Gude wrecks Michaelhouse as Hilton College wins Schools SA20 semi
Michaelhouse was stunned by Sechaba Gude on the Hart-Davis Oval, at Hilton, on Thursday, with the paceman dismissing two of their top three cheaply before grabbing the last three wickets of the ‘House innings to set Hilton College up for an emphatic eight-wicket victory in their Switch Schools SA20 – Volume Two KZN Inland semi-final showdown.
If the Hart-Davis Oval has revealed anything this year, it’s that results have leaned towards the teams batting second, with those that choose to bat first often struggling to post big totals.
That proved to be the case once more on Thursday when Michaelhouse captain Graydon Leslie won the toss and chose to bat first. Ironically, he was the first batsman to fall, caught by Barack Munawa off Gude’s bowling for seven.
Sanqe Qangule got rid of the in-form Ben Heuer for a duck, which was a big boost for Hilton’s chances, and Gude then dismissed another in-form batsman, Rex Wardlaw, to have Michaelhouse three-down in the fourth over.
In the very next over, Luke Wilson trapped Cody Sander in front, leaving Michaelhouse punch drunk on 20/4. Matters didn’t improve much for the visitors from there.
They lost their fifth wicket, Riley Muir, run out, in the seventh over, and Wonga Mlonzi was sent packing at the start of the ninth for 17, a second victim of Luke Wilson, which reduced ‘House to 43/6.
They slid further to 55/7 when Victor North was caught by Ben Wilson off Benoit Rey for 16.
At last, though, Michaelhouse was able to put together a decent partnership, which was carried almost entirely by Nishay Sudhoowa. He struck four fours in his 34 from 31 balls before becoming another Sechaba Gude victim. Still, with Thandanani Zuma, he added 38 for the eighth wicket.
Zuma fell to the first ball of the 18th over, and Sudhoowa followed three balls later. Gude then returned for his fourth over to complete his five-for when he caught and bowled Rendani Nonge for five.
Michaelhouse was all out for 100 after 19.2 overs. Gude’s outstanding contribution was 5/7 from 3.2 overs.
Luke Wilson return 2/19 from four, and Benoit Rey bowled tidily to pick up 1/20 from his four.
With Hilton College captain Robert Burman leading the way, the home side made a rollicking start to their run chase, getting stuck into the Michaelhouse bowling early to quickly establish which team was going to win the match.
Burman and Barack Munawa shared a 67-run first wicket stand in eight overs before Munawa was bowled by Liam O’Dwyer for 28 from 26 balls, with four fours, but, by then, he had pretty much helped to seal the deal.
Ben Wilson fell cheaply, which left Hilton on 75/2 in the eleventh over, but they needed only 26 more runs to win.
Burman and Luke Wilson soon supplied them, taking 14 balls to do so, as Hilton romped to victory with 39 balls to spare. Burman was 48 not out from 36 balls, with seven fours, while Wilson finished with 11 from 10.
Nishay Sudhoowa, Michaelhouse’s best batsman on the day, also proved to be their best bowler, claiming 1/18 in four. Liam O’Dwyer finished with 1/24 in 3.3 overs.
It was, however, Hilton’s onslaught on the Michaelhouse frontline bowlers that set them up for a successful run chase. Thandanani Zuma went for 15 runs from his only over, Ben Heuer conceded 22 from three, and Rendani Nonge went for 13 from his one.
Summarised scorecard
Michaelhouse 100/10 (Nishay Sudhoowa 34; Sechaba Gude 5/7, Luke Wilson 2/19); Hilton College 101/2 (Robert Burman 48*, Barack Munawa 28). Hilton College won by eight wickets.
