Jursa stars with the bat for College, Johnson shines with the ball for Clifton
While many of KZN’s leading cricket schools were engaged in pre-season festival action, Maritzburg College and Clifton College locked horns in a traditional two-day fixture on Goldstones on Thursday and Friday. Although College largely dictated proceedings, they were unable to force a result in a contest that ultimately petered out into a draw.
The standout performance of the match came in College’s first innings courtesy of Dax Jursa, who arrived at the crease early after George Gooch struck twice to remove openers Akhil Bharath and Kyle de Bruyn with just five runs on the board.
Unfazed by the early wobble, Jursa produced a composed, innings-defining knock. He anchored the innings superbly, rotating the strike and punishing loose deliveries, while receiving valuable support along the way.
A patient third-wicket stand of 78 with Luka Puddu (29) steadied the innings, before Jursa combined with James Pembridge (22) to add 57 for the seventh wicket. Matt Bisset also chipped in with 13 during a 43-run eighth-wicket partnership.
College eventually declared on 254/8 after 65 overs, with Jursa unbeaten on a magnificent 123. His innings came from 174 balls and included 11 fours and three sixes, which underlined his authority at the crease.
For Clifton, Gooch impressed with the new ball, finishing with 2/28 from nine overs, while left-arm spinner Blake Johnson bowled a tireless and controlling spell, sending down 24 overs, including four maidens, and claimed 3/63 to keep the hosts in check.
Clifton’s reply never really gained momentum. Although six batsmen reached double figures, no one went on to make an impactful contribution. Jack Snaith‘s 27 was the top score, with opener Yusuf Ahmed (21) and Hayden Drieselmann (21) the only others to pass 20.
Tuskers‘ Khaya Majola Week quick, Reece Willson, led the College attack superbly with the new ball, returning 3/41 from 11 overs. Dom du Toit (2/14 from six) and Akhil Bharath (2/13 from 11) applied the squeeze through the middle overs as Clifton was bowled out for 147 after 47.4 overs, handing College a 107-run first-innings lead.
College spent 45 overs at the crease in their second innings before declaring on 218/9. Bharath (69) and Jursa (41) once took charge, combining for 93 runs off 109 balls for the second wicket. Puddu added 24, while Willson contributed 22 lower down the order.
Blake Johnson was again the pick of the Clifton bowlers, removing three College batsmen for just 21 runs in 10 overs.
With leg-spinner Shiraz Perumal set to return – having represented the Dolphins at the Khaya Majola Week and the Coastal Conquerors at the CSA Cubs Week – Clifton will boast, arguably, the most potent spin pairing in the province. Perumal claimed a Clifton-record 95 wickets last season.
Adam Dickin, unused in College’s first innings despite Clifton employing seven bowlers, made an impact when finally introduced. He sent down 15 overs in the second innings and finished with figures of 4/77.
Clifton’s second innings followed a similar pattern to the first, with resistance but little fluency. Daniyaal Klinck top scored with 28, while Ethan Grieselmann (24*) was the only other batsman to reach the twenties.
There was, however, plenty of grit on display as Johnson (16 off 38 balls) and Connor Jackson (15* off 65) frustrated College’s push for victory late on.
When stumps were finally drawn after 54 overs of Clifton’s second innings, the visitors were on 138/8 – well short of their target but safely out of danger.
Willson rounded off an excellent match by adding 3/16 from 12 overs to his first innings’ haul, while du Toit backed up his earlier efforts with 2/10 from six overs as College threw 10 bowlers at Clifton in a final attempt to force a result.
Summarised scorecard
First innings
Maritzburg College 254/8 dec. (Dax Jursa 123*, Luke Puddu 29, James Pembridge 22; Blake Johnson 3/63, George Gooch 2/28); Clifton College 147/10 (Jack Snaith 27, Hayden Drieselmann 21, Yusuf Ahmed 21; Reece Willson 3/41, Akhil Bharath 2/13, Dom du Toit 2/14).
Second innings
Maritzburg College 218/9 dec. (Akhil Bharath 69, Dax Jursa 41, Reece Willson 22; Adam Dickin 4/77, Blake Johnson 3/21); Clifton College 138/8 (Daniyaal Klinck 28, Ethan Grieselmann 24*; Reece Willson 3/16, Dom du Toit 2/10).
Match drawn.
