Ben Heuer powers Michaelhouse to win over Hilton College
On Saturday, Kearsney College beat Clifton College by 68 runs in Botha’s Hill. In Balgowan, Michaelhouse won by the same margin against their arch-rivals, Hilton College.
Ben Heuer starred for ‘House, with 61, the highest score of the match, and a bowling return of 4/25 from 10 overs, which was bettered only by Liam O’Dwyer‘s superb 4/17 from 10.
Batting after winning the toss, Michaelhouse mustered 194/9 from their 50 overs.
Heuer’s 61 was supplemented by four batsmen making scores in the twenties: Rex Wardlaw (27), Riley Muir (26), Victor North (21), and Graydon Leslie (20).
Muir and North gave the home side a decent start, with a 38-run first-partnership in the first 10 overs. Later, Heuer and Wardlaw added a vital 54 from 90 deliveries for the sixth wicket.
New ball bowler, Sechaba Gude, led the visitors’ attack, knocking over 3/34 in seven overs.
Off-spinner Benoit Rey kept matters tight, claiming 2/31 in 10, while Obakeng Motsepa was a touch on the expensive side, going for 53 runs from his 10 overs, but his two wickets included that of Ben Heuer. Sange Qangule kept ‘House quiet, snapping up 1/9 in five overs.
Hilton’s Barack Munawa and Ben Wilson gave their side a decent enough start, 21 runs inside five overs, before Ben Heuer struck for the first time, having Munawa caught by Jack Campbell for 14. James Peattie didn’t last long, but Wilson and captain Rob Burman then halted Michaelhouse’s charge for 16 overs.
Heuer had taken the first two wickets before Liam O’Dwyer claimed his first when he dismissed Burman for 23, but he needed Heuer’s assistance; he took the catch that got rid of the Hilton skipper.
Burman was out in the 23rd over, which left the visitors on 82/3. By the time they reached 100, they were five down, with O’Dwyer accounting for Ryan Jellis and Cameron Hargroves.
Soon, though, Michaelhouse lost their sixth wicket, with Rex Wardlaw trapping the dangerous Sange Qangule in front for five. From 103/6, Hilton’s challenge faded away. They fell off the required run rate and were eventually dismissed for 126 off the first ball of the 49th over.
Rex Wardlaw backed up the two four-wicket men, Heuer and O’Dwyer, with a useful 2/14 from nine overs, which was the most economical return of the match. Wilson, the seventh man to lose his wicket, was Hilton’s top scorer, making a patient 52 from 109 balls, with a six his only boundary.
Victory was Michaelhouse’s and, perhaps, a stinging reminder to Hilton that they’ll need to be at their best when they travel to Pretoria for the Switch Schools SA20 Final Showdown, where they’ll fly the flag for KwaZulu-Natal.
Summarised scorecard
Michaelhouse 194/10 (Ben Heuer 61, Rex Wardlaw 27, Riley Muir 26, Victor North 21, Graydon Leslie 20; Sechaba Gude 3/34, Benoit Rey 2/31, Obakeng Motsepa 2/53); Hilton College 126/10 (Ben Wilson 52, Robert Burman 23; Liam O’Dwyer 4/17, Ben Heuer 4/25, Rex Wardlaw 2/14). Michaelhouse won by 68 runs.
