Bowlers rule the roost in Gqeberha
The first day of the 2024 Sunrisers Grey Cricket Festival in Gqeberha was action-packed with the bowlers enjoying the conditions in the Eastern Cape and recording some impressive returns.
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The first day’s matches were all scheduled to be declaration games, but some of the teams also limited their first innings to set overs to make up for a late start, while St Andrew’s School and Jeppe High School for Boys met in a 35-overs-a-side game.
The hosts began their campaign on a positive note against Menlopark. Batting first, their stalwart Xander Elkington led the charge with 67 as they posted a solid 278/8 in their 60 overs.
Tiaan Serfontein and Pierre de Villiers each picked up a brace against Grey High, but steady contributions throughout from the home lineup helped them to a respectable score at the change of innings.
Ben Ristow then took care of the visitors’ opening duo, conceding only 18 runs, to put his team on the front foot. Dian van Zyl offered stubborn resistance as the third batsman for Menlo, but excellent fielding by Tristan Grundling and two more wickets by Elkington saw the visitors stumble to 94-7.
GN van Zyl and Marcus de Auguar then batted brilliantly to keep their side in the game, seeing out the remaining overs for a draw in their first outing.
Grey College from Bloemfontein, who takes it in turn with Grey High to host the tournament bi-annually, came up against their old rivals, Selborne College, on day one.
Some early success by Buqina Nuku meant Grey’s situation looked perilous at 57-4, but opener Henru de Wet made sure to anchor his team’s innings, seeing off 136 deliveries before he was finally run out for 36.
Lamla Mgedezi scored a vital 40 runs at the tail-end to give the Bloemfonteiners a much-needed boost as they put up 154 before the final wicket fell.
Set a modest winning target, the Selbornians took to the crease with their sights set on victory. However, they were undone by an outstanding bowling performance by Darion Rabie, who took 6/34 to cut their run chase short, still 11 runs shy of the mark.
Despite solid knocks by Tré Gilbert (57) and Jacques van der Merwe (34), the rest of Selborne’s lineup had no answer to Rabie’s relentless attack.
The game between Framesby and the Namibia Invitational side also produced some outstanding bowling.
Batting first, the Namibians were in early trouble on 44-5, with Logan Fleetwood removing five of the first six batsmen while conceding only 38 runs.
Dan Brassel muscled a solid 55 runs from 50 to get the Namibians back on track, smashing 10 boundaries along the way, to help his side to a respectable 191.
Early success by the Namibian bowling attack saw Framesby stumble to 29/4 before Taine Douw‘s half-century brought some stability to their run chase.
Ultimately, Max Heingo‘s 4/25, along with a telling contribution from Bassel, who also took two wickets, was enough to see Namibia Invitational to a 40-run victory.
Pearson‘s Esa Gangat starred in their match against KES. Bowling first, he and Cayden Wilson combined well to snare seven wickets, which saw their opposition dismissed for only 114 in their first innings.
Gangat then struck an unbeaten 71 as Pearson powered to 216/4 before sending KES out for their second innings.
The action continues on Friday with more declaration games. The hosts tackle KES, who will be seeking a bounce-back performance after their defeat on the opening day.
Summarised Scorecards, Day One (Time Cricket)
Grey High School 278/8 (Xander Elkington 67, Joel Maree 39, Teun Kloppenberg 37, Josh Rennie 24, Extras 24; Tiaan Serfontein 2/31, Pierre de Villiers 2/57); Menlopark 177/7 (Marcus de Auguar 44*, GN van Zyl 35*, Dian van Zyl 34, Extras 30; Ben Ristow 2/18, Xander Elkington 2/32). Match drawn. (60 overs)
Grey College 154 (Lamla Mgedezi 40, Henru de Wet 36, Jaco Prinsloo 21; Adam Rogers 3/26, Buqina Nuku 2/23, Thomas Marais 2/34); Selborne 143 (Tré Gilbert 57, Jacques van der Merwe 34, Thomas Marais 22; Darion Rabie 6/34). Grey College won on first innings by 11 runs.
Namibia Invitational 191 (Dan Brassel 55, Tiaan van der Merwe 38, Extras 37; Logan Fleetwood 5/38, Miles Feltham 2/10); Framesby 151 (Taine Douw 50, Extras 27, Ethan Terblanche 25; Max Heingo 4/25, Dan Brassel 2/15). Namibia Invitational by 40 runs. (50 overs)
St Andrew’s School 139 (Extras 29, Dakalo Leketa 27, Mosa Maqunqu 26, Naudé Botha 25; Tinotenda Mutekwa 2/38); Jeppe 134/9 (Ryan Young 39, Christopher Elston 28, Aiden Reyneke 23, Jeremiah Marshall 21; Andrew Sobiech 3/15). St Andrew’s School by five runs.
KES first innings 114 (Reece Small 27; Cayden Wilson 4/42, Esa Gangat 3/29); Pearson first innings 216/4 (Esa Gangat 71*, Jude Septoo 40, Cayden Wilson 30, Sulaymaan Gangat 29, Luke Hector 21*; Callum Ritchie 2/47) KES second innings 51/1 (Cameron Smith 31; Cayden Wilson 1/13). Pearson won on first innings by 102 runs.
Potchefstroom Volkskool 288/5; Glenwood High 110, Potchefstroom Volkskool won on first innings by 178 runs.
