Centuries from Wiblin and Mafanga highlight Eastern Cape clashes
Rhys Wiblin produced a brilliant all-round performance for St Andrew’s College as they played out a draw in their declaration match against Kingswood College at City Lords, in Makhanda, on Saturday.
Queen’s College and Dale College also crossed swords in a declaration match at Dale College. It, too, ended in a draw.
Wiblin struck a brilliant unbeaten century to lead St Andrew’s College to 242/4 declared against their archrivals. Then, he was at the forefront with the ball, taking three wickets as St Andrew’s restricted Kingswood to 122/9 in reply.
St Andrew’s won the toss, elected to bat first, and made the best of the decision. Wiblin led the charge with an outstanding and unbeaten 126 off 170 balls. He shared the crease with five different partners and was part of three stands that contributed 50 or more runs to his team’s total.
The first was a 93-run second-wicket stand with Myles Sansom, who joined Wiblin in the middle in the fourth over, following William Beamish’s dismissal. Sansom, with 53, scored the lion’s share of the runs in the partnership.
The next useful stand that included Wiblin was a 53-run fourth-wicket partnership with Benjamin Coventry (21). After Coventry’s dismissal, Wiblin joined forces with Ben Scharges (30*) for an unbroken 87-run fifth-wicket partnership.
Patrick Mouton starred with the ball for Kingswood, grabbing three wickets for 59 runs in 15 overs. Franco Klopper was the other wicket-taker, claiming one wicket for 30 runs from eight overs.
Kingswood’s reply was anything but smooth. They struggled out of the gate, losing four wickets for 20 runs in the first 10 overs.
Patrick Mouton (36) and Chris Zimmerman (25) arrested the procession of wickets with a 55-run fifth-wicket partnership that stabilised the Kingswood innings. However, after it was broken, Kingswood struggled to form further partnerships. Only David Louden was able to match Mouton and Zimmerman with a score of higher than 20.
Rhys Wiblin was St Andrew’s most successful bowler with three wickets for 25 runs in 14 overs, while William Beamish chipped in with two wickets for 28 runs in eight overs.
Dale College vs Queen’s College
Lihumelo Ncukana registered a five-wicket haul for Dale College, knocking over 5/27 in 13.3 overs when his side took on Queen’s College in Qonce.
His first scalp was that of Aiden van Jaarsveld in the eighth over, which gave Dale College a foothold in the contest because it came only nine balls after Dale had claimed their first wicket.
That double strike destabilised the visitors’ innings and set the tone for the rest of their batting effort, during which they lost wickets at regular intervals. Their highest partnership was a moderate 28 runs for the eighth wicket between Rowan Miles and Chulumanco Geza. Duncan Hayes was the best of the Queen’s batsmen, though, scoring 47 off 70 balls, as the visitors tallied 177 all out.
In reply, Inga Mafanga stroked 11 fours and three sixes for his 109 off 106 balls, to lead Dale to 208/6 in response. When he arrived at the crease in the eighth over, the home side was unsteady on 23/2. Mafanga, though, spent 38 overs at the crease and held Dale’s innings together.
Mthoko Mbambo was the most successful bowler for Queen’s, bagging two wickets for 35 runs in nine overs.
Scorecards
St Andrew’s College 242/4d (Rhys Wiblin 126, Myles Sansom 53, Patrick Mouton 3/59, Franco Klopper 1/30). Kingswood 122/9 (Patrick Mouton 36, Chris Zimmerman 25, Rhys Wiblin 3/25, William Beamish 2/28). The match was drawn.
Queen’s College 177/10 (Duncan Hayes 47, Chulumanco Geza 23, Lihumelo Ncukana 5/27, Sibongisile Nzima 2/28). Dale College 208/6 (Inga Mafanga 109, Endinako Mnguni 27, Mthoko Mbambo 2/35, Caleb Waller 1/17). The match was drawn.
