Van Biljon blasts DHS to victory over Michaelhouse
The Durban High School (DHS) train kept rolling in the Eston One Insurance T20 Night League when School chased down a healthy Michaelhouse total to win by six wickets on Wednesday evening at the Eston Beaumont Farmers Club.
The Horseflies‘ success owed plenty to the supremely talented Josh van Biljon, who tore through the ‘House bowling, smashing an unbeaten century.
Batting first, Michaelhouse made a moderate start and in the eighth over found themselves on 37/3 following the dismissal of opener Cody Sander for 10. His fellow opener, Graydon Leslie, had fallen for four, while Rex Wardlaw was run out by Lazlo Jooste for 18.
The Balgowan boys needed a boost, and they got it from Nic Baker and Ben Heuer. Baker provided the initial impetus, striking four fours in a hasty 28 from 13 deliveries before he was caught by Bayanda Majola off Jooste’s bowling. He and Heuer had added 38 in 3.2 overs.
Following Baker’s departure, Heuer joined forces with Hayden Hewlett and took charge. He clubbed two sixes and six fours in a 42-ball stay that brought him 66 runs, with Hewlett playing the supporting role.
One ball before the end of their 20 overs, Heuer was caught by Bonga Maphanga off the gas man, Bayanda Majola. Hewlett went on to finish on 24 not out from 22 balls, and Michaelhouse tallied 170/5, leaving DHS needing to bat at 8.55 runs per over to win.
With that total, the DHS bowling figures didn’t make for particularly impressive reading. Majola, with 1/27 from four, was the best of their attack.
In reply, DHS made a steady start, with Ismaeel Omar and Ethan Cooper putting on 35 for the first wicket. Omar was the first to go, caught by Preston Greene off of Rex Wardlaw’s bowling for 21 from 19 balls, which had included three fours. That brought Josh van Biljon to the crease. Six runs later, on 41, Cooper exited, having made 10 from 12.
Van Biljon and Taine Havermann immediately set about the Michaelhouse attack, with Van Biljon, especially, getting on top of the bowling. Together, they added 65 runs in 7.2 overs before Havermann was caught by Radhesh Jhilmeet off Thandanani Zuma‘s bowling for 23 from 21.
Lazlo Jooste didn’t last long, but Bayanda Majola, with eight not out, helped Van Biljon see School to victory with eight balls to spare.
Van Biljon finished on exactly 100 not out, having blasted three sixes and 12 fours in an outstanding 53-ball knock. Because of that onslaught, the Michaelhouse bowling figures didn’t make for happy reading.
Red Wardlaw picked up 1/30 in four, and Ben Heuer finished with 1/32 in four, with Wardlaw’s economy rate of 7.5 per over the best that a ‘House bowler managed. Opening bowler Thandanani Zuma removed Havermann, but he went for 42 runs from only three overs.
Scores
Michaelhouse 170/5 (Ben Heuer 66, Nic Baker 28, Hayden Hewlett 24*; Bayanda Majola 1/27, Dhilan Naraidu 1/29); Durban High School 174/4 (Josh van Biljon 100*, Taine Havermann 23, Ismaeel Omar 21; Red Wardlaw 1/30, Ben Heuer 1/32).
Durban High School won by six wickets.
