DHS lifts W100 1st XI title, Westville wins age group competitions
1st XI
After missing out on the W100 title in 2025, thanks to a special performance from Westville Boys’ High captain, Seth Simpson, Durban High School (DHS) claimed the trophy on Thursday with a nine-wicket win over Clifton College, with 11 balls to spare, in the final at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead.
The Horseflies‘ victory brought to an end Westville’s run of five successive titles.
DHS captain Josh van Biljon opted to bowl first after winning the toss, and his bowlers responded well to the challenge he posed to them. Taine Havermann led the way, capturing 3/14 in 20 balls, while Bonga Maphanga put Clifton under pressure with a rapid spell. Although he went unrewarded, his pace and bounce kept the batting side on the back foot.
Josh Morley, like Taine Havermann, kept the run-scoring rate in check, picking up 1/15 from 20 deliveries.
Clifton posted 110/7, which, unfortunately for them, included the run out of the in-form Muhammed Malek for 18.
The top score went to Hayden Drieselmann, with 30 off 27 balls, which featured three sixes and not one four. Shiraz Perumal chipped in with 20 off 21 deliveries, and Clifton’s total was further boosted by 24 extras.
DHS, in reply, opened with their most experienced batsmen, Ismaeel Omar and Josh van Biljon. They gave School a sound start, putting up 66 for the first wicket before Van Biljon was LBW to George Gooch for 16 from 20.
That brought Suliman Jadwat to the wicket, and he and Omar saw DHS to victory, with an unbroken stand of 46 from 38 balls.
Omar, the Man of the Match, finished unbeaten on 51 from 49 balls, with eight fours, while Jadwat was 16 not out from 20.
George Gooch starred for Clifton, with 1/9 from 10 deliveries. Clifton, though, was let down by giving up 29 extras, which helped DHS to ease to victory.
After winning the Clifton T20 title in 2024 and 2025, the Horseflies were dethroned by Hoërskool Waterkloof earlier this month. DHS ensured, though, that their trophy case has some current silverware after a comfortable victory.
While Clifton College will be disappointed with the outcome of the final, they enjoyed a good run to the title game, with their results including wins over DHS and Westville Boys’ High.
u15A
Westville Boys’ High has been, by far, the most dominant u15A team in KwaZulu-Natal in 2026, and they proved their superiority in the final of the W100 competition with a comfortable nine-wicket win over Kearsney College with 15 balls to spare.
The toss went Kearsney’s way, and they opted to bat first. Opener Connor Rowley did a good job, striking five fours and a six in a 43-ball stay, which brought him the innings’ top score of 42.
Luke Crandon weighed in with 20 not out from 21 balls, while Ryan Staats smashed a six, but was otherwise kept relatively quiet in his 16 off 24 deliveries.
Boosted by 21 extras, Kearsney finished their 100 balls on 102/5.
Cam Rudolph was Westville’s best bowler, returning an economical 1/13 from 20 balls.
Matt Shea and Yusuf Osman then made 29 off 25 balls for Westville’s first wicket before Osman was caught by Sebastian Sansbury off Ryan Staats for 10.
Shea and Cam Rudolph then combined for an unbroken 77 off 61 balls to carry Westville to a comfortable victory. Shea ended on 35 not out from 42 deliveries, while Rudolph hit a six and four fours in his unbeaten 40 off 34.
Staats, the lone wicket-taker, claimed 1/28 from 20 deliveries.
u14A
For the first time in five years, Westville didn’t win the 1st XI title, but they won the u14 and u15 competitions.
In the u14A match, DHS mustered 101/4, with their top five all reaching double figures, but none of them made it to 20; both openers, Danyaal Khan and Yahya Balim, were out for 19.
Dane Sweet was the pick of the Westville bowlers, capturing 2/11 from 20 balls.
It took Westville only 77 balls to overhaul the DHS total, and they won by seven wickets after reaching 104/7.
Dylan Kidgell, batting at three, led the run chase, smashing seven fours in his unbeaten 42 from 35 deliveries, while Blake Shaw weighed in with 25 off 21. Together, they added 39 for the second wicket in 37 balls.
Rafael Naidoo was the best of the DHS attack, nabbing 2/18 from 17 deliveries.
Summarised scorecards
Clifton College 1st XI 110/7 (Hayden Drieselmann 30, Shiraz Perumal 20; Taine Havermann 3/14, Josh Morley 1/15); Durban High School 1st XI 112/1 after 89 balls (Ismaeel Omar 51*; George Gooch 1/9). DHS won by nine wickets with 11 balls to spare.
Kearsney College u15A 102/5 (Connor Rowley 42, Luke Crandon 20*; Taine Lawson 1/12, Cam Rudolph 1/13); Westville Boys’ High u15A 106/1 (Cam Rudolph 40*, Matt Shea 35*; Ryan Staats 1/28). Westville won by nine wickets.
DHS u14A 101/4 (Danyaal Khan 19, Yahya Balim 19; Dane Sweet 2/11); Westville u14A 104/3 after 77 balls (Dylan Kidgell 42*, Blake Shaw 25; Rafael Naidoo 2/18). Westville Boys’ High u14A won by seven wickets.
