Gordon and Clark power King Edward VII to Johnny Waite title

Troy Gordon and Luke Clark recorded half-centuries, then Ryan Erasmus and Steele Grooteman pilfered three powerplay wickets to set King Edward VII (KES) up for a 33-run win over St Stithians College in the final of the  Johnny Waite Trophy, on the Main Oval, at the University of Johannesburg on Wednesday afternoon.

Last year, the Red Caps went down to Helpmekaar Kollege in the final. With their win on Wednesday, they won the T20 competition for a second time in the last five years.

“The Johnny Waite is a special tournament. We’re really excited for today, obviously, playing St Stithians in the final, and it was good to see us get over the line,” Matthew Bromley, the victorious captain, said after the contest.

KES, who were put in to bat first after losing the toss, totalled 160/6 in their 20 overs. Their bowlers then banded together to restrict St Stithians to 127/8 in reply.

The Red Caps’ innings started poorly when they lost two of their most dependable batsmen, Urav Mukhija and Matthew Bromley, in the first two overs. Their early dismissals, though, brought Gordon and Clark together, and they set KES on course for a challenging total with an inspired 127-run third-wicket partnership that spanned only 14 overs.

Clark, who scored a brisk 54 from just 39 balls, striking two fours and three sixes, was the first to be dismissed, losing his wicket to Zaakir Hanslo at the close of the 16th over. When he exited, KES was on 138/3. Gordon hung around for 14 more balls, pushing KES to 155/4 before he fell to Tendai Kadyamadare‘s bowling for the innings’ top score of 72 runs from 57 deliveries.

When St Stithians began their reply, Ryan Erasmus and Steele Grooteman struck early, dismissing Ombesa Matsha, Thomas Collins, and Nicholas Bayly to leave Saints on 36/3 after 5.5 overs, which put the Red Caps on the front foot.

Saints rebuilt their innings with a 33-run fourth-wicket partnership between Matthew Katzenstein (17) and Matthew Anderson (25). Connor Kuijers broke that partnership in the 11th over with Katzenstein’s dismissal.

Then KES strengthened their position with two wickets in the next over, with Luke Clark, the Player of the Match, accounting for Akhil Challa and Didier Le Roux in consecutive deliveries.

Tendai Kadyamadare (27) and Zaakir Hanslo (21) gave St Stithians a boost at the backend. It was, however, too little too late.

Clark was the pick of the KES bowlers, capturing 2/13 from three overs, while Ryan Erasmus and Connor Kuijers also claimed a brace of wickets each, and Tyler Cloete and Steele Grooteman chipped in with a wicket apiece.

“The boys showed a hell of a good fight after the disappointment of the SA20, where we lost to Jeppe,” Pieter van Rooyen, the KES coach, told SuperSport Schools Plus.

“To come back to show that discipline and fight to win the Johnny Waite trophy is unbelievable. So yeah, I’m very proud of my boys.”

Summarised Scorecard

King Edward VII 160/6 (Troy Gordon 72, Luke Clark 54; Tendai Kadyamadare 3/22, Zaakir Hanslo 2/20). St Stithians 127/8 (Tendai Kadyamadare 27, Matthew Anderson 25; Luke Clark 2/13, Ryan Erasmus 2/19, Connor Kuijers 2/22). King Edward VII won by 33 runs.

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CS Chiwanza

CS Chiwanza is a former poet and now a full-time storyteller of Southern African sports. He jokes that those who can't do a thing well enough either teach or write. He knows the right way to hold a cricket bat and the right grip for the wobbleball, but can't do either well enough to be picked for a good team. So he writes. However, he mastered the best dart grip and spends hours stat-padding against his wife and kids.

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