Ben Vorster dethrones Merensky as Limpopo Schools SA20 champion
Hoërskool Ben Vorster came out on top in a Tzaneen derby to dethrone Merensky Landbou Akademie as the champion of the Limpopo region in the Switch Schools SA20 – Volume Two competition on Saturday, at Stanford Lake College.
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Heavy rain was forecast for Saturday after wet conditions on Friday, but the semi-finals were, nonetheless, able to be played on Saturday morning.
Across the three matches – semi-finals and final – batting proved to be a difficult challenge. Only in one of them was the 100-run mark topped, with both Stanford Lake College and Merensky Landbou reaching three figures in their semi-final showdown.
The hosts posted 109/7 in their 20 overs, led by Joshua Doolabh, who top-scored with 25. Topher Elphinstone starred for the Plasies, returning an economical 2/13. Vir Patel, with 2/16, and Waldo Mouton, with 2/26, also chipped in with useful spells.
In the challenging batting conditions, 110 looked a tough target. However, Muhammed Khan controlled the chase superbly, striking an unbeaten 30, to guide Merensky to an eight-wicket victory and into the final.
Ben Vorster faced the Mohodi Hub in the other semi-final. The Hub XI batted first and struggled to contain the Vossies‘ Talent Ndlovu and Sontag Ramatsona. Ndlovu captured 3/20, while Ramatsona snapped up 2/10 as Mohodi was restricted to just 77/9 in their 20 overs.
Vossies came under some pressure, chasing only 80 for victory, when Mahlodi Sekuba knocked over 3/16, but Ramatsona followed up his strong bowling performance with a match-winning 26 to see Ben Vorster to a five-wicket win.
That set up a third meeting between Ben Vorster and Merensky this season. In the previous matches between the rivals, the Plasies had dominated, securing a comfortable win in the 50-over league and a 12-run victory in the round-robin stage of the Schools SA20.
This time, however, the tables were turned. Ramatsona, full of confidence, produced a match-defining spell, grabbing a telling 3/8. Ndlovu, reliable as ever, claimed 2/11 as Merensky was limited to only 79/9 from their 20 overs.
Once again, Ben Vorster’s run chase began shakily, with an early run out upsetting their progress. Dirk Nortman, promoted from the u15 ranks, rose to the occasion, however, demonstrating impressive maturity in scoring 37 not out to see Vossies to victory by seven wickets.
At the other end of the pitch, Ruben Pohl finished with 14 not out.
Summarised scorecards
Final
Merensky Landbou Akademie 79/9 (JP Botha 14; Sontag Ramatsona 3/8, Talent Ndlovu 2/11); Ben Vorster 82/3 (Dirk Nortman 37*; Topher Elphinstone 1/14). Ben Vorster won by seven wickets.
Semi-Final 1
Mohodi Hub 77 (Sello Mabitsela 12; Talent Ndlovu 3/20, Sontag Ramatsona 2/10); Ben Vorster 78/5 (Sontag Ramatsona 26; Mahlodi Sekuba 3/16). Ben Vorster won by five wickets.
Semi Final 2
Stanford Lake College 109/7 (Joshua Doolabh 25; Topher Elphinstone 2/13, Vir Patel 2/16, Waldo Mouton 2/26); Merensky Landbou Akademie 110/2 (Muhammed Khan 30*, Logan Janse van Rensburg 25, Waldo Mouton 23; Thatego Molokomme 1/16). Merensky Landbou Akademie won by eight wickets.
