St Stithians College vs Clifton College
Top-order batsmen Ombesa Matsha and Thomas Collins found the boundary often, as both racked up a century to give St Stithians College a resounding 228-run first innings’ lead over Clifton College on Thursday, the opening day of the Fasken Time Cricket Festival.
Playing at home on the Andries Dlamini Oval, the pair looked comfortable.
Opening batsman Mathsa struck 16 fours in an unbeaten knock of 133 off 158 balls.
Thomas Collins joined him after the fall of the first wicket, and they combined for a 236-run second-wicket partnership, with Collins contributing 126 from only 112 deliveries. He launched three sixes and whacked a dozen fours to score 66 runs in boundaries.
Captain Nicholas Bayly produced fireworks to give the Saints’ innings a quick boost, smashing 50 off only 23 balls, with five fours and three sixes.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Clifton struggled in the opening session. Yusuf Ahmed, who faced the first ball of the innings, was also their top scorer, sending four balls to the boundary in his patient 23 off 52 deliveries.
The Durban school’s innings lasted only 38.2 overs, however, and they limped to only 94 all out.
Zaakir Hanslo‘s left-arm spin troubled Clifton, and he snared a miserly 4/11 from nine overs. Paceman Tendai Kadyamadare chipped in with 2/18.
St David’s Marist, Inanda vs St Andrew’s School
Batting seventh in the order for St David’s Marist Inanda, Matthew Nicholson was the only player to score a half-century as the hosts and St Andrew’s School both completed their first innings on the opening day of their two-day game.
The Bloemfontein boys were sent out to bat after the toss went the home side’s way, and they struggled on La Valla Oval, tallying only 103 all out from 31.3 overs.
Harbin Smith, Saints‘ number six batsman, fought hard and top-scored for his side, finishing with 33 not out off 50 deliveries. He hammered four fours and demonstrated stoic resilience amidst the chaos that surrounded him.
St David’s opening bowler Christopher Emslie led the way, removing the top four in the St Andrew’s batting order, with his aggressive right-arm pace bowling garnering him a fine return of 4/28. Off-spinner Kairav Koobair sent down only five overs, but he made them count, capturing 3/24.
While Nicholson was the leading scorer for St David’s, he received strong support from wicketkeeper Jonah Gruskin, who weighed in with 43 off 55 balls, hitting six fours and a six.
Ryle Beckmann and Ruben van Rensburg shared nine wickets between them. Beckmann sent down 29 overs of left-arm spin and snared 5/92, while Van Rensburg collected 4/70 from 17.3 overs.
Summarised Scorecards:
Clifton School 94/10 (Yusuf Ahmed 23; Zaakir Hanslo 4/11, Tendai Kadyamadare 2/18). St Stithians College 322/3 dec. (Ombesa Matsha 133*, Thomas Collins 126, Nicholas Bayly 50; Caleb Naicker 1/48). St Stithians lead by 228 runs.
St Andrew’s Schools 103/10 (Harbin Smith 33*, Ruan Huenis 22; Christopher Emslie 4/28, Kairav Koobair 3/24). St David’s Marist, Inanda 227/10 (Matthew Nicholson 58, Jonah Gruskin 43; Ryle Beckmann 5/92, Ruben van Rensburg 4/70). St David’s lead by 124 runs.
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