Jeggels and Muir inspire Graeme College to victory
AJ Jeggels spun a web around the Woodridge College batsmen, while Andrew Muir scored his second half-century in two days, as Graeme College romped to a six-wicket victory over their opponents on the Somerset Field at Graeme College on Saturday.
When they batted, Graeme College faced a low target of 96 runs in 50 overs after their bowlers had run through the Woodridge batting line-up, bowling them out for a paltry 95 in 25.4 overs. The hosts replied with 97/4 in 17.4 overs.
Graeme College made good use of the conditions after they won the toss and elected to field first. Ethan Bokbaard, who made his first XI debut this season, took the new ball and proved to be almost unplayable. The grade 11 seamer accounted for three of Woodridge’s top four batsmen for single figures within the first 10 overs of the match.
He dismissed Jayden Damons (8), Lukhanyo Ndulama (0), and Randy Syce (5) before they posed a threat. In his six overs, he captured 3/26. With the top order neutralised, it was time for Jeggels to work his magic. The off-spinner expertly dismantled Woodridge’s middle order and finished the match with the brilliant figures of 4/22 from seven overs.
Ethan Moothoo offered some resistance, but not even he could withstand the pressure from Graeme College, and he was dismissed after scoring a laboured 17 off 46 balls. Oliver Puttergill (13) and Daniel Darlow (12) were the only other Woodridge players to reach double figures.
Had Graeme College’s bowlers been more disciplined, they would have bundled out Woodridge for a score closer to 65. However, they conceded 30 extras, with Jason Damons and Muir the chief culprits. They contributed a combined 21 extras between them, 12 of them from Damons, while Muir had nine.
Muir made amends by creaming eight fours and two sixes on his way to an unbeaten 55 off 51 deliveries to secure victory for his side. A measure of the quality of the grade 10 player’s innings was the fact that he tallied only one four less than the entire Woodridge batting line-up combined, and he struck more sixes than the visitors, too.
Muir headed into the match on the back of a blistering unbeaten and match-winning half-century for Graeme in a Schools SA20 match on Friday. He transferred those run-scoring abilities to the 50-over game by taking control of a chase that appeared to be stalling.
The hosts were two wickets down, with three runs on the board, after 1.4 overs, when Muir arrived at the crease. Not too long after that, Graeme College was drowning on 13/3. Things stabilised, thanks to a 28-run partnership between Muir and Luphelo Mdyesha. From there, Muir took control of the match as he batted his side to victory, with Athandile Feni (9*) for company in the middle.
During their innings, Woodridge’s batsmen were never able to get comfortable. The score crept along at a snail’s pace, advancing at only 3.7 runs an over. In their run chase, Graeme College sailed along at 5.47 runs per over, which looked rather handsome compared to their opponent’s run rate.
The victory is a good confidence booster for coach Odwa Xonxa’s side, which heads for the Cape Schools Festival next week where they will have to be at their best as one of their first matches will be against Wynberg Boys’ High.
The coach feels his team is in a better position to compete this season, given that they have enjoyed good preparations, which included six weeks of net sessions. That’s something they didn’t have in previous seasons.
They also produced solid showings at the Pearson Festival where they won four out of four contests. Zuko Pontshi scored a brilliant century in one of those matches, while Corbin Tidbury, an u16 player, chalked up a couple of half-centuries.
“One of our goals for the season is to get some of our boys into the provincial side,” Xonxa shared. With the start his side has made to the season, that looks quite possible.
Summarised Scorecard
Woodridge College 95/10 (Ethan Moothoo 17, Oliver Puttergill 13, Daniel Darlow 12; AJ Jeggels 4/22, Ethan Bokbaard 3/26); Graeme College 97/4 (Andrew Muir 55*, Luphelo Mdyesha 17; Wayden Bishop 2/20, Keagan Collett 2/20)
Graeme College won by 6 wickets
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