Affies get a second crack at Hans Moore after semis go to bowl-offs
Not a hailstorm, nor strong winds and heavy rain could prevent the two semi-final favourites, Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies) and the unbeaten Hoërskool Hans Moore, from booking their places in the final of Switch Schools SA20 Volume Two Northern Region playoffs.
Relive all the Switch Schools SA20 action on SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com)
Moories, the only team with a clean record, secured their spot in the title game, but, as was the case in both semi-finals, a bowl-off was needed after inclement weather intervened and prevented any reply from the teams batting second.
According to the competition’s rules, a bowl-off takes place when bad weather prevents play, and the match must have a result. It consists of a nominated bowler from each side bowling one over, with each ball that hits the stumps counting for one point.
Fortunately, the Rowlin Cricket Academy could host bowl-offs. If no indoor facility had been available, the finalists would have been decided by a coin toss.
At one point in their bowl-off, Hans Moore trailed 1-2, but they came through with a 3-2 win over Hoërskool Ben Vorster. Affies got by Hoërskool Garsfontein by a 4-3 margin.
Before the heavens opened, Hans Moore was well placed against the Black Caps, having reached 121/5 in 16 overs. Xavier van Biljon, who had been relatively quiet with the bat thus far, hit his straps, striking four fours and a six in a fluent 40 from 30 balls.
Aidan Shaw continued his run of influential performances, clearing the boundary once and sending four deliveries into it as he weighed in with 42.
Kulani Mnisi was the standout bowler for the Tzaneen outfit, returning the impressive figures of 2/14 from his two overs.
Affies faced a sterner challenge. When play was halted after 15 overs, they were on 88/3. Vihan Pretorius, the scorer of a spectacular century on the opening day, was unbeaten on 25, while opener AJ Morkel had laid a solid foundation with a vital 36.
The Ysbere‘s disciplined bowling effort was spearheaded by Ruan Cuyler, who continued his fine form with an economical spell of 1/14 from four overs.
The final, a rematch of Saturday morning’s group encounter, which Hans Moore won by 23 runs, is scheduled to get underway at 09:30 on Sunday at Willowmoore Park.
Summarised scorecards
Hans Moore 121/5 after 16 overs (Aiden Shaw 42, Xavier van Biljon 40; Kuhlani Mnisi 2/14); Ben Vorster – Did not bat. Match abandoned – Bowl-out Result: Hans Moore 3, Ben Vorster 2.
Affies 88/3 after 15 overs (AJ Morkel 36, Vihan Pretorius 25*; Ruan Cuyler 1/14); Garsfontein – Did not bat. Match abandoned – Bowl-out Result: Affies 4, Garsfontein 3.
