Affies pip Zwarries with 22 runs in Schools SA20 opener
Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies) opened their Schools SA20 campaign with a solid 22-run victory, beating Hoërskool Zwartkop in their backyard.
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The Zwartkop pitch, renowned for being a bit tricky to bat on, did not disappoint as it kept things interesting in the low-scoring affair.
After winning the toss, Affies decided to bat first, hoping to post a reasonable total in their allotted 20 overs. Zwarries’ star with the ball, Zandré van Staden, however, had other plans.
Van Staden led the side from Centurion’s attack with poise and precision, producing a spell that would eventually let the Affie batting lineup stumble. His impressive return of 3/20 in his allotted four overs yielded the prized scalps of Vihan Pretorius and Ruben Groenewald, who have both been in impressive nick with the bat thus far. He later capped it off by claiming the wicket of Affies’ top scorer on the day, Zirk Meyer.
Meyer, the only Affies batsman to make more than 20 runs, scored what proved to be a decisive 21 from 20 balls lower down the order, helping his side reach 100 after a taxing 20 overs.
Groenewald thereafter took a leaf out of the Zwarries book, as the all-rounder produced a top spell claiming figures of 2/13 in his three overs. His performance inspired the rest of the attack, mostly notably Jayden Beukes and Nico Loggerenberg.
Loggerenberg bowled an economical spell, conceding only 12 runs for two wickets in his four overs. Beukes, too, boasted two wickets conceding only eight runs in his two overs.
This kept the pressure piled on the Zwarrie batsmen, as they continued to lose wickets at regular intervals. With only three batsmen able to reach double figures, Zwarries’ lower order batter, Dawid Hanekom, fought a lone battle. Hanekom tried valiantly with his 22 runs from 28 deliveries, as the home side slumped to a meagre 78 when the last wicket fell, leaving them well short of the required target.
Summarised scorecards:
Affies 100/7 (Zirk Meyer 21; Zandré van Staden 3/20); Zwartkop 78 (Dawid Hanekom 22; Jayden Beukes 2/8, Ruben Groenewald 2/10, Nico Loggerenberg 2/12). Affies won by 22 runs.
