Khambule creates havoc to fuel another Kearsney win
Kearsney College welcomed Northwood School to the picturesque AH Smith Oval on Wednesday afternoon for a W100 clash, with the Knights boosted by the return of their SA u19 representative, Nqobani Mokoena.
The hosts, in turn, had been boosted by two victories the previous week over a dangerous Westville Boys’ High team in W100 and limited overs matches, and their confidence was evident from the start of their innings as they quickly went after the Knights’ bowlers. Not even Mokoena could slow their progress.
Up front, Cameron Veenstra impressed with his uncomplicated and very effective technique. In a 30-ball knock, he hit six fours and a six and tallied 47 runs.
Kearsney skipper Ross Coetzee didn’t light it up in the early stages of his innings, but he accelerated later to make 38 off 30 deliveries before he skied a shot off Connor Leclezio and Harley Jagga bagged the catch. Coetzee’s innings included four fours and two sixes, one of which was a remarkably big shot well over the long off boundary, which appeared effortless.
Keegan de Jager, batting at five, finished with 26 not out from 21 balls, while Cole Young launched the second last ball of the innings for six to contribute an unbeaten 10 off of only four balls.
With their 100 balls done, Kearsney had posted a competitive 155/4.
Connor Leclezio led the Northwood attack with 2/18 from 15 balls, while Harley Jagga did well to keep the Kearsney batsmen in check, picking up 1/15 in 15. Mokoena, though, came in for some stick, conceding 37 runs from his 20 deliveries.
In reply, Northwood made a steady start, courtesy of Thayin Kuppan. The problem for the Knights, though, was that the rest of the top six failed to fire as Asavela Khambule tore the visitors’ innings to shreds.
Coming off a decisive 3/13 against Westville on Saturday, the leg-spinner laid waste to Northwood, removing Nqobani Mokoena to reduce the visiting side to 46/3 after 44 balls. Just 18 balls later, the Knights were in tatters on 59/7, with Khambule responsible for every one of those five dismissals. His return from 20 balls was an astounding 5/12.
Khambule’s destruction was superbly followed up by Matthew Lamplough, who wiped out the Knights’ tail, knocking over 3/6 in just seven balls to end the Northwood innings on 103 after 87 balls.
Thayin Kuppan’s 36 from 31, with four fours, was the only substantial contribution from the visitors’ top order, while Kyle White was unbeaten on 19 from 14 at the end, which included one maximum. Mason Storm was defiant, cracking a six and a four, in a nine-ball stay that produced 20 runs.
In the end, though, it was another convincing W100 win for Kearsney, this time by 52 runs. Their lineup appears tailor-made for the 100-ball format and it’s going to take a special performance for another team to stop Coetzee and company’s bid for the title.
Scores
Kearsney College 155/4 (Cameron Veenstra 47, Ross Coetzee 38, Keegan de Jager 26*; Connor Leclezio 2/18, Harlee Jagga 1/15); Northwood School 103/10 (Thayin Kuppan 36, Mason Storm 20, Kyle White 19*; Asavela Khambule 5/12, Matthew Lamplough 3/6, Ross Coetzee 1/8)
Kearsney College won by 52 runs.
