Ruthven’s run-fest leads Waterkloof to success
Wian Ruthven enhanced his status as one of the best opening batsmen in South African schoolboy cricket by rising to the occasion and playing a match-winning innings in a massive Titans League clash on Saturday.
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The Waterkloof opening batsman showed off his big match temperament as Klofies scored an important home victory over Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool (Affies) on the André van der Walt Oval in Pretoria.
Ruthven was at his destructive best as he and his opening partner, Divan Behrens, who weighed in with 40, got their team off to a superb start, putting on 91 runs for the first wicket before Behrens was sent back to the pavilion.
Not even the early departure of Marcus Bakker fazed Ruthven as he went on to notch an exquisite 107 from just 95 deliveries. His innings included 11 fours and five sixes and came at a healthy strike rate of 112.63.
Beukes van den Berg did his part, combining nicely with Ruthven, as they added 114 between them.
The Waterkloof skipper showcased his stroke-playing ability, compiling a mature 59 runs, to show why he was invited to the South African u19 Identification Camp last month.
Riley Miller, with 52, and Rico van der Walt, with an undefeated 44, cashed in on the solid platform laid by the top order to help Waterkloof to a healthy 324/6 in their 50 overs.
Affies’ Vihan Pretorius, aged only 16, has enjoyed an impressive season and he continued in that vein with another classy innings for Affies in their reply, facing only 65 balls for a wonderful 88 runs, which included 10 fours and a six.
His captain, Divan de Villiers, fought valiantly with both the bat and ball. He made 61 after taking two wickets in the Waterkloof innings, although he was expensive, finishing with figures of 2/89 from his 10 overs.
Ruben Groenewald was the pick of the Affies’ attack, knocking over 2/34 in seven overs.
Affies came up well short in their run chase, with an inspired spell of 4/54 from Marcus Bakker, who always seems to be in the middle of the action, proving to be the turning point as the visitors lost a number of batsmen cheaply, on their way to an 81-run defeat.
Testing batting conditions forced Hoërskool Menlopark to fight to the very end to overcome Cornwall Hill College. They managed it, just, winning by only seven runs at home.
Parkies’ Matt van der Westhuizen continued his suburb run of form, top-scoring for his side once again, with a well-played 68. Captain Steve Stolk made his way to another half-century, contributing an important 55, while James Bronkhorst produced a little gem of 42 runs.
It was no surprise that Lhuan-dré Pretorius led the way for Cornwall Hill. He top-scored with a patient 86 but would’ve desperately wanted to keep batting as another couple of runs from his bat would have likely produced a much-needed victory for his side.
A dominant performance by Hoërskool Garsfontein’s bowlers blasted Hoërskool Centurion out of the water. The Ysbere’s quick, Nayleo Sanna, did the early damage, snapping up 3/15 in five overs. Xander Venter shone, too, also claiming 3/15, but in four overs.
An unbeaten 34 from opening batsman Reuben van Zyl was enough to break the backbone of the small run chase. Garsfontein needed only 83 to win and they wasted no time, spending only 12 overs at the crease as they recorded a convincing seven-wicket victory.
Summarised scorecards
Waterkloof 324/6 (Wian Ruthven 107, Beukes van den Berg 59, Riley Miller 52, Rico van der Walt 44*, Divan Behrens 40; Ruben Groenewald 2/34, Divan de Villiers 2/89); Affies 243 (Vihan Pretorius 88, Divan de Villiers 61, Henré Smith 35, JP Botha 20; Markus Bakker 4/54). Waterkloof won by 81 runs.
Menlopark 233/9 (Matt van der Westhuizen 68, Steve Stolk 55, James Bronkhorst 42; Michael Blignaut 3/17, Neo Makwela 3/42); Cornwall Hill College 226/9 (Lhuan-dré Pretorius 86, Ab Rasool 43, Neo Makwela 27, Michael Blignaut 26; Murray Hofmeyer 3/36, Ewald Meyer 2/23, Matt van der Westhuizen 2/31). Menlopark won by seven runs.
Hoërskool Centurion 82 (Rehan Lues 26; Nayleo Sanna 3/15, Xander Venter 3/15, Sebastian Bouwer 2/11, Eckard Struwig 2/22); Garsfontein 83/3 (Reuben van Zyl 34*; Rehan Lues 1/10). Garsfontein won by seven wickets.
