HTS Middelburg seals back-to-back wins to close out Finsbury League run

Wet weather had the final say in two of the three scheduled fixtures, with the matches between Heidelberg Volkskool and Wesvalia, and Hoërskool Dr Malan and Merensky Landbou Akademie, being abandoned without a ball being bowled.

Before the weekend’s games were played, though, Dokkies had already booked a place in the promotion/relegation playoff on 21 February.

In a low-scoring encounter in Middelburg, HTS produced a well‑rounded performance to overcome Hoërskool Ben Vorster by four wickets.

The hosts bowled first after the Black Caps won the toss and elected to bat.

Hugo Bierman responded well to the challenge, leading the home side’s attack, with an excellent opening spell helping him to 3/19 from 6.2 overs, while the reliable Brussow de Wet sent down seven overs and knocked over 3/22.

Only Dirk Nortman and Ruben Pohl bettered 20 runs for Ben Vorster. Nortman top‑scored with 23, while Pohl contributed 21 as the visitors posted a modest 127 all out.

Henco Britz led the home side’s reply with a well‑constructed 29 at the top of the order. Jandré de Clerq added 25, and Armand Kotze tallied 24, to see HTS Middelburg to a four-wicket win.

Sontag Ramatsoma almost turned the match on its head, snaring 3/6 in only three overs to sow some seeds of doubt in the hosts’ run chase, but, by then, the job had almost been completed.