Grey College owns Maritzburg College on Goldstone’s, DHS on top again
Grey College, mostly through the bat of Daniel Hattingh and Bergh Vorster‘s heroics with the ball, shrugged off a six-wicket defeat against Westville Boys’ High on Sunday to outplay Maritzburg College on Goldstone’s on Monday at the Oppenheimer Michaelmas Cricket Week.
The Bloemfontein boys batted first and amassed a challenging total of 292/7, with Hattingh at the forefront of their batting effort, which featured three crucial half-centuries.
The Grey College all-rounder came in at five and counter-attacked after a few single-digit scores had preceded his innings. He needed only 57 deliveries to smash 16 boundaries in the innings’ top score of 82, which included six sixes.
Divan Bezuidenhoudt delivered more of the same in his 68 lower down the order, while opening batsman Aiden Dodd raised his bat for a second day in a row after contributing a patient 57 off 88 balls.
The College opening bowlers grafted hard. Samuel Hughes went at an economical 3.8 to the over for his 2/23, while his new ball partner, Reece Willson picked up 2/49.
With a healthy total to protect, Grey College delivered a strong bowling effort, led by Bergh Vorster. He knocked over 4/24, while the new ball pair of Sicelo Matayi (2/21) and Otto Krause (2/21) delivered the goods, too, as Maritzburg College fell for only 130 runs.
The Horseflies, of Durban High School (DHS), bagged another victory after a fighting chase against Pretoria Boys High. Ismaeel Omar (62) anchored their innings as School chased down the 143 runs required to win with four wickets to spare.
Joshua Hall starred for Boys High with the bat, making a well-played 48 in their total of 142 all out.
DHS captain Bayanda Majola delivered a destructive spell of 4/28, while Dhilan Naraidu (3/29) didn’t just stand out with the ball. In a tricky run chase, he delivered an unbeaten 36 runs in support of Omar to get the Durbanites over the line.
St Charles College amassed one of the higher team totals on the third day, 275/8, albeit in a shortened 40-over clash in which they beat Hudson Park by 132 runs on the St Charles Oval.
Opening batsman Thandolwethu Zama executed his job perfectly. He faced 90 balls and hit six fours and three sixes in his contribution of 86 runs. Connor Simpson did what he does best, also raising his bat for a half-century, after a rapid 51 off just 41 balls.
While his fellow bowlers took punishment from Zama and Simpson, Lukhanyo Hlatuka stood tall, returning standout figures of 4/53 from eight overs.
Hudson Park’s batsmen were unable to replicate the aggressive performance of their hosts. Their top score was just 33 runs, which came off the bat of opener Likho Gidi.
Fast bowler Rowen Rajah hurt Hudson with his opening spell, knocking over 5/23 as the East London school limped to 102/5, and they never recovered from there.
Summarised scorecards
Grey College 292/7 (Daniel Hattingh 86, Divan Bezuidenhoudt 68, Aiden Dodd 57, Peter le Roux 46, Extras 21; Samuel Hughes 2/23, Reece Willson 2/49); Maritzburg College 130 (Daniel Nadasan 28, Deolyn Naidoo 28; Bergh Vorster 4/25, Sicelo Matayi 2/21, Otto Krause 2/21). Grey College won by 162 runs
Pretoria Boys High 142 (Joshua Hall 48*, Jaydon Knott-Craig 31, Timothy Gordon 31; Bayanda Majola 4/28, Dhilan Naraidu 3/29); Durban High School 143/6 (Ismaeel Omar 62, Dhilan Naraidu 36*; Ruan Coetzee 4/27). Durban High School won by four wickets.
St Charles College 275/8 (40) (Thandolwethu Zama 86, Connor Simpson 51, Matthew Weightman 28, Relebogile Mokoena 22*, Christiaan Prinsloo 21; Lukhanyo Hlatuka 4/53); Hudson Park 143 (Likho Gidi 33, Chulumanco Macozoma 25; Rowen Rajah 5/23). St Charles College won by 132 runs.
