Barends bowls Saints into the final of the Switch School SA20
The title of champions of the Switch Schools SA20 Volume 2 Final Showdown will belong to either St Andrew’s School, of Bloemfontein, or Jeppe High School for Boys, from Johannesburg.
These sides will face each other in the final on Saturday morning at the Tuks Oval in Pretoria.
Saints enter the final as the only undefeated side after their convincing semi-final victory of 98 runs, according to the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern Method.
The team from Bloemfontein blasted the highest score so far of The Final Showdown, scoring 171/5 in their 20 overs with FG Botha (66) and Johnathan Hickley (52*) sharing a 95-run partnership for the third wicket.
Botha was in a devastating mood, scoring his runs from only 38 deliveries, which included four fours and six sixes. Schalk van Rensburg also added a valuable 29 runs in a 50-run partnership with Hickley for the fourth wicket.
In the other semi-final, Jeppe eased past Cricket South Africa‘s Hub Invitational side by six wickets. The Hub side was bowled out for only 66, with South African Schools‘ captain, Enathi Kitshini (23), and Moeketzi Beya (21) making the biggest contributions with the bat.
The 11th over, bowled by Reza Ayob (3/21), was eventful. He removed Nkosibonile Sibisi (3) and Kamogelo Matlala (0) with successive legal deliveries. There was, however, a wide bowled between the two dismissals. He picked up his third wicket two deliveries later when Ducayne Plaaitjies (0), facing his first ball, was caught by Shreshth Kumar.
Opening batter Vegas Scott (31*) led his side’s run pursuit, getting them over the line with six overs to spare.
Saints Christian School, from Potchefstroom, will face Queens High in the final of the Girls’ Section on Saturday. Saints lost against Steyn City in last year’s final, who benefitted from a magnificent century by Karabo Meso (117*).
The finalists had to wait for the final scheduled pool match between HTS Drostdy and Nomandi to learn their fate. The match had been unable to be played because of rain throughout the event.
When Saints and Queens faced one another in the opening match of The Final Showdown, Queens came out on top by one wicket.
HTS Drostdy was especially unlucky as all three of their games in the pool stage were called off before a ball was bowled. They did, however, get a chance to play for third place on Friday.
The Nkowankowa Hub side, from Tzaneen, defeated the Western Cape champion by seven wickets, thanks to a brilliant all-round performance by Respect Mabasa. She first picked up three wickets at the cost of only one run in two overs, before also contributing 21 runs with the bat.
Tshepiso Motswi (4/22) was, however, the pick of Nkowankowa’s bowling attack. The duo also received excellent assistance from Ivy Manyiki (2/14).
The team from Worcester started well, with Daneli Boshoff (30) and Mia-lize van der Vyver (18) sharing an opening partnership of 51 runs before Van der Vyver lost her wicket in the 12th over.
In the other play-off match, for fifth place, the Chatsworth Hub scraped past Nomandi, winning by a single run on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern Method.
Shreeya Subbiah, who picked up four wickets at the cost of a mere 13 runs, starred for Chatsworth.
Summarised Scorecards:
SEMI-FINALS
CSA Hub Invitational 66 (Enathi Kitshini 23, Moeketsi Beya 21; Reza Ayob 3/21, Shreshth Kumar 3/18); Jeppe High School for Boys 72/4 (Vegas Scott 31*; Taywin Adams 2/6). Jeppe High School for Boys won by six wickets.
St Andrew’s School 171/5 (FG Botha 66, Johnathan Hickley 52*, Schalk van Rensburg 29; Avetandwa Manyongo 3/26); Selborne College 47/8 (Erhard Barends 6/21). St Andrew’s School won by 98 runs (DLS Method).
GIRLS SECTION PLAYOFFS
HTS Drostdy 84/9 (Daneli Boshof 30, Lize de Waal 21, Mia-lize van der Vyver 18; Tshepiso Motswi 4/22, Respect Mabasa 3/1, Ivy Manyiki 2/14); Nkowankowa 85/3 (Tshepiso Motswi 34, Respect Mabasa 21, Extras 18; Mia-lize van der Vyver 2/25). Nkowankowa won by seven wickets.
Nomandi 63 (Extras 17; Shreya Subbiah 4/13, Sihana Naidu 2/13); Chatsworth 35/4 (Hailey-Ann Hampson 13; Yamkela Mnqabashe 3/11). Chatsworth won by one run (DLS Method).
