Bromley powers KES to Johnny Waite win, Katzenstein stars for St Stithians
Matthew Bromley scored a superb half-century to shepherd King Edward VII (KES) to a 32-run win over St David’s Marist Inanda in their Johnny Waite Trophy clash on the La Valla Oval at St David’s on Wednesday afternoon.
Bromley, the KES captain, called correctly at the toss and chose to bat first. He turned that decision into an excellent one by assuming control of the innings to power the visitors to 172/5, before his bowling attack restricted St David’s to 140/7 in reply.
From just 63 balls, Bromley struck a match-winning 87, with nine fours and three sixes. He and his fellow opener, Tiago Dias, who weighed in with an aggressive 46 from only 28 balls, partnered for 86 runs for the first wicket.
The KES skipper was happy to be the foil to Dias’s aggressive stroke play as they laid a solid foundation for the middle order to exploit.
After the opening pair were parted, Bromley and Troy Gordon kept the innings chugging along with a 49-run second-wicket stand. Bromley’s was part of one more meaningful stand, adding 32 runs with Abdullah Mohammed (12*) for the third wicket.
St David’s, who lost Roberto Mariano before he could get his eye in, consolidated and put themselves in a position to go for the win with a steady 61-run second-wicket partnership between Sohail Seonath (36) and Jonah Gruskin (44). Their partnership was broken by Luke Clark in the 12th over.
Michael Smithyman (23) and Kyle Butler (11) gave the St David’s innings a boost with their strike rates of 143.75 and 275. Unfortunately, for the home team, they didn’t stay in the middle long enough to make a significant impact.
Tyler Cloete was KES’s most successful bowler, knocking over 3/29 in four overs, while Keagan Hendey, Connor Kuijers, and Luke Clark chipped in with a wicket each.
St Stithians vs Parktown
Matthew Katzenstein slashed an unbeaten half-century to set St Stithians up for a comfortable 46-run win over Parktown Boys High on the Jamieson 1 field in Wednesday’s other Johnny Waite tie.
Katzenstein answered his captain’s call to bat first, blasting four sixes and six fours in an outstanding unbeaten 75 from 58 balls to lead Saints to 170/1. The home side’s bowling attack then restricted Parktown’s reply to 124/9.
The groundwork for the hosts’ success was laid by Katzenstein and Akhil Chilla (47), who shared an impressive 91-run opening partnership. Thomas Collins (39*), who replaced Challa in the 12th over, picked up from where the opener had left off and stitched together an unbroken 79-run second-wicket partnership with Katzenstein.
Parktown was soon on the back foot in their reply. Tendai Kadyamadare captured two wickets in the second over of their innings, accounting for openers Abdulla Wadee and Siya Dube, and from there it was an uphill slog.
Later in the innings, the pacer added two more wickets to finish with a decisive 4/36 from his four overs.
Challa emulated Kadyamadare and also struck twice in a single over to finish the match with 2/3 from one over.
Hlasi Mqingwana was Parktown’s shining light with a well-played 58 from 45 deliveries, but Mikaeel Garda (19) and Emile Fourie (15) were the only other batsmen to reach double figures in the match.
Summarised Scorecards
KES 172/5 (Matthew Bromley 87, Tiago Dias 46; Hayden Campbell 3/38, Christopher Emslie 1/23). St David’s 140/7 (Jonah Gruskin 44, Sohail Seonath 36; Tyler Cloete 3/29, Keagan Hendey 1/14). KES won by 32 runs.
St Stithians 170/1 (Matthew Katzenstein 75*, Akhil Challa 47; Josh van Rensburg 1/30, Ashton Govender 0/16). Parktown 124/9 (Hlasi Mqingwana 58, Mikaeel Garda 19; Tendai Kadyamadare 4/36, Akhil Challa 2/3). St Stithians won by 46 runs.
