Gordon and Van der Walt centuries secure wins for KES and St John’s
Connor van der Walt scored a sensational century to set St John’s College up for an emphatic 176-run win over St Benedict’s College in their 50-over match on the Mitchell Oval at St John’s on Saturday. It was the Blues’ fifth win in as many completed games.
Nkosana Sibiya, the St John’s captain, won the toss and elected to bat first. Behind Van der Walt’s superb knock, they scored 283 runs in 48.1 overs.
That proved to be beyond the visitors, who mustered only 107/9, with Chris Burnham not batting after picking up an injury while bowling.
Sibiya gave the hosts a brisk start with a brilliant 32-ball 57, and the skipper shared a 68-run opening stand with Darshik Lutchman, who went on to make 33.
The visitors, though, found their radar with the ball and turned one wicket into two, adding Herman Basson‘s dismissal 15 balls later. Lutchman and Joshua Hall (22) tried to rebuild but added only 38 runs for the third wicket.
The Blues regained control of the innings when Van der Walt walked out to bat in the 25th over. The middle-order batsman, then, spent 21.5 overs in the middle and compiled a confident 101 from 97 balls to take the game away from Bennies.
When the visitors batted, Bryn Gilmour prevented them from finding a foothold, capturing 3/33 in nine overs.
Juan de Villiers and Tapiwa Chikwava, who each took a brace of wickets, complemented his efforts. Chikwava was close to being unplayable and conceded 15 runs in 7.4 overs for his two wickets. De Villiers went for 35 from his eight.
Olly Brown was the top scorer for St Benedict’s with an unbeaten 38 runs from 35 balls. Matthew Hickman‘s 18 was their next-best contribution. They were joined in double figures by Matthew Elphick, Keegan Greensmith, and Tom McArthur.
KES vs Jeppe
On the John Hurry Oval, Troy Gordon scored a brilliant century to help King Edward VII (KES) stamp their authority on their third showdown with Jeppe in recent weeks, resulting in a comfortable 79-run win for the home side.
The Reds won the toss, chose to bat first, and scored an insurmountable 268/7 before they bundled Jeppe out for 189 runs in 47 overs.
The Black Caps, though, drew first blood when Keagan Cockburn dismissed Matthew Bromley in the second over to leave KES on 2/1. That wicket was a blessing in disguise for KES because Bromley’s exit created room for Gordon to occupy the crease. The number three batsman gladly accepted the invitation and stayed there for the next 42 overs. During that time, he struck seven fours and three sixes on his way to a run-a-ball 106.
Gordon also shared a match-winning 176-run third-wicket partnership with Abdullah Mohammed, who was the foil to Gordon’s attacking stroke play, weighing in with a steady 89 runs from 126 deliveries.
Keagan Cockburn, who dismissed KES’s openers, Urav Mukhija (20) and Bromley (1), came back into the attack at the death and added another three wickets to his tally to finish with 5/43 from 10 overs, which was an outstanding return, especially in the context of the big KES total. Unfortunately, for Cockburn, his five-for wasn’t enough.
In the Jeppe reply, Lincoln Casais, with 56, and Goolam Ahmed, with 54, played their part to keep Jeppe in the contest. Their efforts were in vain, however, as they lacked further support from their teammates. Their 90-run fifth-wicket partnership was the best of a Jeppe innings that was characterised by wickets falling in bunches.
Connor Kuijers was KES’s most successful bowler, snapping up 3/30 from 10 overs, while Troy Gordon demonstrated his all-round game by taking 2/20 in six overs.
Tyler Cloete and Luke Clark also took two wickets each, with Clark returning 2/21 in six, and Cloete claiming 2/40 from 10.
St Stithians College vs St Alban’s College
St Stithians College, meanwhile, made good use of their knowledge of the Dlamini Oval to score a convincing five-wicket win over St Alban’s College.
A trio of bowlers ensured Saints would face a comfortable run chase after they helped to dismiss the visitors for only 111. Nqaba Matunda knocked over 4/37, Tendai Kadyamadare nabbed 3/24, and Zaakir Hanslo chipped in with 3/25 to set up their side for victory.
Tristan Naidoo, with 22, and Ethan Nel, with 21, were the best of the visitors’ batsmen.
When Saints batted, an unbeaten 38 from Thomas Collins and 25 from Nicholas Bayly took their side to a comfortable home win.
Summarised Scorecards
St John’s 283/10 (Connor van der Walt 101, Nkosana Sibiya 57; Alex Johnston 4/67, Tlotiso Mhlanga 3/39). St Benedict’s 107/9 (Olly Brown 38*, Matthew Hickman 18; Bryn Gilmore 3/33, Tapiwa Chikwava 2/15, Juan de Villiers 2/35). St John’s won by 176 runs.
King Edward VII 268/7 (Troy Gordon 106, Abdullah Mohammed 89; Keagan Cockburn 5/43, Lincoln Casais 1/4). Jeppe 189/10 (Lincoln Casais 56, Goolam Ahmed 54; Connor Kuijers 3/30, Troy Gordon 2/20). King Edward won by 79 runs.
St Alban’s 111/10 (Tristan Naidoo 22, Ethan Nel 21; Nqaba Matunda 4/37, Tendai Kadyamadare 3/24, Zaakir Hanslo 3/25). St Stithians 112/5 (Thomas Collins 38*, Nicholas Bayly 25; Jesse Eckard 2/29, Tiashin Naidoo 2/24). St Stithians won by five wickets.
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