Cornwall Hill stays undefeated, St Andrew’s School overwhelms Uplands
Cornwall Hill College vs Helpmekaar Kollege
On Sunday, the final day of the Independent Schools Cricket Festival, Cornwall Hill College hosted Helpmekaar Kollege in a T20 match at their Van der Byl Oval.
The hosts had won two of three previous matches, with their fixture against Clifton School being abandoned because of a Highveld storm.
When the coin flip went their way, Cornwall inserted Helpmekaar to bat. Opener Ewald Haasbroek got the visitors off to a strong start, thumping two fours and a six in a speedy 31 runs off 21 balls.
However, it was not until Keegan van Schoor arrived at number six that another Helpies’ batsman recorded a double-digit contribution. He did a good job, though, striking four fours in the innings’ top score of 42 off 35 deliveries.
Kirill Broughton was in a flow state with the ball, capturing 4/11 in four overs, while Rourke de Lange also claimed multiple wickets, taking 2/13 in a three-over spell.
Helpmekaar’s innings came to an end off the last ball of their 20 overs, with the visitors limited to 115 all out.
Cornwall Hill College’s reply began poorly, with Heinrich Minnaar removing both openers, on his way to a return of 2/17 from 3.5 overs.
The home side took that in their stride, regathered and took charge. Rourke de Lange, at three, and Kirill Broughton, at four, combined for a 92-run third-wicket partnership. Just two days earlier, De Lange was part of a similar match-winning partnership against Woodridge College.
Broughton led the way, clobbering five fours and three sixes in his stay of 60 off 52 balls, while De Lange was more circumspect, facing 39 balls for his 38.
After 17.5 overs, Cornwall Hill made it over the line, reaching 116/3 to win the match by a comfortable seven-wicket margin.
Uplands College vs St Andrew’s School
Playing at Cornwall Hill College’s Parke de Terrace on Sunday, St Andrew’s School won the toss and decided to field first against Uplands College. That proved to be an excellent call.
The bowling trio of Ryle Beckmann, Nikhil Sukraj and Berno Coetsee was in lethal form. Beckman remained a constant threat with his left-arm spin in the early and middle overs, snaring an excellent 4/11 across four overs.
Sukraj claimed 2/17 in four with his leg spin, while Berno Coetsee cleaned out the tail, knocking over 3/10 in his three-over spell as Uplands College finished with only 87 all out in 19 overs.
Openers Graeme Spear and Mfundo Mthimunye were the only batsmen from the White River school to make it to double figures. Spear contributed 17 runs off 23 balls, while Mthimunye smashed four fours in the innings’ best of 28 off 31. They posted 46 runs for the first wicket, but once they were broken up, the Uplands’ innings fell apart.
The Bloemfontein boys went after the victory target with aggression, not bothering with a settling-in period. Opening batsman, Jonathan Hickley, led the way, slamming eight fours and two sixes in an unbeaten 55 off only 29 deliveries.
Heindré Serfontein, batting at three, weighed in with 27 not out off 16 balls as he and Hickley partnered for a rapid 89 off only 43 balls, which lifted Saints to 90/1 after 7.5 overs, giving them victory by nine wickets.
Benjamin Kazandjies was the lone Uplands’ bowler to pick up a wicket. He finished with 1/33 from three overs.
Summarised Scorecard
Helpmekaar Kollege 115/10 (Keegan van Schoor 42, Ewald Haasbroek 31; Kirill Broughton 4/11, Rourke de Lange 2/13); Cornwall Hill College 116/3 (Zander Davel 60, Rourke de Lange 38*; Heinrich Minnaar 2/17). Cornwall Hill won the match by seven wickets.
Uplands College 87/10 (Mfundo Mthimunye 28; Ryle Beckman 4/11, Berno Coetsee 3/10, Nikhil Sukraj 2/17); St Andrew’s School 90/1 (Jonathan Hickley 55*, Heindré Serfontein 27*). St Andrew’s School won by nine wickets.
