Five-wicket hauls lead St David’s and Noordheuwel to Schools SA20 wins


Kyle Butler bagged a five-wicket haul to lay the foundation for St David’s Marist Inanda’s seven-wicket win over Hoërskool Middelburg in the first round of the Schools SA20 Gauteng Regional finals at Wits University on Friday.
Corné Oliver blew away the Hoërskool Secunda batting lineup and also captured a five-wicket haul, to lead Hoërskool Noordheuwel to a big 45-run win.
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St David’s won the toss and elected to bowl first on the B Field. They immediately made life difficult for Middelburg’s batsmen, who moved forward unevenly, in fits and starts, on their way to 118/9 in 20 overs.
St David’s needed only 15.5 overs to surpass that score, registering 121/3 to secure victory.
The Manack brothers, Armaan and Morteza, combined to provide St David’s with a first wicket in the second over of the Mpumalanga side’s innings. Morteza did the bowling and Armaan the catching to get rid of Daryl Chirimitikwa for a two-ball duck.
Things didn’t improve for Hoërskool Middelburg. They lost Herman Potgieter two-and-a-half overs later to the bowling of Hayden Campbell. However, worse was yet to come for the Middies. In the ninth over, Kyle Butler, who was bowling rockets, accounted for Eduan Strydom (18) with his first delivery. His third ball smashed into Hendré Nel’s stumps, and the fifth sent Zubair Desai’s stumps cartwheeling.
Butler wasn’t done. He claimed another two wickets in the 20th over to complete his five-wicket haul After his four overs, he returned a sparkling 5/31. Hayden Campbell and Morteza Manack each bagged a brace of wickets.
Gavin Genis, in the middle order, was the only Middelburg batsman to build up some momentum in his innings. However, he fought a lone battle in scoring a valiant 33-ball 37.
Morteza (35) and Armaan (40) Manack opened the batting for St David’s and constructed a 48-run opening run partnership that set the Sandton school on course for an easy victory.
Their stand was followed by a 51-run second-wicket partnership between Armaan and Kamogelo Phiri (33), which, went it ended, had St David’s on the cusp of the 100-run mark. Armaan Manack just missed out on seeing St David’s past the finishing line, though, losing his wickets two balls before his team secured victory.
On the A Field, Noordheuwel batted first and posted a stuttering 116/9. Their bowlers, though, put on a masterclass to dismiss Secunda for only 71 in 16.5 overs.
Noordheuwel lost Ethan Smith in the third over of their innings, but Dian Taljaard, who has been playing outstanding cricket, looked good as he carved 19 from 14 balls before he fell in the sixth over. Those wickets created a pattern that the Noordheuwel innings followed for the rest of the early afternoon as Nories failed to construct imposing partnerships and had to rebuild often.
Their top-scorer was Brandon Pieters, with 26 off 27 balls. No other Noordheuwel batsmen made it beyond the teens. However, they mustered enough runs to defend.
Alonzo Blankenberg and Nathan Erasmus provided Secunda with a decent start, putting together a 32-run opening stand. However, that was their first and last substantial partnership.
Gerhard Roolvink dismissed Blankenberg in the seventh over to break Secunda’s opening stand. Next, he combined with Gomo Sibi to run out Walt Vorster at the start of his following over. Roolwink, then, removed Nathan Erasmus, thus turning the contest in favour of Noordheuwel in the space of three deliveries.
Olivier joined in the act in the 13th over with the dismissal of Luan Swart. However, he bowled his best in the 15th over, capturing three wickets in five deliveries. The departures of Jayden Scholtz, Ceejay Webb, and Damian de Beer took Noordheuwel to the brink of victory. In the 17th over, Olivier sealed the deal by getting rid of Jean Loock.
Olivier’s bowling was a mystery Secunda’s batsmen failed to solve. In 2.5 overs, he conceded only seven runs while picking up five wickets. Gerhard Roolwink lent good support with two wickets for 11 runs, while Gomo Sibi and Tidi Moeketsane took a wicket each.
Scorecards
Hoërskool Middelburg 118/9 (Gavin Genis 37, Eduan Strydom 18, Kyle Butler 5/31, Morteza Manack 2/15). St David’s Marist Inanda 121/3 (Armaan Manack 40, Morteza Manack 35, Hendré Nel 1/30, Wildré Cilliers 1/11). St David’s won by seven wickets.
Hoërskool Noordheuwel 116/9 (Brandon Pieters 26, Dian Taljaard 19, Jean Loock 2/17, CJ Bakker 2/18). Hoërskool Secunda 71/10 (Nathan Erasmus 17, Nijan Swart 17, Corné Olivier 5/7, Gerhard Roolwink 2/11). Noordheuwel won by 45 runs.
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