Hewlett prevails as St Alban’s push Michaelhouse all the way, Cornwall on a roll
St Alban’s College of Pretoria nearly ended Michaelhouse’s unbeaten run at this year’s Oppenheimer Michaelmas Week. However, Hayden Hewlett and Co prevailed with a tightly contested two-wicket victory on the third day.
Chasing has by no means been easy this week, with Michaelhouse one of a handful of teams able to chase down a target.
The ever-reliable Liam Basch spearheaded the St Alban’s batting attack with a patient innings that lasted 84 deliveries and set the cornerstone for a competitive 217/5 in the allotted 50 overs. Ethan Nel supported Basch with 58 in the pair’s 103-run stand for the fourth wicket.
Hewlett’s innings was similar to that of Basch’s as he too scored 68 runs, but with the difference that Hewlett was unbeaten as the home side crossed the line. Preston Greene played the supportive role with a contribution of 43 low down the order.
At the opposite end of the order, Muir’s 39 opening the innings ultimately proved to be the difference between the two sides. Alex Uken was the best bowler on the day, claiming three Michaelhouse scalps for 44 runs in eight overs.
Cornwall Hill College landed their second big fish in as many days, dispatching Paul Roos Gimnasium for a mere 109. Obakang Mokonyane led the charge again with 3/21, with Rourke de Lange, seemingly always in on the action, doing his bit with 2/25. Mohale Pitso did the mop-up work, claiming two wickets for just two runs.
Despite the low total, Cornwall nevertheless found it a difficult target to chase. The reliable bowling trio of Morné Pauw (2/28), Luca Plekker (2/24) and Dion Slabber (2/48) did a valiant job in trying to defend 110. Zander Davel‘s 46 runs, four short of what would have been a deserved half-century, did just enough to get Deon Kruis’ side home by a nail-biting three wickets.
Pretoria powerhouses, Hoërskool Waterkloof and Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool, were both at their dominant best, earning a second victory each in as many days.
Rico van der Walt, destined for a big score after a few false starts, finally delivered in the Klofies’ thumping 147-run victory over Glenwood. He ended his marathon innings, consisting of 134 deliveries, on an unbeaten Nelson (111*), providing 51% of his side’s 216 runs. Lower down the order, Jaydon Blom had another great day with the willow, with a crucial cameo of 35 runs.
Apart from Van der Walt and Blom, the Klofie batters struggled to provide answers to the questions asked by Bandile Mbatha (5/23) and Kamogelo Moloto (2/29). Despite Van der Walt’s heroics, the duo shared seven wickets for 52 runs in the combined 13.5 overs they bowled.
Darius Maritz followed suit when he got a chance with the ball in hand, claiming three blistering wickets for just two runs in four overs, to spearhead the destruction of Glenwood for just 69.
Affies beat Northwood by 40 runs, courtesy of half-centuries by the in-form JP Botha and Vihan Pretorius. Botha was again rock-solid with 78, while Northwood couldn’t dismiss Pretorius before the innings came to an end with his score on 54.
Kyle White answered with 73 runs but only found support in Keegan Reeves, who fought valiantly with 41 not out. Although not able to bowl Northwood out, Schalk Coetzee (3/30) and Armin Snyman (3/54) did the most damage to restrict the Durbanites to 209/9 in their allotted 50 overs.
Summarised scorecards
St Alban’s College 217/5 (Liam Basch 68, Ethan Nel 58, Kyle Block 21; Thandanani Zuma 2/15); Michaelhouse 220/8 (Hayden Hewlett 68*, Preston Greene 43, Ethan Muir 39, Rex Wardlaw 24; Alex Uken 3/44). Michaelhouse won by two wickets.
Paul Roos Gimnasium 109 (Reuven Dos Santos 37*; Obakeng Mokonyane 3/21, Mohale Pitso 2/2, Rourke de Lange 2/25); Cornwall Hill College 111/7 (Zander Davel 46; Morné Pauw 2/28, Luca Plekker 2/24, Dion Slabber 2/48). Cornwall Hill College won by three wickets.
Waterkloof 216 (Rico van der Walt 111*, Jaydon Blom 35, Johan Feuth 28; Bandile Mbatha 5/23, Kamogelo Moloto 2/29); Glenwood 69 (Kyle Bryan 22*; Darius Maritz 3/2, Ricardo Crous 2/12, Jaco van der Walt 2/23). Waterkloof won by 147 runs.
Affies 239/6 (JP Botha 78, Vihan Pretorius 54*, Christian Linde 27, Extras 27, Ruben Groenewald 23; Keegan Reeves 2/49); Northwood 209/9 (Kyle White 73, Keegan Reeves 41*, David de Bruyn 21; Schalk Coetzee 3/30, Armin Snyman 3/54). Affies won by 30 runs.
