Corbin Tidbury catapults Graeme College to electrifying victory
Corbin Tidbury slammed a match-winning half-century to help Graeme College secure a thrilling one-wicket win over St Andrew’s College in a tightly contested T20 match on the Knowling Field at St Andrew’s on Wednesday.
The toss went the hosts’ way, and they chose to bat first. With a concerted team effort, St Andrew’s totalled 139/8 from their 20 overs. In reply, Graeme College stumbled several times before finally scampering to victory.
The outcome of the contest came down to the final delivery. St Andrew’s could afford to concede a single or two runs. Graeme College, on the other hand, needed four runs to win. With the pressure dialled up to 10, Caleb Jattiem got under Thomas Bussiahn‘s delivery, launching it over the ropes for a six to send the Graeme College team into a frenzied celebration.
Jattiem, with an unbeaten 14 from 11 balls, was only the third Graeme College batsman to reach double figures. His heroic blast was made possible by Tidbury’s enterprising knock earlier in the innings. Tidbury had arrived at the crease in the second over and rescued Graeme College, lifting the visitors from 9/2 to 113/4 when he departed in the 15th over.
In a 42-ball stay, Tidbury weighed in with a well-played 64 that featured six fours and two sixes. He also combined with Zuko Pontshi for a decisive 101-run third-wicket partnership. Pontshi was the perfect foil to Tidbury’s free-flowing stroke play and finished the match with a valuable 36 runs off 37 balls.
Adrian Gaunt, who dismissed Tidbury and Pontshi in the space of three deliveries, also got rid of Andrew Muir in that same over and was the pick of the bowlers for St Andrew’s, snapping up 3/5 in two overs. Oli Whitaker, William Stevens, Rhys Wiblin, and Thomas Bussiaahn finished with a wicket each.
When Graeme College fielded, Andrew Muir, Luphelo Mdyesha, and Jordan Damons, with a brace each, ensured that St Andrew’s was unable to establish a firm foothold in the contest by taking wickets at regular intervals.
Muir and Damons returned identical figures of 2/24 from four overs, while Mdyesha’s four overs cost him 26 runs. Kits McConnachie chipped in with a single wicket.
Corné van der Merwe was the top scorer for St Andrew’s with 36 runs from 39 balls. David Chorley played with more urgency and registered an entertaining 23-ball 34.
Ethan Malan (17*), Ben Scharges (14), and Callum Taggart (10) were the only other batsmen who reached double figures.
Summarised Scorecard
St Andrew’s College 139/8 (Corné van der Merwe 36, David Chorley 34; Andrew Muir 2/24, Jordan Damons 2/24, Luphelo Mdyesha 2/26). Graeme College 142/9 (Corbin Tidbury 64, Zuko Pontshi 36; Adrian Gaunt 3/5, Oli Whitaker 1/25, William Stevens 1/25). Graeme College won by one wicket.
