Ninan 2/26). St John’s won by 79 runs.
