Kempies’ Kruger leads Noordvaal run-fest with double hundred
As the seasons shift and the bite in the air softens into warmer, sunnier days, so, too, has the cricket season returned, with schools across the Noordvaal region back on the field in preparation for various league action, which commences in the coming weeks.
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It appears, from the early returns, that some batsmen from the northern provinces have used the winter season to further hone their skills.
Evidence of this came from a double-century and four centuries that were scored over the weekend.
The standout performance came from Hoërskool Kempton Park’s Sheldon Kruger, who hit the double ton away at Hoërskool Rustenburg after the home team opted to bowl first in the hope of applying early pressure.
The Rustenburg pitch, however, proved to be batting friendly and Kempies took full advantage of the favourable conditions, piling on a mammoth 419/5 in their 50 overs, with Kruger leading the charge.
His blistering 208 came off just 121 deliveries and featured an extraordinary 18 fours and 14 sixes. That mean that, remarkably, 156 of his runs, 75 percent, had come from boundaries.
Shaun Nash, batting at five, joined the party with a century of his own, striking 109 from 92 balls, with eight sixes and seven fours. He shared a memorable and devastating 257-run partnership with Kruger.
Tristan van der Linde top-scored for Rustenburg with an unbeaten 72, but his resistance was in vain as wickets tumbled around him. Hanroux Siemens, with 3/36 spearheaded the Kempies’ attack, which kept Rusties to 199 all out in reply, 221 runs short of the victory target.
Meanwhile, Hoërskool Marais Viljoen, thanks to a superb century from Jaden Govender, chased down Midstream College‘s good-looking 256/8 to claim a six-wicket win at the Midstream Oval on Saturday.
Midstream’s batting effort was led by a polished 72 from Maarten Cronjé. He was well supported by Beyers Pretorius, who weighed in with 43, and Jonathan Wiseman, who contributed an unbeaten 37.
While they batted well, Midstream’s bowlers couldn’t contain Marais Viljoen captain Jaden Govender. The Alberton wicketkeeper-batsman, who has already proven his ability at higher levels, showcased his class. He rotated the strike with ease and punished loose deliveries, striking six fours and six in his 107.
He eventually fell to Wian de Bruin, whose 2/31 led the Midstream bowling attack.
By the time that Govender departed, however, the damage had been done. He and Ethan van Rooyen, who made 79, had combined for a decisive 169-run partnership for the third wicket, setting up Marais Viljoen for a comfortable victory. The loss did allow Midstrem to create more depth, welcoming three u15 debutants, while five key players are still busy with the ongoing rugby season.
Summarised scorecards
Hoërskool Kempton Park vs Hoërskool Rustenburg
Hoërskool Kempton Park 419/5 (Sheldon Kruger 208, Shaun Nash 109, Wian Pieters 40; Thian Labuschagne 2/29); Hoërskool Rustenburg 199 (Tristan van der Linde 72*, Manfred Wenhold 35, Rejean van der Venter 21; Hanroux Siemens 3/36, Stian van Bredal 3/49, Wian Pieters 2/38). Hoërskool Kempton Park won by 220 runs.
Midstream College 256/8 (Maarten Cronjé 72, Beyers Pretorius 43, Rikus Cilliers 39, Jonathan Wiseman 37*, Extras 24; Marco Hoffman 3/39); Marais Viljoen 258/4 (Jaden Govender 107, Ethan van Rooyen 79, Abdulla Tadwala 42*; Wian de Bruin 2/31). Marais Viljoen won by six wickets.
