Thursday’s opening matches in Pool B of the Wildeklawer Noord-Suid T20 were both crackers, with one needing an additional over to determine a winner, and the other being decided by a tiny two-run margin.
Paarl Boys’ High won the toss and chose to field first on Hoërskool Waterkloof‘s André van der Walt Oval against Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies). However, opening batsman, AJ Morkel, was more than ready for the Boishaai bowling lineup.
In a 40-ball stay, he struck six fours and two sixes and totalled 57 runs to set the local side up for a strong total.
After a relatively quiet period in the middle overs, Daniel Murray, batting at five, went off like a grenade, blasting an explosive 37 off just 17 balls, with three sixes and two fours. Zian Labuschagne, at six, weighed in with an unbeaten 30 off 21, collecting two fours and three sixes of his own.
Divan Fourie led the Paarl Boys’ High bowling attack and captured 3/34 in four overs, including the important wickets of Morkel and Affies dangerman, Vihan Pretorius.
At the end of their 20 overs, Affies had tallied 187/6.
Boishaai’s run chase got off to a stuttering start when Nico Loggenberg dismissed AB Jacobs with the first ball of the innings. That brought the 14-year-old from Namibia, Gillmer Horn, to the crease.
It was a lot to ask of the youngster against a top cricket school, and many others might have crumbled, but Horn is not like the many. He rose to the occasion and tore through the Affies’ bowlers, launching eight sixes and rocketing 11 balls to the boundary as he charged to 110 off only 56 deliveries.
Roan Heyns, in at four, played second fiddle to Horn, but held up his end, stroking four fours in an undefeated 34 off 37 balls. Together, the pair shared a 121-run third-wicket stand off just 69 balls.
Affies, though, had heroes of their own, including Armin Snyman, who snapped up 2/24 in four overs, including the vital wicket of Horn, caught behind by Daniel Murray.
Boishaai reached 139/2 after 17 overs, but launched a ferocious assault that almost brought them victory. In the end, though, they came up tantalisingly short, finishing on 185/4.
At Harlequins, Grey College also decided to bowl first after winning the toss against Durban High School (DHS).
Jano Venter set DHS on the back foot by dismissing two of the Durbanites’ top-order batsmen early, on his way to claiming 2/19 from his four overs, while Wilhelmus van der Schyff found his rhythm in the middle overs, snaring 4/13.
Taine Havemann was the only member of the top or middle-order to make it into double figures, contributing a run-a-ball 25. Bonga Maphanga, batting at nine, top-scored, however, hitting four fours in his 28 off 24.
At the end of their 20 overs, DHS had posted 123/9.
Grey College was chasing a moderate total, but DHS’s opening bowlers Joshua Morley and Bonga Maphanga caused Grey problems in their respective four overs, with Morley acquiring 2/26 and Maphanga recording 2/27.
The Bloemfontein boys gained some traction from their middle order, with number six batsman, Bergh Vorster, leading the way with 30 off 31 deliveries, while Albert Liebenberg, batting at seven, chipped in with an unbeaten 24 off 24. Together, the pair mustered a crucial 49 for the sixth wicket, helping them to tie the DHS total by reaching 123/6 after 20 overs.
That sent the contest into a Super Over.
Grey batted first and scored 14 runs for the loss of one wicket. Wilhelmus van der Schyff then continued his excellence with the ball to restrict DHS to six for the loss of one wicket, resulting in an eight-run win via the Super Over for Grey College.
While they will be pleased with the victory, Grey College will target a far tidier performance in the field when they take on Affies on Friday morning. They conceded 20 extras, including 14 wides, while DHS gave up only three extras, with one wide.
Summarised Scorecards:
Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies) 187/6 (AJ Morkel 57, Daniel Murray 37, Zian Labuschagne 30*; Divan Fourie 3/34). Paarl Boys’ High 185/4 (Gillmer Horn 110, Roan Heyns 34*; Armin Snyman 2/24). Affies won by two runs.
Durban High School (DHS) 123/9 (Bonga Maphanga 28, Taine Havemann 25, Extras 20; Wilhelmus van der Schyff 4/13, Jano Venter 2/19). Grey College 123/6 (Bergh Vorster 30, Albert Liebenberg 24*, Daniel Hattingh 23, Aiden Dodd 20; Joshua Morley 2/26, Bonga Maphanga 2/27). Grey College won by eight runs via Super Over.
