DHS’s Van Biljon batters INK Hub, Thomas More holds off Curro Hillcrest
Durban High School (DHS) vs Inanda, Ntuzuma, and KwaMashua (INK) Hub
On the familiar turf of the Theobald Oval, Durban High School (DHS) ran roughshod over the Inanda, Ntuzuma, and KwaMashu (INK) Hub in a Switch Schools SA20 Volume Two clash on Wednesday, with Josh van Biljon powering the Horseflies to a massive 187-run victory.
The Hub XI won the toss and elected to field first, but it didn’t go well for them, with Van Biljon tearing apart the visitors’ bowling.
He entered the fray at the end of the fourth over and departed with one ball left in the innings. By then, though, he had inflicted terminal damage, smashing seven sixes and 21 fours in a 57-ball stay which brought him 146 runs. Only nine balls he faced ended in dots.
Before him, Ismaeel Omar and Muhammad Asmall put up a hasty 53 for the first wicket before Asmall departed, caught by Shani Qwabe off Ntando Ndlovu for 23 from just 11 deliveries, which featured three fours and two sixes.
Omar was out in the ninth over for a more sedate 28 from 26 after sharing a 40-run partnership with Van Biljon. When the left-hander exited, Taine Havermann joined Van Biljon in the middle and he came close to matching his counterpart’s all-out assault, weighing in with 51 from only 26 balls, with four fours and three sixes.
The duo added 170 runs in only 10.4 overs as the Ink Hub XI was forced to chase leather. When their 20 overs were over, DHS had totalled 276/4, a run rate of 14.1 runs per over.
Sqalo Mbatha did well amidst the carnage to take three of the four wickets to fall, finishing with 3/45 from four.
The Hub team’s reply lasted 16 overs, and they were all out for 89.
Thabiso Cele hit three fours in their top score of 20 off 17 balls, and he and Wandile Bhengu, who made 16, enjoyed a 41-run stand for the fourth wicket. Ayanda Zaca added 18, but the remaining batsmen all made single figures.
Tristan Quail was the architect of their downfall, snapping up 4/7 in four, while Aktar Basha claimed 2/16 in two, and opening bowler, Bonga Maphanga, took 2/29 in four.
Curro Hillcrest vs Thomas More College
In a meeting of neighbours, Kloof’s Thomas More College scored a 15-run win over Curro Hillcrest in another Switch Schools SA20 Volume Two clash on Wednesday.
Playing at Curro, the visitors won the toss, chose to bat first, and their batsmen responded with consistent contributions. In fact, 19 from opening batsman, Malachi Mare, and 19 not out from Jordan Storey were their lowest scores.
They put up 132/3, with opener Elijah Pretorius top-scoring with 28 from 42 balls. Sebastian Rizzato and Michael Fourie added impetus, with Rizzato striking four fours in his 26 from 23, while Fourie was unbeaten on 25 from 22, with a four and a six to his name.
Cale van Rooyen picked up 2/36 in four for Curro, while Josh Gilson did a tidy job, conceding only 15 runs from his four overs.
The home side, then, mustered 117/8 in reply. Gilson led their batting effort, making 28 from 35, with four fours. While five players made it into the teens, they did exit them.
New ball bowler, Jordan Storey, excelled for Thomas More, capturing 2/14 from his four overs. His opening partner, Malachi Mare, took 2/34 in four, and Joshua Bezuidenhout chipped in with 2/12 from two.
Summarised scorecards
Durban High School 276/4 (Josh van Biljon 146, Taine Havermann 51, Ismaeel Omar 28, Muhammad Asmall 24; Sqalo Mbatha 3/45); INK Hub 89/10 (Thabiso Cele 20; Tristan Quail 4/7, Aktar Basha 2/16, Bonga Maphanga 2/29). DHS won by 187 runs.
Thomas More College 132/3 (Elijah Pretorius 28, Sebastian Rizzato 26, Michael Fourie 25*; Cale van Rooyen 2/36); Curro Hillcrest 117/8 (Josh Gilson 28; Joshua Bezuidenhout 2/12, Jordan Storey 2/14, Malachi Mare 2/34). Thomas More College won by 15 runs.
