Graeme College downs Queen’s College, Rondebosch outplays Grey High
Enrique Strydom anchored Graeme College’s innings to set them up for a convincing 73-run win over Queen’s College in a Cape Schools Cricket Festival match played on Rondebosch‘s Meadow A Field on Monday.
On the Cricket A Field, Rondebosch Boys’ High cruised to a comfortable eight-wicket win over Grey High.
Strydom flayed seven fours in an unbeaten 49 from 40 balls to steer Graeme College to a strong 124/2 in a match reduced to 14 overs a side after a rain delay.
Andrew Muir, the Graeme College captain, then rotated his bowlers well as they restricted Queen’s College to only 51/9 in reply.
Earlier, Queen’s had opted to field after winning the toss. Vijay George stuck early for Queen’s dismissing Luphelo Mdyesha for one in the second over, but Graeme shrugged off the wicket as a minor inconvenience and went on the attack, with Strydom and Corbin Tidbury adding 53 runs in 40 balls, with Tidbury’s contribution a brisk 18-ball 31.
Kits McConnachie was the next man in after Tidbury’s dismissal, and he matched his predecessor’s performance by also scoring at a strike rate of 172, but his contribution was an unbeaten 38 from 22 deliveries as Graeme College posted a healthy total, which left their Komani opposition needing to score at almost nine runs per over to win.
Queen’s College began their pursuit with a 17-run opening partnership, but once the first wicket went down, their challenge faltered. Ross Fitzhenry was the lone batsman to reach double figures, but he barely made it, scoring 11 from 12 balls.
Mdyesha starred with the ball for Graeme College, snaring three wickets for five runs in two overs, while Lisekho Zinyane and Ajay Jeggels chipped in with a brace each as Graeme rolled to a convincing win. Zinyane finished with 2/10 from three overs, while Jeggels nabbed 2/12 from his three.
When Rondebosch won the toss against Grey High, they decided to bowl first and that proved to be the right call. Making good use of the conditions, the home side bowled out the Gqeberha side for 105 in 19.1 overs.
Three bowlers – Schalk Fourie, James Kirsten, and Daniel Bosman – removed two batsmen each to hand the ‘Bosch batsmen a gettable victory target.
Daniel Cooke set up stall at one end of the crease, patiently accumulating an unbeaten 44 from 50 deliveries, which allowed his teammates to push the game forward with ease.
Tyler Heyns played his part with 18 off 14 balls, while Bosman chipped in with 19 from 14, and Noah Heath saw Rondebosch to victory with 21 not out off of 17 balls.
Rondebosch had taken 15.2 overs to wrap up the win, finishing on 107/2.
Scorecards
Graeme College 124/2d (Enrique Strydom 49*, Kitts McConnachie 38*, Corbin Tidbury 31; George Vijay 1/14, Khazimla Simama 1/25). Queen’s College 51/9 (Ross Fitzhenry 9, Duncan Hayes 8; Luphelo Mdyesha 3/5, Lisekho Zinyane 2/10, Ajay Jeggels 2/12). Graeme College won by 73 runs.
Grey High 105/10 (James Upton 22, Drisden Pretorius 19; James Kirsten 2/20, Daniel Bosman 2/11, Schalk Fourie 2/15). Rondebosch 107/2 (Daniel Cooke 44*, Noah Heath 21*; Nathan Howell 1/10, Matthew Tinley 1/13). Rondebosch won by eight wickets.
