Blignauts bat Cornwall to victory, CSA Hub XI claims another massive scalp

Cornwall Hill College’s Blignaut brothers bashed them to a comfortable 33-run victory over the 2024 Eston One Insurance T20 Night League champions, St Charles College, on the last day of the 64th Oppenheimer Michaelmas Cricket Week In Pietermaritzburg on Tuesday.
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The side from the Jacaranda City batted first after winning the toss, but they lost both of their opening batsmen within the first three overs. Still, that set the stage for Kian and Michael Blignaut to set their team up for victory. Both batted sublimely.
Kian Blignaut played the anchor role, expertly making his way to an unbeaten 53 from 59 deliveries. Knocking it around gave his brother, Michael Blignaut, the opportunity to play the role of the aggressor. Smashing six fours and two sixes, he raced to 50 from only 29 balls, at a healthy strike rate of 172.4.
Saints’ captain Marcell Wellmann was the pick of the bowlers. The left-arm spinner picked up only one wicket, but he was economical, conceding just 11 runs from his three overs.
Cornwall Hill finished on 142/5. On the large St Charles Oval, that was a fair score.
The home team has played some good cricket this season, but they were not at their best on Tuesday. Obakeng Mokonyane damaged the Saints’ response, snapping up 4/25 in four overs, while Trent Hardie bagged 2/28 in his four, as St Charles was rolled for a disappointing 109.
Rico Honiball fought bravely with his 31 from 27 balls up front, while Kwanele Nqayi, batting eighth, tried valiantly and made 20 off of 16, but only three Saints’ batsmen made it into double figures and that was never going to be enough.
The Cricket South Africa Hub XI impressed once more, completing their Michaelmas Week assignments with a perfect record of three wins from three outings. This time around, Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool (Affies) fell victim to the Hub XI, going down by 17 runs at UKZN.
Batting first, the CSA Hub XI scratched their way to only 105/9 from their 20 overs in difficult batting conditions, thanks to a well-played 31 from Jevohndré Jacobs and a valuable 24 from Nkosibonile Sibisi.
That was all they needed, though, as opening bowler and captain, Enathi Kitshini, took it upon himself to see his team to victory. For a second day in succession, he captured four wickets and he did it cheaply, surrendering only nine runs from his four overs. Taywin Adams bowled well, too, snaring 2/11 from his four.
The pair’s economy rates of under three runs per over kept the Affies’ batsmen under immense pressure. Henré Smith tried to play the anchor role for the Pretoria school, but that brought him only 18 runs from 36 balls, and that was as good as it got for Affies, who were held to just 88/8 in their 20 overs.
Xavier de Wet was the standout with the ball for the boys from Pretoria. He used the bowler-friendly conditions to his advantage, knocking over 2/15 in four overs. Ruben Groenewald lent good support, taking 2/14 in three.
Summarised scorecards
Cornwall Hill College 142/5 (Kian Blignaut 53*, Michael Blignaut 50; Marcell Wellmann 1/11); St Charles College 109 (Rico Honiball 31, Kwanele Ngayi 30; Obakeng Mokonyane 2/25, Trent Hardie 2/28). Cornwall Hill won by 33 runs.
CSA Invitation XI 105/9 (Jevohndré Jacobs 31, Nkosibonile Sibisi 24; Ruben Groenewald 2/14, Xavier de Wet 2/15, Vihan Pretorius 2/16, JP Botha 2/23); Affies 88/8 (Henré Smith 18; Enathi Khitsini 4/9, Taywin Adams 2/11). CSA Invitation XI won by 17 runs.
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