Affies primed to dethrone Klofies in Titans League
The braaivleis fires would’ve been lit in the vicinity of Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool on Wednesday, 24 September, following Affies’ victory over Hoërskool Garsfontein, which now puts them in an excellent position to win this year’s Titans Platinum League.
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Affies’ eight-wicket victory over Garsies has taken them to second on the log with 23 league points, one behind Hoërskool Waterkloof (24).
Affies, however, still have two league matches in hand, while the Klofies only have one left in which to generate maximum points to keep their chances alive. That won’t be easy, as the defending champions are facing Hoërskool Menlopark, against whom they lost in the Finsbury Series earlier this year.
Playing at Hoërskool Garsfontein, Garsies won the toss and elected to bat first, aiming to put scoreboard pressure on the visitors. Affies’ opening bowler, Zian Labuschagne, had other plans, though, and, in the space of 10 overs, he and fellow opening bowler, Vihan Pretorius (1/35), managed to dismantle the Ysbere’s top order for only 45 runs.
Labuschagne was the main destroyer, snapping up five of the six wickets, while conceding only 26 runs in the six overs he bowled. Nico Loggenberg came in second best with figures of 2/25 in the 4.4 over he bowled. Only Echard Struwig seemed to have any answers to the continuous questions asked by the visiting bowlers. Thanks to his tenacious knock of 41 runs, the hosts at least managed a total of 121 before Adriaan Nel orchestrated Struwig’s run out.
The chase didn’t bother the Affies batters at all, as Dylan Stander and the in-form Christian Linde went about business as usual. Stander stood out with his quick-fire 67 off 51 deliveries, including 11 fours and a six, while Linde contributed 36 not out to help his side to a comfortable win.
In Centurion, Hoërskool Eldoraigne caused somewhat of an upset, seeing off the in-form Pretoria Boys High School by 21 runs. Jean du Randt (58) and Benyael Morkel (55) both scored important half-centuries, while Ruan Steyn’s 27 runs helped to get the Eldos to a defendable total of 216. Justin Luke Basdeo (3/38) and Joseph van Dijk (3/40) were Boys High’s most impressive bowlers.
The Eldo’s bowling attack, however, really delivered in their home conditions. Cornell Cousins led the way with an impressive return of 4/28, while Matthew Sampson (3/48) and Rowan McLaren (2/29) chipped in to ensure that the wickets were shared between the home side’s three frontline bowlers. Ethan Nel fought valiantly with 50 on the dot, but could not quite get the visitors over the line without sufficient support from his colleagues.
Waterkloof’s batters put the disappointment of the Affie loss behind them, with Riley Miller playing a captain’s knock of 90, from only 68 balls, smashing seven sixes and four fours, as the defending champions triumphed with 165 runs over Cornwall Hill College.
Ricardo Crous also exhibited top form before he was dismissed for a well-played 61. Rico van der Walt added 48, two short of a deserved half-century, as the batting trio combined in two separate partnerships to guide Kloof to 319/8 in the allotted 50 overs.
Rivan Booysen then worked his magic with the ball. The left-arm tied the Cornwall batters in knots, completing his quota of 10 overs with five wickets for only 25 runs. Crous continued his successful day with figures of 2/26, alongside Jaco van der Walt‘s 2/31, which restricted Cornwill to 154.
The ever-impressive Rourke de Lange raised his hand, though. He and opening partner, Keagan van Wyk (38), stood firm at the start with a partnership of 70 runs. De Lange was eventually dismissed by Van der Walt for 52, which putt an end to Cornwall’s hopes.
Summarised scorecards:
Garsfontein 121 (Echard Struwig 41, Extras 20; Zian Labuschagne 5/26, Nico Loggenberg 2/25); Affies 122/2 (Dylan Stander 67, Christian Linde 36*; Xander Venter 1/30). Affies won by eight wickets.
Eldoraigne 216 (Jean du Randt 58, Benyael Morkel 55, Ruan Steyn 27; Justin Luke Basdeo 3/38, Joseph van Dijk 3/40); Pretoria Boys High School 195 (Ethan Nel 50, Dylan Kruger 37, Extras 26, Louis Kruyshaar 25, Tinashe Mbingo 21; Cornell Cousins 4/28, Matthew Sampson 3/48, Rowan McLaren 2/29). Eldoraigne won by 21 runs.
Waterkloof 319/8 (Riley Miller 90, Ricardo Crous 61, Rico van der Walt 48, Extras 29, AJ de Villiers 27, Jaydon Blom 23; Obakeng Mokonyane 3/51, Oliver Richards 3/55). Cornwall Hill College 154 (Rourke de Lange 52, Keagan van Wyk 38, Extras 23; Rivan Booysen 5/25, Ricardo Crous 2/26, Jaco van der Walt 2/31). Waterkloof won by 165 runs.
