Ryan Willis smashed an unbeaten half-century to set up Northwood for an emphatic 52-run Duckworth-Lewis-Stern Method win over Hoërskool Menlopark in their Wildeklawer Noord-Suid T20 Tournament encounter at the Harlequins Cricket Club on Friday afternoon.
The victory, which was Northwood’s second of the day, catapulted the KwaZulu-Natal side to the top of the table in Pool C.
The Knights batted first and mounted an imposing total of 185/4, before their bowlers restricted Menlopark to 119/8 in 18 overs. Due to Menlopark’s innings being disrupted by lightning, the result had to be determined by the DLS Method.
Willis, who bats at number four, arrived at the crease in the fourth over, with Northwood in trouble after losing both openers for a combined 14 runs. He had barely settled in when they lost David de Bruyn five balls later.
Undaunted, Willis settled in and struck eight fours and two sixes on his way to a match-winning unbeaten 78 from 56 balls. He shared a brilliant 119-run fourth-wicket partnership with Jamie Wimble, who carved 63 in an impressive 35-ball stay. Their partnership collapsed in the 17th over. However, by then, Northwood had more than enough runs on the board to secure victory.
Menlopark’s reply began slowly, and they were unable to pick up the pace. Juan Lombaard diligently held things together through the first 11 overs, scoring 34 runs from 34 deliveries. His 30-run fourth-wicket partnership with Heinrich Claassen (22) was the local side’s highest.
Cameron White was Northwood’s most successful wicket-taker with 2/19 in four overs, while Keegan Reeves bagged 2/21 runs in his four overs.
Jeppe High School for Boys vs Rondebosch Boys’ High
Captain Schalk Fourie scored an unbeaten 46 to steer Rondebosch to a six-wicket win over Jeppe in their match on the Waterkloof Oval. Jeppe batted first and scored a good-looking 180/4 in their 20 overs. Bosch, though, chased that total down in 18.5 overs, finishing on 183/4.
Jeppe started well with the ball in defence of their total. Rondebosch all-rounder Eli Aufrichtig chose a circumspect approach before hammering three consecutive sixes in the 10th over to tilt the contest in the Capetonians’ favour. From there, Jeppe was unable to wrest back control.
Aufrichtig (44) shared a vital 76-run second-wicket stand with Tyler Heyns (45), but Rondebosch still required 78 runs to win when the partnership collapsed. Aufrichtig’s dismissal, however, opened the door for Fourie, and he weighed in with a brisk 30-ball 46 to see them over the line.
Aufrichtig, Heyns, and Fourie’s scores overshadowed fine half-centuries from Vegas Scott and Lincoln Casais. The Jeppe pair formed the spine of their team’s innings with a 102-run third-wicket partnership off 70 balls.
Scott top-scored with 75 runs off 53 deliveries, while Casais added 69 from 42 balls.
Reuvan dos Santos was Rondebosch’s top bowler, nabbing 2/15 in two overs, while Fourie and Aufrichtig picked up a wicket each.
The afternoon’s results put Northwood and Menlopark through to the quarterfinals, where Northwood will face Paarl Boys’ High, who finished in second place in Pool B, while Menlopark will tackle Affies, who topped Pool B.
Summarised Scorecards:
Northwood 185/4 (Ryan Willis 78*, Jamie Wimble 63; Verster Richter 1/23, Jordan Eck 1/24, Jan-Willem Pienaar 1/36). Menlopark 119/8 (Juan Lombaard 34, Heinrich Claassen 22; Cameron White 2/19, Keegan Reeves 2/21, Ryan van Zyl 1/15). Northwood won by 52 runs (DLS).
Jeppe 180/4 (Vegas Scott 75, Lincoln Casais 69; Reuvan dos Santos 2/15, Schalk Fourie 1/27, Eli Aufrichtig 1/28). Rondebosch 183/4 (Schalk Fourie 46*, Tyler Heyns 45, Eli Aufrichtig 44; Lincoln Casais 2/22, Chade Willemse 1/22). Rondebosch won by six wickets.
