Helpmekaar squeezes past Kearsney, Anderson shines for St Stithians
Helpmekaar Kollege combined their talents to power to a two-wicket Duckworth-Lewis-Stern Method win over Kearsney College in a rain-affected Independent Schools Cricket Festival match played on the Baloyi Oval at St Alban’s College in Pretoria on Saturday.
Xander Jackson, the Helpmekaar captain, asked Kearsney to bat first, and the KwaZulu-Natal side responded with 213 all out in 48.5 overs.
The Johannesburg side’s innings was disrupted by rain. They lost some overs to the stoppage and had a revised target of 111 runs when they resumed their innings. It was tight, but they claimed victory after 25.2 overs when they reached 113/8.
Zuan Joubert led the chase with a steady 35 runs at better than a run a ball. Heinrich Minnaar (22) and Ewald Haasbroek (18) chipped in with a valuable 40 runs between them.
Their efforts nullified Rivan Moodley‘s heroics. The Kearsney leg-spinner enjoyed a great outing, snaring four wickets for 17 runs in six overs. Michael Groom, Blake Pugh, Daniel Miskey, and Matthew Gorrie chipped in with a wicket each.
Earlier in the day, Gary Verbaan top-scored for Kearsney with a patient 33 from 61 balls. Asher Hollister (32), Michael Groom (31) and Kegan de Jager (30) also made valuable contributions.
Christo Badenhorst (24) and Luke Grobbelaar (22) played their part, too; unfortunately, for Kearsney, it wasn’t enough to lift them to a winning score against Helpies, who had been one of the ISCF’s most impressive sides on the first two days of the event.
St Stithians College vs St Andrew’s School
On the Dlamini Oval, at St Stithians College, Matthew Anderson launched a middle-order onslaught that played a big part in setting up the home side for a tight eight-run win over St Andrew’s School.
Reuben van Aarde, the St Andrew’s captain, won the toss and elected to bowl first. The hosts responded to that challenge with vigour, led by Anderson, who played a gem of an innings, scoring 74 off 62 balls, to help St Stithians correct course and compile a winning total of 265 all out in 48.4 overs.
St Andrew’s very nearly hauled it in, but came up just short, dismissed for 257 in 49.5 overs.
When Anderson made his way to the crease, St Stithians had lost four wickets for only two runs between the 14th and 18th overs. He, however, went about his business with assurance, partnering with Chris Collins (22) for 80 runs for the sixth wicket to firm up the home team’s innings.
Matthew Katzenstein, with 37 at the top of the order, produced an important knock before falling victim to Erhard Bahrends, who claimed 3/49 in nine overs. Nikhil Sukraj returned 2/43 in seven, and Jonathan Hickley 2/25 in 4.3, while Ryle Beckmann tied down the Johannesburg school’s batsmen with a neat 1/19 from 10 overs of left-arm spin.
In reply, WJ Lindhout (61) and Reuben van Aarde (59) recorded half-centuries for St Andrew’s. Erhard Bahrends added 42 and Heindré Serfontein a quickfire 36 from 28 balls, with three fours and two sixes, but the visitors, under pressure to up their run rate, lost their last five wickets for 21 runs.
Nqaba Matunda was the pick of the bowlers for St Stithians, capturing 3/33, while Didier Le Roux took some stick, but dislodged three batsmen, to claim 3/51 from seven overs.
Woodridge College, after two defeats, picked up a first victory, beating St Benedict’s College by 28 runs on the Temba Bavuma Oval at St David’s Marist Inanda.
Batting first, they tallied 162 all out behind 44 from Jack Feltham, 29 from Daniel Darlow, and 25 from Stefan Swanepoel, as the Eastern Cape side’s top and middle order flourished.
Matthew Lewis, with 2/17, and Shae Pollard, with 2/20, ensured Woodridge was unable to play with freedom, though. Alex Johnston and Sanyay Wengat added good support, claiming 2/23 and 2/39 in 10, respectively.
The Bennies‘ reply started promisingly, but it trailed off, with the Bedfordview boys being bowled out in 40.2 overs for 134.
Opener Matthew Hickman-Steel played responsibly, top scoring with 35 from 75 balls, but, apart from Shae Pollard, who chipped in with 23, support was sparse.
Jack Feltham, Woodridge’s batting hero, was also their bowling hero, snapping up 3/12 in 6.2 overs, while Daniel Darlow, their second-highest scorer, nabbed 2/22 from seven.
Cameron Jones played his part in Woodridge’s successful run defence, claiming 2/13 in four, while opening bowler Brody McKinnon removed two of the top three for 31 runs from his 10 overs.
The festival ends on Sunday with T20 matches.
Summarised Scorecards:
Kearsney College 213/10 (Gary Verbaan 33, Asher Hollister 32; Michael Groom 31, Keegan de Jager 30; Keanu du Plooy 3/49, Frederick Zeelie 2/21). Helpmekaar Kollege 113/8 (Zuan Joubert 35, Heinrich Minnaar 22; Rivan Moodley 4/17, Michael Groom 1/13). Helpmekaar won by two wickets.
St Stithians College 265/10 (Matthew Anderson 74, Matthew Katzenstein 37; Erhard Barends 3/49, Nikhil Sukraj 2/43, Jonathan Hickley 2/25). St Andrew’s School 257/10 (WJ Lindhout 61, Reuben van Aarde 59, Erhard Bahrends 42, Heindré Serfontein 36; Nqaba Matunda 3/33, Didier le Roux 3/51). St Stithians College won by eight runs.
Woodridge College 162/10 (Jack Feltham 44, Daniel Darlow 29; Matthew Lewis 2/17, Shae Pollard 2/20, Alex Johnston 2/23). St Benedict’s College 134/10 (Matthew Hickman-Steel 35, Shae Pollard 23; Jack Feltham 3/12, Cameron Jones 2/13, Daniel Darlow 2/22). Woodridge College won by 28 runs.
