A dream start to 2025 for Garsfontein’s Ysbere
Coach Elmar Dorey‘s Hoërskool Garsfontein 1st XI has made a dream start to 2025.
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In preparation for the Schools SA20 Regional playoffs, to be played in Benoni from 31 January to 2 February, the Ysbere have been piling up one impressive performance after another.
On Saturday, 18 January, in a T20, the side from Pretoria dismantled Potchefstroom Volkskool in their backyard.
On the back of an exceptional innings by Xander Venter, the Ysbere rolled to a mammoth 213/3 from their 20 overs.
Venter, batting at three, went on the rampage. In an astonishing innings, he needed only 55 deliveries to smash an unbeaten 120 runs. His onslaught led to the boundary being peppered with seven fours and seven sixes, which meant 70 of his runs came from boundaries.
Wicketkeeper/batsman Reuben van Zyl lent superb support, smashing 56 from only 36 balls in the pair’s fiery 130-run partnership.
Gifted a large and intimidating total to defend, Garsfontein’s bowlers backed up their teams’s outstanding batting performance in some style.
Leading the charge, opening bowler, Ruan Coetzee, captured four wickets for only 12 runs in his four overs. His opening partner, Wikus du Preez, also impressed, knocking over 3/15, while Jared Carr, with 2/1, rubbed further salt into the Volkies‘ wounds as the Potchefstroom side slumped to a 177-run defeat after being bundled out for just 36.
More recently, on Thursday, Helpmekaar Kollege, who had beaten St Stithians in the Johnny Waite T20 on Wednesday, also fell to the Ysbere. This time, Garsfontein had the advantage of playing at home.
They bowled first and Xander Venter showed off his all-round skills by claiming 2/27 with the ball. Echard Struwig, the lynchpin of the Ysbere’s attack, snaffled 2/31 as Helpmekaar posted a decent 140/9 from their 20 overs.
Anrich Liebenberg led the Helpies’ batting effort with a focussed 46 runs, while Heinrich Minnaar chipped in with 25.
Needing to bat at just over seven runs an over to win, Garsfontein’s batsmen dominated again. Opening batsman Reuben van Zyl gave their run chase a solid platform by scooting to 34 runs from only 20 balls. Then, Rigardt Joubert made sound use of the launching pad.
His contribution was 40 runs from only 27 deliveries, which helped propel the Ysbere to a convincing six-wicket victory over the visitors from Johannesburg.
Summarised scorecards
Saturday, 18 January
Garsfontein 213/3 (Xander Venter 120*, Reuben van Zyl 56; Handré de Beer 1/13); Potchefstroom Volkskool 36/10 (Louis van Wyk 7; Ruan Coetzee 4/12, Wikus du Preez 3/15). Garsfontein won by 177 runs.
Thursday, 23 January
Helpmekaar Kollege 140/9 (Anrich Liebenberg 45, Heinrich Minnaar 25; Xander Venter 2/27, Echard Struwig 2/31); Garsfontein 145/4 (Rigardt Joubert 40, Reuben van Zyl 34, Heinrich Badenhorst 26; Dominic Tait 1/18). Garsfontein won by six wickets.