Botha’s BMT leads St Andrew’s to four-run win over Waterkloof
There is no doubt that St Andrew’s School‘s FG Botha is a man for the big occasion.
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The latest evidence of that came on Saturday on Vossie’s Field, in Bloemfontein, after his exceptional all-round performance led Saints to a narrow four-run victory over Hoërskool Waterkloof in their annual derby.
With St Andrew’s batting first, Botha made the visitors from the Jacaranda City chase leather with a masterful innings.
He entered the fray at the fall of the first wicket and settled in quickly, taking only 108 deliveries to score an entertaining 101, which included 10 fours and a six.
Andrew Sobiech played his part, too. In an 82-run partnership with Botha, he contributed 39 runs. Then, towards the end of the St Andrew’s innings, Johan Liebenberg delivered a crucial boost, weighing in with a match-defining 30.
Liebenberg’s innings also steadied the Saint’s ship after the home side suffered a collapse in the middle order, which was brought on by Klofies’ captain, Riley Miller. He was the eighth bowler used by Waterkloof but, by far, their most successful, knocking over 5/43 from 10 overs.
When the visitors batted, wicketkeeper/batsman, Rico van der Walt, dazzled the crowd with a superb innings. He smashed eight fours and a six in a 98-ball stay, which brought him 107 runs before he fell victim to Saints’ opening bowler, Cullen Kakora (3/30).
Unfortunately for the visitors, FG Botha’s dream day continued. Bowling his full quota of 10 overs, he snared three wickets with his leg spin to put the skids under the Waterkloof response. Only AJ de Villiers (41) mustered another noteworthy contribution, but Klofies came up just short, losing their last wicket to the second ball of the final over.
At Grey College, the home side snagged a massive 132-run victory over the visiting Pretoria Boys High School (PBHS).
As he has done for most of the short 2025 season, Henru de Wet led the way for Grey with authority. He was his team’s mainstay with the bat, accumulating 90 runs, while Daniel Hattingh (69) and Juan Maree (43*) also took the game away from Boys High.
Maree (3/12) and Hattingh (2/32) later made key contributions with the ball, sharing five wickets for only 44 runs.
Pieter Steyn scored a classy 57 for PBHS, and Louis Kruyshaar made 33, but the touring side needed far more from the rest of their batsman and they didn’t get it.
Summarised scorecards
St Andrew’s School 252 (FG Botha 101, Andrew Sobiech 39, Johan Liebenberg 30, Extras 23; Riley Miller 5/43); Hoërskool Waterkloof 248/10 (Rico van der Walt 107, AJ de Villiers 41, Franco Schmidt 21; Cullen Kakora 3/30, FG Botha 3/48, Andrew Sobiech 2/52). St Andrew’s School won by four runs.
Grey College 297/5 (Henru de Wet 90, Daniel Hattingh 69, Juan Maree 43*, Divan Bezuidenhout 38, Jaco Prinsloo 31*; Jaydon Knott-Craig 2/35); Pretoria Boys High School 165/10 (Pieter Steyn 57, Louis Kruyshaar 33, Extras 24, Grant Spencer 21; Juan Maree 3/12, Daniel Hattingh 2/32). Grey College won by 132 runs.
