Champions Garsfontein begin Wildeklawer Diamantveld T20 campaign in style
The defending champions of the annual Wildeklawer Diamantveld T20 tournament, Hoërskool Garsfontein, started off their 2025 campaign with an emphatic 110-run victory over Outeniqua in their opening match.
The Ysbere from Pretoria posted a solid 171/5 in their allotted 20 overs, thanks to contributions by Riaan Boshoff (39*), Xander Venter (31), Reuben van Zyl (28) and Righardt Joubert (27).
Captain Venter (3/13) and Reinard Niebuhr (4/13) then caused problems with Outeniqua’s batting line-up, bowling them out for only 62 runs.
The champions of 2023, Potchefstroom Volkskool, also started their campaign off with a solid victory of 47 runs over Helpmekaar Kollege. Volkies recorded 182/7 in their allotted overs with Louis van Wyk (65) and Riekert Kruger (61) weighing in with half-centuries.
Van Wyk and Kruger shared a 96-run partnership over the second wicket to lay the foundation for the victory. Helpies reached a respectable 135/6 thanks to Zuan Joubert (38) and Sebastian Kloek (36) getting proper starts.
Potch Volkies lost against Garsfontein in last year’s final in Kimberley by 41 runs.
Paarl Boys’ High will definitely also be a title contender this year. They started their tournament in the City of Diamonds off with a commanding 73-run victory over Parel Vallei from Somerset West.
Boishaai’s Ullrich Drotschie (63*) and AB Jacobs (63) top-scoring with half-centuries. The team from Paarl reached 192/4 in their 20 overs with Jacobs and Daniel Franke (34) sharing a 94-run partnership from only 52 deliveries over the second wicket.
Drotschie and Aden Batt (9*) had an unbeaten 63-run partnership over the fifth wicket.
Summarised Scorecards:
Diamantveld 70/8 (Francois Holtzhausen 25, Ruben Viljoen 16*; Francois Prins 2/12, Gunther Schmidt 2/14); Boland Landbou 74/4 (Matthew Geldenhuys 18; Hanru Rademeyer 2/23). Boland Landbou won by six wickets.
Paarl Boys’ High 192/4 (Ullrich Drotschie 63*, AB Jacobs 63, Daniel Franke 34); Parel Vallei 119/8 (Sevi Barlow 24, Ruben du Plessis 21; Reese Petersen 3/16, Schalk van der Merwe 2/10). Paarl Boys’ High won by 73 runs.
Garsfontein 171/5 (Riaan Boshoff 39*, Xander Venter 31, Reuben van Zyl 28, Righardt Joubert 27; Kobus Boshoff 2/19, Nathan Best 2/32); Outeniqua 62 (Hanno Swart 22; Reinard Niebuhr 4/13, Xander Venter 3/13). Garsfontein won by 110 runs.
Potchefstroom Volkskool 182/7 (Louis van Wyk 65, Riekert Kruger 61, Eduan van der Merwe 20; Zuan Joubert 2/34, Rudolph Odendaal 2/41); Helpmekaar 135/6 (Zuan Joubert 38, Sebastian Kloek 36, Dominic Tait 22; Eduan van der Merwe 2/19, Olefa Padi 2/25). Potchefstroom Volkskool won by 47 runs.
Monument 99 (André van Niekerk 31*; Renquin Goliath 4/26, Logan Fleetwood 3/11); Framesby 101/4 (Dandré Henwick 23*; Zian Maritz 3/20). Framesby won by six wickets.
