Gimmies thump Klerksdorp, Volkies beat Liggies to set up Potch derby
The road to the final of the North West Schools SA20 comes down to a Potchefstroom derby to determine who will face defending champions Hoërskool Rustenburg in the final at the JB Marks Oval.
Read and relive all the Schools SA action on SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com)
Potchefstroom Gimnasium and Potchefstroom Volkskool will meet on the morning of 24 September at the Witrand Oval, with the winner to take on Rusties that same afternoon at the JB Marks Oval, home of the North West Dragons.
Both Gimmies and Volkies won their respective matches comfortably, thanks to some exceptional batting performances.
Gimmies’ in-form opener, Christivan Coetzer, smashed his second century of the round. Having already recorded a 150 earlier, Coetzer blasted his way to an unbeaten 109 from a mere 36 deliveries as Gimmies demolished Hoërskool Klerksdorp by 10 wickets on their home turf in Klerksdorp.
Thanks to Coetzer’s extraordinary innings, the side from Potchefstroom chased down the target of 170 runs in just 12.3 overs. With a breathtaking strike rate of 302,8, Coetzer’s innings included 14 fours and seven sixes. This meant that 89%, or 98 of his 109 runs, came via boundaries.
Coetzer’s partner in crime in achieving the 10-wicket feat was the experienced Ulrich Botha, who, although batting slightly slower, still managed a knock of 51 not out off just 40 balls, including seven fours and one six.
The target of 170 was mostly thanks to Klerksdorp’s Gerrit Koen. A natural attacking batsman, he scored 169 not out in the 50-over league recently and continued his good form to give the Gimmie bowlers some headaches of their own. Koen, too, wasted no time for an unbeaten 85 from just 40 deliveries, smashing a staggering 11 sixes and a solitary four at a strike rate of 212.
In Lichtenburg, Riekert Kruger hit 80 not out from only 48 balls to lead the Volkies to an eight-wicket victory over Hoërskool Lichtenburg. Needing only 133 for victory, thanks to great bowling spells from Johandré Jacobs (2/8) and Handré de Beer (2/15), Kruger smashed 14 boundaries, which included 12 fours and two sixes. He was well supported by fellow opening batsmen, AW van der Merwe, who scored 26 in the pair’s partnership of 66 runs.
Jürgern Hesse was the Liggies’ best performer on the day. Firstly, he scored a valuable 31 runs, alongside the top scorer, Oratile Masa (33), and then snapped up 2/28 in his allotted four overs, with the new ball, in the powerplay, to boot.
Summarised scorecards:
Hoërskool Klerksdorp 170/5 (Gerrit Koen 85*, Extras 23, TD Gruyvensteyn 21; Damian Kruger 2/15); Potchefstroom Gimnasium 174/0 (Christivan Coetzer 109*, Ulrich Botha 51*). Potchefstroom Gimnasium won by 10 wickets.
Hoërskool Lichtenburg 132/8 (Oratile Masa 33, Jürgen Hesse 31; Johandré Jacobs 2/8, Handré de Beer 2/15); Potchefstroom Volkskool 133/2 (Riekert Kruger 80*, AW van der Merwe 26; Jürgen Hesse 2/28). Potchefstroom Volkskool won by eight wickets.
