Johan Zeedyk shines as Monument beats Queens in Schools SA20 tie
Johan Zeedyk scored a brilliant unbeaten half-century as Monument registered a six-wicket win over Queens High School in a Schools SA20 Lions’ regional quarterfinal played at Queens on Friday afternoon.
Queens, who won the toss and elected to bat first, chalked up a solid total of 167/5 in their 20 overs. It took Monument 19.2 overs to reach 168/4 and claim victory.
Zeedyk struck eight fours and two sixes on his way to an unbeaten 83 off 48 balls to shepherd his side to a comfortable win. He, also, shared a match-winning 106-run opening wicket partnership with Antonie van Niekerk to put his side on course. Unlike Zeedyk, who cruised along at a brisk run rate of 172.9, Van Niekerk scored at a relatively pedestrian 104, tallying 49 runs from 47 balls.
The opening partnership collapsed in the 13th over with the dismissal of Van Niekerk and Monument lost their way over the next two overs as a mini-collapse unfolded. Including Van Niekerk’s wicket, Monument lost four wickets for nine runs in 12 deliveries. However, all was not lost because Zeedyk was still at the crease and all he needed was someone who would stick around with him.
That someone turned out to be Ebrahim Haffejee. Zeedyk and Haffejee, who finished with an unbeaten 24 from 15 balls, shared an unbroken 43-run fifth-wicket partnership that saw Monument past the finishing line.
Earlier in the day, Fuzail Faroon and Katlego Sekopane played well to launch their side to a competitive score. Faroon scored a 37-ball 54, cracking five fours and a single six. He was part of a 49-run third-wicket partnership with Dimpho Sefoli, although Sefoli was a trifle slow, scoring 23 off 31 balls.
Sekopane, on the other hand, smashed a 28-ball 56 to provide his side with the boost it needed to post a score that the Queens’ bowlers had a better shot at defending. He was part of Queens’ highest partnership, a 65-run fourth-wicket stand with Nkateko Maluleka. However, Sekopane and Faroon’s contributions were not enough to provide their side with a winning aggregate.
Byron Viljoen, Tshepo Mlambo, Rieghadt Prinsloo, and Ebrahim Haffejee all bagged a wicket each as Monument kept Queens to a total they could successfully chase down.
Summarised Scorecards
Queens 167/5 (Katlego Sekopane 56, Fuzail Faroon 54; Byron Viljoen 1/21, Tshepo Mlambo 1/21); Monument 168/4 (Johan Zeedyk 83*, Antonie van Niekerk 49; Lehlogonolo Mahlokoane 2/22, Nkateko Maluleka 1/22).
Monument won by six wickets.
