Corné Botha outstanding as Noordheuwel defeats St Benedict’s
Corné Botha produced a great performance with the bat, scoring a quickfire half-century, as Hoërskool Noordheuwel registered a two-wicket win over St Benedict’s College in their 50-over league match at Noordheuwel on Saturday.
Botha won the toss and chose to bowl first, and Noordheuwel dismissed Bennies for 198 in 38.4 overs. It took the home side only 29.1 overs to claim the win, but they were made to work hard for it, eventually finishing on 204/8.
The victory was, in large part, thanks to the skipper, who was one of the top scorers and wicket-takers when Noordheuwel defeated St David’s Marist Inanda in the Lions region Schools SA20 final on Friday He provided an encore to that excellent performance by cracking an unbeaten 80 off 47 deliveries, blasting five sixes and eight fours in his knock.
Botha arrived at the crease in the 15th over and was still settling in when he lost two partners, JJ Basson and Wander Roolvink, in six deliveries. However, he kept his head and bided his time. Then, in the 25th over, he unleashed on Mark Munava, taking the bowler for 25 runs. He was also part of Noordheuwel’s highest partnership, teaming up with JD Bezuidenhout, who scored 33 runs, to add 83 for the seventh wicket.
Besides Botha and Bezuidenhout, Tidimalo Moeketsane (25) and Corné Olivier (16) were the only other batsmen to reach double figures.
Russell Jones was the pick of the Bennies’ bowlers, knocking over four wickets for 41 runs in 10 overs. Clayton Horlick claimed two wickets for 56 runs in 10, while Alex Johnston and Matthew Hickman-Steel took one each.
Earlier in the day, Horlick scored a brilliant half-century to keep St Benedict’s in the contest. He hit six fours and five sixes in his 74 from only 58 balls, despite wickets tumbling around him. His innings began in the fourth over and lasted 20 overs, during which time he shared the crease with five different partners.
Russell Jones showed off his all-round ability by scoring a fighting 46 off 52 as he tried to stretch the innings so that the boys from Bedfordview batted through their 50 overs. However, his effort was curtailed by Bezuidenhout in the 38th over.
Corné Olivier was the pick of the bowlers for Noordheuwel, claiming three wickets for 36 runs from nine overs. JD Bezuidenhout, Gomolemo Phiri, and Gerhard Roolvink struck twice each, and Marius Penning removed one batsman.
Summarised Scorecards
St Benedict’s College 198/10 (Clayton Horlick 74, Russell Jones 46; Corné Olivier 3/36, JD Bezuidenhout 2/40); Noordheuwel 204/8 (Corné Botha 80*, JD Bezuidenhout 33; Russell Jones 4/41, Clayton Horlick 2/56). Noordheuwel won by two wickets.
