Opening batsmen Joe Stone and Cullen Marais set Grey High on course for a massive total on the Pollock Oval on Saturday, sharing a huge 269-run first-wicket stand as Grey tallied 423/4 in 50 overs against Woodridge College.
Stone was steady, making 108 from 125 balls, with 18 fours, while Marais was explosive, bludgeoning 218 off only 139 balls, with 23 fours and 10 sixes. While he was at the crease, Grey put 390 runs on the scoreboard.
His 218 was also a Grey High 1st XI record, bettering the previous record of 184, set in 2016 by future Proteas batsman Matthew Breetzke.
Connor Parry chipped in with 46, hammering five fours and three sixes in his 20-ball stay as Grey went wild at the crease, setting Woodridge a demanding target of 8.48 runs per over for 50 overs to win.
Despite the pounding the visitors’ bowlers took, Stefan Ferreira emerged with credit, claiming 2/47 from 10 overs.
Woodridge’s top order batted steadily in response, but they needed to do more than be steady, and four of the top six got themselves in only to get out when well set.
The openers, Mbasa Mbengshe and Jeandré Strydom, made 27 and 20, respectively, and Woodridge was reasonably poised on 66/2 in the 14th over by the time they had both departed.
Thomas Abernathy top-scored with 32 off 46 deliveries, and Jack Feltham made 30, but it took him 61 balls to get there. Very quickly, Woodridge found themselves behind the required run rate.
Edward Ferreira, batting at eight, also made a start, but he fell for 23, and Woodridge was dismissed for 193 in the 45th over.
Grey gave all 10 outfielders a bowl, with Connor Parry picking up 2/20 from five overs, and Anfred Jansen returning 2/21 from three. Matthew Marshbank tied down the visiting batsmen, claiming a neat 1/12 from six, and Sam du Preez added good support with 1/18 in five.
Set an intimidating victory target, Woodridge showed some fight but never came close, with Grey High recording an emphatic 230-run win.
Selborne College vs St Andrew’s College
In East London, St Andrew’s College comfortably handled Selborne College’s challenge, winning their 50-over clash by 103 runs.
The decision to bat first proved a good one for St Andrew’s, who leaned on Connor Holder to see them to 248/7.
Batting at four, he anchored the Makhanda school’s innings with a controlled 102 from 120 balls, stroking nine fours and a six. He and Luke Mason shared the most consequential partnership of the innings, adding 105 for the fourth wicket before Mason fell for 35.
Holder stuck around until only two overs remained before becoming one of three victims of opening bowler Avethandwa Manyongwa, who captured 3/39 from nine overs.
In reply, Selborne stumbled out of the gate, losing their opening pair, Josh Wilkie and Thomas Lyon, within the first three overs to Warwick Campbell‘s bowling.
A 36-run partnership for the third wicket slowed the St Andrew’s charge, but when Matthew Henry fell for 13, the visitors struck quickly again, sending two more batsmen packing and leaving Selborne scrambling on 54/5 in the 18th over.
The home side was never able to construct telling partnerships. The 36 between Merrick Collins and Matthew Henry remained their best, and the 24 scored by Collins was their second-highest individual contribution until Rosh Els, batting at 10, hit 26 off 25 balls, with a four and a six. By then, the outcome of the contest was all but decided.
Selborne’s innings ended after 37 overs with the home side all out for 146.
Thomas Bussiahn got stuck into Selborne’s lower order and returned 3/41 from nine overs, while Charlie Broster dialled up the pressure by nabbing 2/15 from seven overs. Warrick Campbell, who had started the Selborne slide, finished with 2/19 from five.
Summarised Scorecards:
Grey High 423/4 (Cullen Marais 218, Joe Stone 108, Connor Parry 46; Stefan Ferreira 2/47); Woodridge College 193/10 (Thomas Abeernathy 32, Jack Feltham 30, Mbasa Mbengshe 27, Edward Ferreira 23, Jeandré Strydom 20; Connor Parry 2/20, Anfred Jansen 2/21). Grey High won by 230 runs.
St Andrew’s College 248/7 (Connor Holder 102, Luke Mason 35; Avethandwa Manyongwa 3/39); Selborne College 146/10 (Rosh Els 26, Merrick Collins 24; Thomas Bussiahn 3/41, Charlie Broster 2/15, Warrick Campbell 2/19). St Andrew’s College won by 103 runs.
