Hullet’s form proves crucial for Kearsney while Clifton win final over thriller
Kearsney College’s Dave Hullet carried on his good form from yesterday with a consecutive half-century, 59 from 44 balls which propelled the hosts to a defendable total of 142/8 in 20 overs. Number six Joshua Stocks provided the back end of the innings with the impotence needed to put the side in a good position at the halfway stage of the game.
Stocks hit several big hits which cleared the boundary with relative ease. Northwood opening bowler Sam Carnie bowled well and had economical figures 2/6 from 2 overs.
In response, Northwood struggled to get into a groove to score at the required rate. The side’s top order struggled and lost three wickets within the powerplay proving cricket pundits correct, with it being difficult in T20 cricket to win a game from that position. Captain, Cade Carmichael, who normally is the first-choice keeper was the pick of the bowlers ending up with figures of 3/9 in 2.2 overs. Kearsney won the match by 53 runs.
In the other semi-final, Clifton lost the toss and was asked to set a total. In what was the game of the day Clifton’s opener Joshua Platford got the side off to a flier scoring a quickfire 23 from 14 balls with two fours and two sixes. He was caught off the bowling of Rasen Naidoo.
Number three Nabeel Jeewa scored 35 from 31 balls and helped himself to five boundaries. The rest of the side chipped in to get Clifton to 120 in 19.5 overs. Glenwood’s Russel Hein added to his impressive performance from yesterday by bagging himself two sticks as he ended with figures of 4 overs 2/21.
Glenwood would have fancied themselves to chase down the modest total. However, the Clifton bowling unit was not going to have any of it by successfully defending the total. Opening bowler Ronan Vardaya took 3/22 from his four overs. He was well supported by the other bowlers who managed to restrict the batting side to 116/7 in 20 overs. Captain, SJ de Klerk, took control of the innings with a composed 42 from 46 balls but was not quite enough to get his side over the line as he was dismissed with the side still needing 23 to win.
Hein took the game down to the wire getting his side within reach needing 10 runs to win. Losing two wickets in a row from the first two balls in the last over was always going to make it tough. Vardaya, however, over-stepped on the second last ball of the over and presented the batting side with a free hit which only was put away for one.
The pressure mounted and proved too big an ask for the lower order as Glenwood narrowly lost by 4 runs. Cricket really is a game of inches and on another day this result could have swayed the other way.
The final will be played between Kearsney and Clifton this afternoon starting at 1:00 pm with the winners playing for a chance to represent the coastal side at the National Competition to be hosted later in the year.
Summarised Scorecards:
Clifton 120 all-out from 19.5 overs (Nabeel Jeewa 35(31b), Russel Hein 2/21); Glenwood 116/7 from 20 overs (SJ de Klerk 42(46b), Ronan Vardaya 4-3-22). Clifton won by 4 runs.
Kearsney College 142/8 after 20 overs (Dave Hullet 59 (44b); Sam Carnie 2-6-2), Northwood after 89 from 18.2 overs (Tanner Capell 27 (26b), Cade Carmichael 3/9). Kearsney College won by 53 runs.
Final Fixtures 31st January 2020
Kearsney College 1st XI vs Clifton High School 1st XI at 1:00 pm
