DHS turns the tables on Clifton
Durban High School (DHS) had strung together a very impressive 10-match winning streak before Clifton College brought it to an end in the Schools SA20 on 24 October. On Saturday, though, School emphatically avenged that loss, beating Clifton by eight wickets at the Riverside Sports Club.
DHS captain Semal Pillay won the toss and chose to field. Far too often, it is almost a reflex action to bat first, but Pillay decided against that and his decision paid off handsomely.
The visitors bowled well, and there was a little something in the pitch, but Clifton’s batsmen did not help themselves either. None of the first five batsmen made it into double figures.
As was the case when the teams met in the Schools SA20, DHS opened with left-arm spinner Dhilan Naraidu at one end, and he, again, enjoyed tremendous success. In 10 overs, he snared 4/19, bowling 50 dot balls along the way, to wreck Clifton’s innings. His victims included opener Byron Ward, number-three batsman Shahzaad Perumal, his brother Shiraz, and Clifton’s dangerman Tim Saulez.
The speed merchant, Bayanda Majola, got rid of the other Clifton opener, Hayden Drieselmann, caught by Joshua van Biljon for four.
While Shiraz Perumal fell to Dhilan Naraidu, he did, at least, start a run of four batsmen who made it into double figures. The problem for Clifton was that the highest score among that quartet was only 14, by Callum Watson and Gabriel Vermeulen.
DHS captain Semal Pillay also played his part in the host’s downfall, getting rid of their lower order to pick up 3/24 in 6.3. Majola took 1/11 in five and Sfundo Mthembu snapped up 1/0.
With not much to defend, Clifton needed an early breakthrough to start the ball rolling, and they got one in the second over when Ismaeel Omar, uncharacteristically, lofted a simple catch to extra cover. He was caught off the bowling of Callum Watson for five.
Five runs later, DHS was in a spot of bother on 14/2 in the fifth over after Saulez bowled Sfundo Mthembu for one.
His dismissal brought Semal Pillay and Joshua van Biljon together. How they went would go a long way towards determining the outcome of the contest.
At first, the Clifton bowlers caused them an issue or two, but the duo soon took charge, especially Joshua van Biljon, who went on the attack. He smashed an unbeaten 57 from only 40 balls, including five sixes and six fours, while sharing an unbroken stand of 77 with his captain, which took DHS to a comfortable eight-wicket victory after only 18 overs.
Pillay held down his end, finishing with a watchful 19 not out from 50 balls, with only one four to his name.
Tim Saulez bowled well up front for Clifton and challenged the DHS batsmen. He claimed 1/18 from six overs, while his new ball partner, Callum Watson, took a while to find his rhythm, but then pressed on to pick up 1/16 in four.
Unfortunately for Clifton captain Shahzaad Perumal, Joshua van Biljon targeted his bowling, and it paid off. Perumal went for 42 runs in only five overs, and that was almost half the runs that the Horseflies required for victory.
Summarised scorecard
Clifton College 87/10 (Callum Watson 14, Gabriel Vermeulen 14, Dhilan Naraidu 4/19, Semal Pillay 3/24); Durban High School 91/2 (Josh van Biljon 57*, Semal Pillay 19*, Callum Watson 1/16, Tim Saulez 1/18).
Durban High School won by 8 wickets.
