Hoërskool Kalahari enjoyed an unbeaten run, winning two and tying one of their three 50-over matches at Durban High School‘s (DHS) Stayers Festival over the weekend.
In their first match against St John’s College at Kloof 1, they lost the toss and were made to field.
Each of their dangerous opening trio claimed multiple wickets.
Liam Laing finished the Johannesburg side’s innings with an efficient and telling return of 3/12 from 3.4 overs. Kopano Mosienyane picked up 3/36 in eight overs, and Myburgh de Klerk collected 2/17 in four.
Kediyal Raman, batting at six, top-scored for St John’s with 36 runs off 54 balls, hitting three fours and a six, which helped his side to 144 all out after 30.4 overs.
After a nerve-wracking run chase, Kalahari claimed a hard-fought two-wicket win, reaching 145/8 after 36.4 overs.
Opener Strauss van Heerden top-scored for the Eagles, stroking six fours in his 30, while TJ Lategan and Warko Smit added a handy 24 runs each.
Aryan Kallan produced the best figures for St John’s, capturing 2/13, while Nicholas Barberini and Luke Hartman also removed two batsmen.
On Friday, in Hillcrest, Kalahari chose to bat against the Richards Bay Cricket Academy after winning the toss
They made good use of that call, totalling a goliath 430/8 in their 50 overs. Zian Shepherd, at seven, and Myburgh de Klerk, at five, combined to build an incredible 188-run sixth-wicket partnership off 149 balls.
In only 95 balls, Shepherd smashed 10 fours and six maximums in his 141 not out. De Klerk was also brilliant, hitting 13 fours in his 111, which came off 104 deliveries.
Shravan Singh, with 2/43 from eight overs, was the only Academy bowler to concede less than a run per ball.
Set an intimidating target, the Richards Bay locals’ run chase never got going. They were bowled out for 111 runs after 25.5 overs, resulting in a massive 319-run triumph for Kalahari.
Kellan Gouws top-scored with 33 off 33, while Ruben Marè inflicted massive damage on the Zululand side’s reply, knocking over 5/11 in 5.5 overs.
Kalahari’s final fixture on Saturday was a heart-pounding thriller against St Stithian’s College.
The Kuruman school won the toss and chose to bat on the Toti Main Oval, and their openers did a good job, with Strauss van Heerden and Ruben Marè tallying 40 and 39, respectively. Kopano Mosienyane top-scored with 54 off 70 as Kalahari finished their 50 overs on 191/8.
Yahya Chavoos led the Saints‘ attack, snaffling 4/28 in 10 overs. Then, opening the batting for St Stithians, he produced his side’s best knock, scoring 52 off 87 deliveries.
Jeremy Joiner, batting at seven, contributed a valuable 38 off 60.
Myburgh de Klerk kept the Northern Cape outfit’s attack, snapping up 4/35 from 10 overs, while Liam Laing and Kopano Mosienyane chipped in with two wickets each.
With St Stithians needing six runs to win off the final over, De Klerk took the ball for Kalahari. He struck with the first delivery, dismissing Joiner, caught and bowled. Then, he conceded only one run from each of the remaining five balls, leaving St Stithians on 191/9 and the match tied.
Summarised Scorecards:
St John’s College 144/10 (Kediyal Raman 36, Extras 23; Liam Liang 3/12, Kopano Mosienyane 3/36, Myburgh de Klerk 2/17). Hoërskool Kalahari 145/8 (Strauss van Heerden 30, TJ Lategan 24, Warko Smit 24, Extras 23; Aryan Kallan 2/13, Nicholas Barberini 2/27, Luke Hartman 2/35). Kalahari won by two wickets.
Hoërskool Kalahari 430/8 (Zian Shepherd 141*, Myburgh de Klerk 111, Extras 63, Strauss van Heerden 55; Shravan Singh 2/43, Cleyden Moodley 2/54, Zac Dewrance 2/62). Richards Bay Cricket Academy 111/10 (Kellan Gouws 33, Nyasha Myotcha 23, Extras 22; Ruben Marè 5/11, Myburgh de Klerk 2/11, Liam Liang 2/12). Kalahari won by 319 runs.
Hoërskool Kalahari 191/8 (Kopano Mosienyane 54, Strauss van Heerden 40, Ruben Marè 39, Extras 23; Yahya Chavoos 4/28, Haizum Kauchali 2/35). St Stithian’s College 191/9 (Yahya Chavoos 52, Jeremy Joiner 38, Extras 23, Jayden Mammen 22; Myburgh de Klerk 4/35, Liam Laing 2/31, Kopano Mosienyane 2/41). Match tied.
