Bowlers shine on first day of the Independent Schools Cricket Festival
The bowlers made a massive statement by delivering stellar performances on Thursday, the first day of the Independent Schools Cricket Festival.
Bishops‘ opening bowler Waco Bassick tore through the Michaelhouse top order to claim a five-for. His magical opening spell sent five Michaelhouse batsmen back to the pavilion while yielding only 15 runs from his six overs.
His excellent bowling performance backed up his mature knock of 48 runs from 57 balls at a critical time in Bishops’ innings.
Kashief Joseph, the impressive Bishops’ opening batsman, notched up his first half-century of the festival, top scoring with 59 runs from 93 deliveries.
Meanwhile, Michaelhouse’s young left-arm off-spin bowler, Jean-Luc Rey, also delivered a stellar performance. He pulled it back nicely in the middle overs, snaring the first five-for of the festival, 5/43. He was supported well by Ross Moller, who claimed two Bishops’ scalps for 35 runs.
St Andrew’s College star, William Beamish, led the side from Grahamstown to a hard-fought three-wicket victory over a young Hilton College side. He struck a mature 44 runs from 95 balls before showing impressive sportsmanship by walking before being given out, caught off the bowling of Simon Steyn.
Beamish also impressed with the ball, claiming 2/24. However, Roman van Zyl did the bulk of the damage, bagging four wickets for 32 runs.
Natenzi Denenga led the way for Hilton. Coming back from an injury, which kept him sidelined for most of 2024, the bowling all-rounder top scored with 37 runs and claimed two wickets for 24 runs.
Liam Basch (4/22) and Christiaan Visage (4/28) directed the hosts, St Alban’s, to a comfortable nine-wicket victory over St George’s College of Harare. The pair combined for eight wickets, which led to the visitors struggling to only 119 all out.
An unbeaten 65 from Zack Richardson and 41 not out from Patrick Weir then steered the home team to victory in the 20th over.
Lhuan-dré Pretorius lived up to his vaunted reputation by seeing Cornwall Hill College to a commanding eight-wicket victory over Clifton College.
He struck an impressive and unbeaten 85, in a more subdued manner than usual, taking 120 deliveries for his runs. Lethabo Phahlamohlaka supported him well, with an undefeated 34 runs coming from his bat.
Their good batting performance was backed up by some good bowling from Mohale Pitso, who claimed three wickets for 33 runs. Pretorius, meanwhile, showed off his all-round ability by picking up 2/17 from 10 overs.
Helpmekaar Kollege clawed their way to a narrow three-wicket victory over St John’s College (Harare). Anrich Liebenberg (3/24) and Henricus Meyer (2/34) limited the visitors from Zimbabwe to only 112 all out.
Tyde Stirrup‘s 30 runs, supported by Kian Blignaut‘s 20 runs, were the Rams’ top scores. Blignaut carried over his confident batting performance into his bowling, leading the touring side’s fightback with an impressive spell of 2/25.
Kyle Swanepoel, however, kept his composure, matching Cornwall Hill’s Pretorius by also starting and ending his team’s batting effort. His unbeaten 76 runs from 124 deliveries was the decisive innings that the Johannesburg school needed to get over the line.
Summarised scorecards
Bishops Diocesan College 212/10 (Kashief Joseph 59, Waco Bassick 48, Calum Daniels 29, Peyton Leigh 24, Alex Vintcent 22; Jean-Luc Rey 5/43, Ross Moller 2/35); Michaelhouse 81/10 (Cameron Strudwick 20; Waco Bassick 5/15, Michael Kotze 3/10). Bishops Diocesan College won by 131 runs.
Hilton College 121/10 (Natenzi Denenga 37, Ben Hockly 26; Roman van Zyl 4/32, Joe Wostenholm 2/12, William Beamish 2/24); St Andrew’s College 122/7 (William Beamish 44, Alex Price 20; Luke Campbell 2/15, Natenzi Denega 2/42). St Andrew’s College won by three wickets.
St George’s College 119/10 (Jayden Peterson 30, Munotida Ndorah 21; Liam Basch 4/22, Christiaan Visage 4/28, Boago Motlhabedi 2/15); St Alban’s College 123/1 (Zack Richardson 65*, Patrick Weir 41*; Munotida Ndorah 1/47). St Alban’s won by nine wickets.
Clifton College 151/10 (Shahzaad Perumal 29, Cohen Naidoo 24; Mohale Pitso 3/33, Obakeng Mokanyane 2/11, Lhuan-dré Pretorius 2/17); Cornwall Hill College 152/2 (Lhuan-dré Pretorius 85*, Lethabo Phahlamohhlaka 34*; Zach Williamson 1/13). Cornwall Hill College won by eight wickets.
St John’s College (Harare) 112/10 (Tyde Stirrup 30, Kian Blignaut 20; Anrich Liebenberg 3/23, Henricus Meyer 2/34); Helpmekaar Kollege 114/7 (Kyle Swanepoel 76*; Kian Blignaut 2/25). Helpmekaar Kollege won by three wickets.
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