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Big win for Wesvalia in nail-biter


Hoërskool Wesvalia’s players were full of smiles after their one-wicket victory over Potchefstroom Volkskool. Photo: Hoërskool Wesvalia on Facebook.

Hoërskool Wesvalia’s victory over Potchefstroom Volkskool, by the barest of margins, sent waves rippling through the North West League on Saturday.

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The side from Klerksdorp delivered something special as they got one over one of the most successful teams in the league over recent years.

Batting first, the Wessies made their way to 203 all out, thanks to a fighting knock from opening batsman, Luan Vermeulen, who grafted hard for 60 runs from 91 balls.

His opening partner Zaindré Stopforth chipped in with 31 of his own as the pair shared a solid 52-run opening stand, while Henco Greyling played an important knock of 35 in the middle order. Still, 203 didn’t look as if it would be enough.

Volkies’ golden arm, Themba Sontane, however, had other plans. His return of 4/29 in 5.2 overs pulled his side back into the contest. Berno de Klerk also delivered an impressive performance, snapping up 3/32 in nine overs.

In their reply, just like the Wessies, Volkskool also received solid contributions from their top order. The consistent Attie Liebenberg led the way with 61 runs from only 52 balls. Eduan van der Merwe’s damaging 51 from 37 deliveries, then, had Volkies on course for victory.

Ethan Walker, however, threw a spanner in the works, knocking over 4/57 in nine overs. Together with two-wicket returns from Henco Greyling, Marneu Dreyer, and Regardt van Deventer, the Wessies pulled it back and pulled it off by a single run.

Potchefstroom Gimnasium continued their purple patch with another convincing victory, this time beating Muhammad Bulbulia and his chargers from Fields College by six wickets. Bulbulia, however, didn’t go down without a fight.

The South African Schools Colts’ captain and opening batsman for the 2023 North West Dragons Khaya Majola side top-scored with a fluent 88 from 100 deliveries. Unfortunately for Bulbulia, his was the only noteworthy innings for Fields College, who mustered just 150 all out, in the face of good bowling by the Gimmies. Jahndré Coetzee snapped up 4/20 and Tommie Botha took 3/33 to ensure their side faced a comfortable run chase.

Set a moderate victory target, Divan van Eldik scored 39 from 43 balls and Tommie Botha followed up his bowling success with 34, to see Potch Gimnasium home in the 28th over. Bulbulia continued his star turn with the ball for Fields College,  claiming three Gimmie scalps for 33 runs.

Hoërskool Rustenburg’s top six, meanwhile, laid down the law to once again lead their side to a mammoth victory, this time over Matlosana Hub. Tristan van der Linde paced the batting lineup with 70, Callie Fryer put his all-round game on display with 62, and Zandré Diedricks chipped in 58, the third half-century of Rusties’ innings, to help his side to a big 319/8.

Matlosana was unable to mount a challenge, with Wessel Rossouw spearheading the Rustenburg attack with a return of 3/35, while Thian Labuschagne finished off the visitors by chipping in with two wickets as Rusties won by 170 runs.

Although they lost by a huge margin, Matlosana’s Tumelo Makume deserves a pat on the shoulder. He showed some fight with a courageous 51 from 55 deliveries.

Hoërskool Klerksdorp‘s Bernie Fourie and Winton Abrahams bowled their side to a seven-wicket victory over Hoërskool Lichtenburg. Fourie sent four Liggie batsmen packing for only 22 runs, while Abrahams showed that he’s not only a gifted rugby player, by capturing 4/32.

Stephan Janse van Rensburg‘s 41 at the top of the order then set Klerksdorp on course for victory as they chased only 121 to win. All that was needed was a little support and he found it from Tiaan Koen, whose unbeaten 22 got his side over the line.

Liggies’ trusty Lethabo Memani showed promise, making 46 runs to narrowly out on a half-century.

Summarised scorecards

Wesvalia 203/10 (Luan Vermeulen 60, Henco Greyling 35, Ziandré Stopforth 31, Marneu Dreyer 23; Temba Sontane 4/29, Berno de Klerk 3/32); Potchefstroom Volkskool 202/10 (Attie Liebenberg 61, Eduan van der Merwe 51, Berno de Klerk 20; Ethan Walker 4/57, Henco Greyling 2/23, Regardt van Deventer 2/33, Marneu Dreyer 2/35). Wesvalia won by one run.

Fields College 150/10 (Muhammad Bulbulia 88, William Matsitsi 22; Jahndré Coetzee 4/20, Tommie Botha 3/33); Potchefstroom Gimnasium 151/4 (Divan van Eldik 39, Tommie Botha 34; Muhammad Bulbulia 3/33). Potchefstroom Gimnasium won by six wickets.

Hoërskool Rustenburg 319/8 (Tristan van der Line 70, Callie Fryer 62, Zandré Diedricks 58, Nathan Rossouw 31*; Tshiamo Mitingoe 3/107, Katlego Maloto 2/76, Castro Ndlambewu 2/107); Matlosana Hub 149/10 (Tumelo Makume 51, Ismail Gangat 34; Wessel Oosthuizen 3/35, Thian Labuschagne 2/24, Marnus de Witt 2/24, Nathan Rossouw 2/41). Hoërskool Rustenburg won by 170 runs.

Hoërskool Lichtenburg 120/10 (Lethabo Memani 46, Luan Snyman 22; Bernie Fourie 4/22, Winton Abrahams 4/32); Hoërskool Klerksdorp 124/3 (Stephan Janse van Rensburg 41, Tiaan Koen 22*; Riyan Pathan 1/25). Hoërskool Klerksdorp won by seven wickets.

Franco Oberholzer
error: Sorry ol' chap, those shenanigans are not permissible.