Juan du Toit top-scored with an impressive 88 from 117 balls, stroking eight fours, to set Hoërskool Witteberg on course for a limited-overs win over Hoërskool Trio on Saturday in Kroonstad.
Seventh to enter the fray, Pieter Wessels hit a dozen boundaries, 11 fours and a six, and the duo combined to score 91 runs for the sixth wicket, helping the visitors to a robust 277/9 from their 50 overs, which included 31 from HJ Eksteen and 26 from Carlo Cilliers.
Pedré Wilken leaked some runs but also removed four batsmen, claiming 4/50 from his eight overs, while Heinrich de Wet chipped in with 2/30 across seven for Trio.
Faced with a challenging run chase, the Kroonstad side’s three and four batsmen, Anthonie Pelser and Damian Hartman, pressured Witteberg with a 77-run third-wicket stand.
Pelser hit eight fours in a patient 64 off 103 deliveries, while Hartman was in a hurry, smashing four fours and four sixes in a fiery 66 off only 39 balls, and Jaden Malherbe added 26 runs.
The hosts’ lower order struggled to build on the foundation laid by Pelser and Hartman, however, and Trio slipped from 191/4 to 226 all out, losing their last six wickets for only 35 runs.
Xander Fourie led the visitors’ bowling attack, bowling all five of his victims to snap up 5/35 from 9.3 overs.
Juan du Toit followed up his brilliant performance with the bat by nabbing 3/42 from eight overs, and Trio was dismissed in the 42nd over, leaving Witteberg with a 51-run victory.
Summarised Scorecard:
Hoërskool Witteberg 277/9 (Juan du Toit 88, Pieter Wessels 70, HJ Eksteen 31, Carlo Cilliers 26, Extras 26; Pedré Wilken 4/50, Heinrich de Wet 2/30). Hoërskool Trio 226/10 (Damian Hartman 66, Anthonie Pelser 64, Extras 32, Jaden Malherbe 26; Xander Fourie 5/35, Juan du Toit 3/42). Witteberg won by 51 runs.
