Hilton returns to winning ways, Baker cooks for Michaelhouse
After a poor batting performance against the previous weekend, when they were bowled out for well less than 100, Hilton College was looking for a far better showing from their talented batting line-up on Saturday at Northwood. They got it and went on to record a convincing 62-run victory.
The Knights’ Reece-Edwards Field is big, and one has to work for one’s runs on a well-considered surface, which usually offers something to both the batsmen and the bowlers. Therefore, Hilton’s 255 for 7 in their 50 overs should be considered in that context. It was a fine effort.
While the visitors lost Charles Swart early, his fellow opener Ben Hockly settled in for the long haul and played the anchor role. His determined effort brought him exactly 100, scored off of 129 balls, with 13 fours and one maximum. When he was the third man out, he had helped steer Hilton to 196.
Ivan Lockem provided valuable support, scoring 67 at close to a run a ball, with three fours and a six.
The Knights used eight bowlers, and it was the last man introduced into the attack, Kyle White, who made the greatest impact. He picked up 3 for 19 in four overs, including the wickets of Hilton’s two highest scorers.
A poor start in pursuit of a tough victory target doomed Northwood. Neither opener made it into double-figures and, while Mo Karodia and Evan Fouche tried to steady the innings, they fell for 14 and 21 respectively, as the home team stumbled to 58 for 4.
White, again, came to the rescue. In at six, he grafted for a well-played 68 from 97 balls, which included five fours and a six. Unfortunately for him, there wasn’t enough from the rest of the batsmen to enable Northwood to challenge Hilton’s 255. Fouche’s 21 was the next best.
Lively Ross Boast did the damage up front, sending two batsmen packing for a return of 2 for 18 from eight. Liyema Nela snared 3/28 from six overs, while leg-spinner Nic Chantler, almost always good for a few wickets, picked up 2/42.
After 43.5 overs, Northwood were all out for 193.
Anyone who has paid close attention to Michaelhouse cricket over the past season would not be at all surprised to learn that Murray Baker was at the forefront of their 92-run victory over Clifton on Saturday.
Baker was far and away his team’s top scorer, making 88, with five fours and two sixes, which was 59 more than the second highest scorer, Nathan Hoatson, managed.
House posted 215 for 7 in 45 overs, with Jayden Roux doing a good job of undermining their batting effort. He captured 2 for 27 in 7.1 overs, removing two of Michaelhouse’s first three batsmen, while Shiraz Perumal claimed 2 for 53 in nine.
Tim Saulez led Clifton’s reply, making 37. Jayden Roux added 24 to his strong effort with the ball, while Camdeon Riley struck a quick 24 from 22, and Shahzaad Perumal contributed 20 at the top of the order. The problem for Clifton was that there was little else to offer, with six batsmen making six runs or less.
Ethan Muir was the destroyer-in-chief, knocking over 4 for 29 in in 7.1 overs, while Nathan Hoatson snapped up 3 for 31 in nine as Clifton were bowled out for 123, just inside of 40 overs.
The topsy-turvy nature of cricket was evident in Glenwood‘s showdown with Westville Boys’ High. The previous weekend, they had comprehensively outplayed Hilton, rolling through the visitors’ batting with ease. This time around, it was Glenwood who were on the wrong end of that kind of treatment.
They managed only 78 all out against the Griffins, with just three players making it into double figures, led by Ciaran Roundtree‘s 24. Sean McGough sent four players packing, while Roxton Payne and Dayalan Boyce chipped in with two sticks each.
Nicandro Kistna then made 36 at the top of the order, providing the kind of foundation Westville needed in their reply. An unbeaten 29 from Kaeden McAllister then saw the Griffins over the line for the loss of only two wickets.
At Saint Charles, the weather had the final say as Saints and Maritzburg College shared a draw. The Red, Black, and White, batted first and posted a fighting 214 for 9, led by Chad Mason, who struck 84, a full 60 runs more than Liam Armstrong, who was College’s second-highest scorer.
Rowen Rajah shone for Saints, capturing 3 for 26 in seven overs, while Marcell Wellmann did a fine job of supporting the paceman, taking 3 for 38 in eight.
Cian Fortmann (feature photo), with 60 from 94, including five fours and six, and Sam Brown, with 31 from 39, with six fours, gave Saint Charles a terrific start to their run chase, combining for 57 for the first wicket.
Connor Riley contributed 21, but a late flurry of wickets, which saw Saints slide from 118 for 3 to 146 for 8, left them facing an uphill climb.
Chad Mason was on song for College with the ball, snaring 3 for 12 with his spin, to put the hosts under pressure. Oliver da Costa was also among the wickets, picking up 2 for 26 as the home side clawed their way to 146 for 8 when bad light and rain forced the players from the field.
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Summarised scorecards:
Hilton College 255/7 (Ben Hockly 100, Ivan Lockem 67, Kyle White 3/19); Northwood 193/10 (Kyle White 68, Liyema Nela 3/28, Nic Chantler 2/42)
Hilton College won by 62 runs
Michaelhouse 215/7 (Murray Baker 88, Nathan Hoatson 29, Jayden Roux 2/27, Shiraz Perumal 2/53); Clifton 123/10 (Tim Saulez 37, Camdeon Riley 23, Jayden Roux 24, Ethan Muir 4/29, Nathan Hoatson 3/31)
Michaelhouse won by 92 runs
Maritzburg College 214/9 (Chad Mason 84, Liam Armstrong 24, Sphimandla Dzanibe 23*, Rowen Rajah 3/26, Marcell Wellmann 3/38); St Charles College 146 for 8 (Cian Fortmann 60, Sam Brown 31, Chad Mason 3/12, Oliver da Costa 2/26)
Match abandoned due to bad light and rain
Glenwood 78/10 (Ciaran Roundtree 24, Sean McGough 4/20, Roxton Payne 2/2, Dayalan Boyce 2/20); Westville 79/2 (Nicandro Kistna 36, Kaeden McAllister 29*)
Westville won by 8 wickets
