Dias and Gordon shine in KES win, Du Plessis stars in St John’s victory
Tiago Dias and Troy Gordon scored half-centuries to steer King Edward VII (KES) to a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Jeppe High School for Boys in a 50-over match on Jeppe’s Beckwith Oval, on Wednesday afternoon.
On Tuesday, St John’s College had also scored a seven-wicket win, with Malan du Plessis unleashing his pace on Queens High School to set up his team’s T20 win on Mitchell Field.
Dias and Gordon carried the fine form they showed on tour in Zimbabwe with the Johannesburg Schools Invitational XI, where they inspired their side to the title, into Wednesday’s game.
Dias’s most notable innings for the Invitational XI was a half-century in the semifinals, which played a key role in ushering the team into the final. Gordon, who was named the Batsman of the Tournament, topped the run-scoring charts and carved a match-winning 50 in the final.
Against Jeppe, Dias held the KES innings together with a patient 56-ball 52, while Gordon accelerated to an unbeaten 39-ball 51 as his side easily chased down the target set for them by Jeppe with 24.1 overs to spare.
Jeppe had won the toss and elected to bat first, but they mustered only 142 runs in 46.5 overs. It took 25.5 overs for KES to race to 144/3.
Batting first, the hosts finished the powerplay on 46/3. That wasn’t the firmest footing, and they struggled to get their feet under them thereafter. Their captain, Ryan Young (43), did his best to keep the innings together, but the procession of wickets at the other end made it an uphill battle.
Christian Sabela was the chief architect of Jeppe’s struggles. The right-arm pacer ripped out Jeppe’s core, dismissing Munib Ayob, Aiden Reyneke, and Ryan Young, on his way to four wickets for 25 runs from 10 overs. That excellent effort earned Sabela the Player of the Match award.
Dias, who spent 17.5 overs out in the middle, gave KES a solid start and shared a brief 29-run partnership with Gordon before being dismissed.
Unlike Dias, who had been watchful, Gordon played his shots, launching four sixes and cracking three fours in his unbeaten half-century. He was in the company of Zieg Roos (17*), when KES claimed victory.
St John’s, meanwhile, welcomed Queens onto their hallowed Mitchell Field with some fiery pace bowling.
The visitors won the toss and elected to bat first but lost a wicket off the first delivery of the match. From there, they stumbled to 102/7 in 20 overs. St John’s, in reply, charged to 103/3 in 12.5 overs.
Malan du Plessis did most of the damage with the ball, delivering 16 dots while sending four Queens’ batsmen packing for 20 runs from his four overs. Had he not conceded six wides, his figures would have been even more impressive.
In pursuit of 103 to win, the hosts lost Lutchman Darshik in the third over after he had scored nine runs from 10 balls. His dismissal brought Alec Loveland to the crease, and Loveland and Herman Basson then set about the Queens’ bowling. Together, they put on 66 runs for the second wicket, which left the Blues on the cusp of victory.
Loveland fell for a brisk 33 off 23 deliveries, while Basson batted through the chase and was unbeaten on 38 from 31 balls when the game was won.
Scorecards
Jeppe High School for Boys 142/10 (Ryan Young 43, Keegan Cockburn 22; Christian Sabela 4/25, Steele Grooteman 1/19). King Edward VII School 144/3 (Tiago Dias 52, Troy Gordon 51*; Sipho Potsane 1/8, Reza Ayob 1/26.) KES won by seven wickets.
Queens High School 102/7 (Bafana Mthunzi 26, Junior Makabe 14*; Malan du Plessis 4/20, David Ireland 1/17). St John’s College 103/2 (Herman Basson 38*, Alec Loveland 33; Junior Makabe 2/27, Preceli Molapisi 1/18). St John’s won by seven wickets.
