CSA Hub XI wins big again, Maritzburg College overwhelms Hudson Park
The CSA Hub XI, buoyed by a 58-run win over Jeppe High School for Boys on Sunday, followed through with another eye-opening Oppenheimer Michaelmas Cricket Week victory, this time by 74 runs over St John’s College on Barns’ Field at Maritzburg College on Monday.
“I think it’s the positive energy within the team,” captain Enathi Kitshini told SuperSport Schools Plus after his side had secured the win. “We’ve had only three or four days [together before the Michaelmas Week], but we look like a serious team.”
That sizeable victory appeared unlikely midway through the contest after the CSA Hub XI had mustered only 151 all out, with their innings lasting just 30.4 overs. The truth be told, however, it could have been a lot worse had the St John’s bowlers not sent down 24 wides. In total, they conceded 30 extras.
“Today, we wanted to bowl first. That didn’t work out. I lost the toss. We went in to bat and we had a good start. I think the wicket would have been easier to bat on second because it is flat and was not spinning much,” Kitshini commented.
Sabela Mabanga and Nkosibonile Sibisi put on 34 for the Hub XI’s first wicket before Kago Masote removed Mabanga for 20. His entertaining knock had lasted only 14 balls, but it also featured three fours and a six.
Mabanga’s dismissal, though, triggered a collapse, with the Hub XI tumbling to 39/4 as Masote and Cole Francis struck twice each. Tshepang Laka and Jaydin Damons stopped the bleeding, however, and turned the tide with a vital 66-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Laka, then, was sent packing by Alec Loveland for 23.
Damons stuck around until the total had moved on to 131, which was when he fell to Oliver Tait for 37, which proved to be, far and away, the highest score of the match.
Ryall Julies weighed in with 19 and the CSA Hub XI finished with 151 runs to their credit. Alec Loveland was the pick of the St John’s bowlers, snapping up 3/19 from seven overs, while Cole Francis finished with 3/26 from 7.4. Oliver Tait picked up 2/24 and Kago Masote took 2/39.
St John’s, in reply, lost an early wicket, but they then advanced their score to 33, which was when they lost opener Thomas Ievers for 17. Little did they know, but that would be their best score of the innings. From 33/1, St John’s crashed to 44/6.
Kago Masote provided some fight, making 15 before he was the seventh man out with the total on 63. There was no coming back from there, however, and St John’s was skittled for only 77.
Hub XI captain Kitshini led the way, returning a stunning 4/13 from his 10 overs. Taywin Adams claimed 2/20 from six, while Omphemetse Seroke and Sabelo Mabanga chipped in with a wicket each. Two runs out further undermined the St John’s batting effort and they were well beaten.
Reflecting on his decisive return, Kitshini said: “What worked for me today was keeping shape and trying to play with the crease and the pace I was bowling.”
At the end of the game, the positive energy and sense of fun within the CSA Hub XI’s ranks was palpable. Considering that it is a composite team, that was impressive to witness.
“As a captain, I try to engage with all of them, to learn how they roll,” Kithini said when asked what he had done to get the players to operate effectively as a unit.
“We’re excited. We have 72 hubs in South Africa. It’s a privilege and honour to captain this side. It’s entertaining and nice to be interacting with guys from other provinces.”
He concluded by saying that the hubs are loaded with talent. “We just need more opportunities and game time.”
On nearby Goldstone’s, Maritzburg College made merry against Hudson Park, blasting their way to 374/6 in their 50 overs after captain Chad Mason chose to bat.
College, though, didn’t start well. Daniel Nadasan and the skipper were back in the pavilion with only 20 runs on the board in the fourth over. It would be a long time, though, until the East London school enjoyed more success.
Llewellyn Sutherland and Michael Gibson took the game away from Hudson Park, sharing in a 148-run partnership for the third wicket from 151 balls, with Sutherland contributing 67 from 74 and Gibson 72 from 77. When Gibson was dismissed, astonishingly, the game became even tougher for the visitors. Sutherland continued to punish the Hudson Park bowlers, while Oliver Da Costa, the new man, quickly hit his straps.
The fourth wicket delivered 151 runs in only 100 balls, lifting the score to 319/4. Then, Sutherland fell for an outstanding 152 from 135 balls. His innings had included 17 fours and two sixes.
Da Costa was out in the 48th over, after a super knock, which had brought him 82 from 60 deliveries, with four sixes and four fours.
Deolyn Naidoo weighed in with 21 and College finished on 374/6. Hudson’s opening howler, Lithemba Nomoyi, was despatched for 84 runs from his 10 overs, but he also claimed three wickets.
The East London school needed to bat at 7.5 runs per over to win. It was a tough target and it became a whole lot more challenging when Hudson’s reply began disastrously. Early in the fourth over, they had been reduced to a miserable 4/3 by Reece Willson and Samuel Hughes. Slowly, though, they began a fightback. They weren’t, however, able to challenge College.
Chulumanco Macozoma scored an unbeaten 25, Somila Mkokeli made 24, and Iminathi Jumba contributed 23, but Hudson Park was never up to the required run rate, and the task was beyond them.
They were bowled out for 146 in the 45th over, with Maritzburg College having given 10 players a bowl. The Red, Black, and White had won by a massive 228 runs.
Reece Willson did the damage up front, capturing 2/10 in five overs, while his new ball partner, Samuel Hughes, claimed 1/9 in four. Daniel Nadasan enjoyed his five overs, taking 2/13, but the best figures went the way of Oliver Da Costa, who followed up his fine batting with a tidy return of 3/19 from 8.5 overs.
Summarised scorecards
CSA Hub XI 151/10 (Jaydin Damons 37, Tshepang Laka 23, Sabelo Mabanga 20, Alec Loveland 3/19, Cole Francis 3/26, Oliver Tait 2/24, Kago Masote 2/39); St John’s College 77/10 (Thomas Ievers 17, Enathi Kishini 4/13, Taywin Adams 2/20). CSA Hub XI won by 74 runs.
Maritzburg College 374/6 (Llewellyn Sutherland 151, Oliver Da Costa 82, Michael Gibson 72, Lithemba Nomoti 3/84); Hudson Park 145/10 (Chulumanco Macozoma 25*, Somila Mkokeli 24, Iminathi Jumba 23, Oliver Da Costa 3/19, Reece Willson 2/10, Daniel Nadasan 2/13). Maritzburg College won by 228 runs.
