Brandmuller’s bat the difference in Middelburg’s win over Secunda
Ruben Brandmuller’s bat proved to be the difference for Hoërskool Middelburg as they defeated Hoërskool Secunda in the Mpumalanga Premier League on Saturday.
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The top-order batsman compiled a match-winning innings of exactly 100 at a crucial time to rescue his side from trouble.
Brandmuller, whose innings included 13 fours and a six, shared in a key partnership of 98 runs with Herman Potgieter, who struck a valuable 37.
Gavin Genis, who also scored a century (103*) earlier in the Middies’ campaign, looked dangerous, cracking 22 from only 10 balls, but he then fell victim to Alonzo Blackenberg.
Blackenberg led the Secunda attack, despite being called on the bowl only later in the innings. He sent down 8.1 overs and snapped up 5/42, helping to stem the flow of Middelburg runs while sending half of the team’s batsmen packing. Middelburg had threatened to go big but, in the end, they were bowled out for 216.
Unfortunately for Secunda, they couldn’t quite match the home side’s batting performance as the Middies’ bowlers put their run chase under heavy pressure. Ceejay Webb was the pick of the Secunda batsman, with a contribution of 31*, which showed just how difficult the visitors found it out in the middle.
Zubair Desai captured 2/14 in 3.1 overs, while Genis did his bit with the ball, picking up 2/38 in 10, and Eduan Strydom took 2/35, also in 10, as the visitors were dismissed for 165, leaving Hoërskool Middelburg the winners by 51 runs.
Vaughn van Zyl cleaned up Hoërskool Hoogenhout quickly to help propel Hoërskool Nelspruit to a comfortable eight-wicket victory at home.
Opening the bowling for Nellies, he ran through the Hoogenhout top-order, capturing 5/26. Rico Nel weighed in with 2/14 as Hoogenhout mustered a disappointing 123 all out, mostly thanks to Tokkie Buhali’s hard-fought innings of 45.
Nel then went on to do the damage with the bat, making 50 from 44 balls. Nathan Duncan chipped in with 36 runs as the openers put up 97 to take Nelspruit to within sight of a convincing victory. An unbeaten 21 from Jayden Meyer ensured there were no hiccups as Nelspruit sauntered across the line.
Summarised scorecards
Hoërskool Middelburg 216 (Ruben Brandmuller 100, Herman Potgieter 37, Gavin Genis 22; Alonzo Blackenberg 5/42, Rovonne Singh 2/29); Hoërskool Secunda 165 (Ceejay Web 31*; Zubair Desai 2/14, Eduan Strydom 2/35, Gavin Genis 2/38). Hoërskool Middelburg won by 51 runs.
Hoërskool Hoogenhout 123 (Tokkie Buhali 45; Vaughn van Zyl 5/26, Rico Nel 2/14); Hoërskool Nelspruit 124/2 (Rico Nel 50, Nathan Duncan 36, Jayden Meyer 21*; Tokkie Buhali 1/9). Hoërskool Nelspruit won by eight wickets.
