Affies comes out on top in another clash of the Titans
Another Titans’ trophy has found its way into the Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool (Affies) cabinet to add to an already impressive season.
Earlier in the season, Affies dethroned Hoërskool Waterkloof as the Titan’s Platinum League champions, ending a five-year run at the top for Klofies.
On Monday evening, at Cornwall Hill College, Affies took down another Titans’ giant, beating Hoërskool Garsfontein, to become the Switch Schools SA20 – Volume Two Titans’ champion.
Relive all the Titans Switch Schools SA20 action on SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com)
Affies vs Cornwall Hill College
In the semi-finals, they dealt with Cornwall Hill, beating the home team by four wickets.
To no one’s surprise, Vihan Pretorius was in the middle of the action in both Affies’ outings. He put his all-round abilities on show against Cornwall Hill, providing strong support to the main contributor with the ball, Nico Loggenberg, by claiming an economical 2/20 from his four overs.
Loggenberg’s 2/18 in four was the latest in a string of strong performances from him throughout the season, and it helped to limit the hosts to only 121/7 from their 20 overs.
Zander Davel was Cornwall’s leading batsman, cracking 69 from 53 deliveries, while all around him his teammates struggled.
When Affies batted, Oliver Richards and the impressive Mohale Pitso fought valiantly in defence of a modest total, with Richards snapping up 2/17 and Pitso 2/29.
Pretorius, though, top-scored with 28, and further solid contributions from AJ Morkel (27) and Daniel Murray (22) saw their side across the line.
Hoërskool Garsfontein vs Midstream College
In the other semi-final, Charl van Staden powered the Ysbere to a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over Midstream College.
Garsies needed only 14 overs to chase down the victory target of 129 set by Midstream, mostly thanks to the spanking Van Staden handed to the bowlers. His unbeaten match-winning 79 came from only 53 balls and included a whopping 11 fours and two sixes. Righardt Joubert lent good support, chipping in with 24.
Wikus du Preez, meanwhile, shone with the ball, with his four overs costing him only 11 runs and bringing him two wickets.
Reinhardt Niebuhr, with 2/15, and Katlego Lebelo, with 2/25, also played their part in setting up a meeting with Affies in the final.
Affies vs Hoërskool Garsfontein
Unfortunately for Garsfontein, they ran into Vihan Pretorius at his destructive best in the title game. He blasted 51 runs, including six fours and one six, à la Kevin Pietersen, with a reverse hit over the off side.
Daniel Murray, again, made a valuable contribution, weighing in with an unbeaten 26, as Affies tallied 145/6 from their 20 overs.
Nathan Ferreira was the best of the Ysbere’s bowlers, nabbing 2/24 from his four overs.
When Garsfontein batted, Willem Louw, with an undefeated 29, and Wikus du Preez, with 20, produced useful knocks, but Jaden Beukes sliced through the Garsies’ batting line-up, capturing 3/10 in only three overs
Armin Snyman excelled in the middle overs, dialling up the pressure with a tight spell, which brought him 2/15.
In the end, the defending champions were able to muster only 102 all out, leaving Affies the winners by a handsome 43-run margin.
The good news for Garsies’ supporters is that their team will have a second chance to topple Affies when both sides run out in phase two of the regional playoffs, which brings together the top two teams from the Titans, Limpopo and Mpumalanga regions early in 2026.
Summarised scorecards
Semi-finals
Cornwall Hill College 121/7 (Zander Davel 69; Nico Loggenberg 2/18, Vihan Pretorius 2/20); Affies 122/6 (Vihan Pretorius 28, AJ Morkel 27, Daniel Murray 22; Oliver Richards 2/17, Mohale Pitso 2/29). Affies won by four wickets.
Midstream College 128/9 (Rikus Cilliers 29, Ryan Strauss 29; Wikus du Preez 2/11, Reinhardt Nieburh 2/15, Katlego Lebelo 2/25); Garsfontein 132/2 (Charl van Staden 79*, Righardt Joubert 24; Wian de Bruin 1/15). Garsfontein won by eight wickets.
Final
Affies 145/6 (Vihan Pretorius 51, Daniel Murray 26*, Extras 20; Nathan Ferreira 2/24); Garsfontein 102 (Willem Louw 29*, Wikus du Preez 20; Jaden Beukes 3/10, Armin Snyman 2/15). Affies won by 43 runs.
