Dias and Leith spur KES and Steyn City to emphatic wins
Tiago Dias and Murray Leith were in impeccable form as they batted King Edward VII (KES) and Steyn City School to comprehensive victories over Fourways High and Hoërskool Noordheuwel in their Switch Schools SA20 Volume Two matches on Wednesday afternoon.
KES vs Fourways High
Opening batsman Dias conducted a clinic on keeping the ball on the turf as he slashed his way to an unbeaten century and led KES to 281/1.
Abdullah Mohammed then turned the ball square on his way to a five-wicket haul as KES hurried Fourways High out for only 46 runs in 15.1 overs, thus scoring a mammoth 236-run win.
Nathan Malherbe, the Fourways High captain, called correctly at the toss and elected to bowl first at the John Hurry Oval, at KES. He was unprepared for the blitz that ensued. Dias bashed 13 fours on his way to an unbeaten 100 from a mere 57 balls.
His opening partner, Luke Clark, was in an even more unforgiving mood. He tallied 98 and only 24 of those came from running between the wickets. The other 74 came from boundaries. He blitzed eight fours and seven sixes in an aggressive 41-ball stay and together he and Dias shared a 169-run opening stand.
Troy Gordon, batting third, didn’t miss out either, even though he faced only 24 deliveries. He delivered controlled brutality, smashing four sixes and seven fours in a rapid fire 67 not out, which included an unbroken 112-run second-wicket partnership with Dias.
When Fourways High batted, Steele Grooteman didn’t allow them to settle. The spinner accounted for the visitors’ openers before Mohammed dismantled the Fourways’ batting order by snaring 5/8 in only three overs.
His haul included a hat-trick in the 11th over when he sent Fourways’ captain Malherbe, Aidan Fish, and Yolani Majozini packing.
Noordheuwel vs Steyn City
Steyn City proved that their victory over St Stithians on Tuesday was no fluke by following it up with a four-wicket win over Hoërskool Noordheuwel on Wednesday.
Steyn City won the toss, elected to bowl first, and kept Noordheuwel to 159/5 in their 20 overs.
Then, Murray Leith took control of their run chase with a splendid half-century to see Steyn City to 163/6 and victory with eight balls to spare.
Wander Roolvink led Noordheuwel with a 49-ball 65 that included six fours and two sixes. However, his half-century was trumped by Leith’s 71 from 48 deliveries. Unlike Roolvink, he didn’t hit a single six, but he stroked seven fours.
Leith got Steyn City’s run chase underway with a 69-run opening partnership with Matthew Barbour, who made 25. After Barbour’s exit, Leith held things together while his next three partners faltered.
When his innings came to an end, after 16 overs, Steyn City had reached 133/5. By then, though, they had victory in their sights.
Gideon Coetzee was the most successful bowler in the match, capturing 3/29 to help set up Steyn City for victory. His haul included accounting for Nories‘ hard-hitting duo of Dian Taaljard and Roolvink, while he also added the wicket of JJ Basson.
Summarised Scorecards
KES 281/1 (Tiago Dias 100*, Luke Clark 98, Troy Gordon 67*; Alex Heyns 1/49, Aiden Fish 0/17). Fourways High 46/10 (Nathan Malherbe 21, Dylan Coulentianos 12; Abdullah Mohammed 5/8, Steele Grooteman 2/10). KES won by 236 runs.
Noordheuwel 159/5 (Wander Roolvink 65, Reney van der Berg 24; Gideon Coetzee 3/29, Kurt Losch 1/27). Steyn City 163/6 (Murray Leith 71, Matthew Barbour 25; Gerhard Roolvink 2/31, MJ Kritzinger 1/17). Steyn City won by four wickets.
