Klofies, Wian produce tail-wagging win, Michaelhouse victorious again
Hoërskool Waterkloof, with Wian du Plessis prominent, bounced back, like Affies, from disappointment with a noteworthy victory by 149 runs over Kearsney College on the second day of the 2025 Oppenheimer Michaelmas Week.
Klofies and Kearsney met at Lynwood Cricket Club, with the former batting first after winning the toss and returning to their strength in defending a target.
A stacked top order all got starts, but no one, except AJ de Villiers, could quite get going after doing the hard yards. Even De Villiers had to apply heaps of patience facing 78 deliveries in his innings of 61. The combined contributions by those who followed boosted Klofies to a platform of 182/6 in the 31st over, not quite in trouble but not yet in total command either.
The remainder of the job was left to Darius Maritz and the Waterkloof tail. Maritz, who came in at eight, ended his 63-ball innings unbeaten with 67 runs, which included six fours and four sixes, while Ricardo Crous (36) and Jaydon Blom (27) also helped to set a total of 314/9 in the allotted 50 overs.
Kearsney’s opening bowlers, Michael Groom (3/45) and Litha Gonya (3/56), did a great job in both their first and second spells, while Rivan Moodley (3/62) did further damage in his allotted 10 overs.
Wian du Plessis then changed the narrative completely in favour of the visitors from Pretoria. In his 7.3 overs, he bowled 37 dot balls, conceded only 16 runs and emerged with a match-winning five-wicket haul. Aaron Blackburn (37) and Keegan de Jager (30), both of whom became victims of Du Plessis, were the only Kearsney batters to pass the 30-run mark.
Michaelhouse went back-to-back, defeating Paul Roos Gimnasium by five wickets in their second outing of the week. Playing at home again and bowling first definitely brought out the best in the Michaelhouse’s opening bowlers, Thandani Zuma and Rendani Nonge. Zuma was the most destructive with a memorable five-wicket haul, conceding only 36 runs in his allotted 10 overs. Nonge, a tad more expensive, picked up three scalps.
Rueben Coetzee withstood the pair’s onslaught for as long as possible for a feisty 59. Jason Raal (44) and Niel Barnard (33) also batted tenaciously but were only able to set a total of 180. It proved not enough as Michaelhouse’s opening batsman, Ethan Muir, hit his straps.
Despite early wickets falling around him, Muir went about his business as normal. His unbeaten 95 runs (99b) provided the main thrust of the chase and, with support from Ben Heuer (32), got the hosts home in the 38th over.
Seth Simpson of Westville Boys’ High played a similar innings as the side from Durban cruised to a six-wicket victory over Grey College from Bloemfontein. River Scott (64) and Aiden Dodd (50) both made half-centuries in the Grey innings, but nothing was going to stop Simpson from steering his side to victory. His unbeaten 90, along with Kyle McGough‘s 58, after he had also led the charge with the ball (3/17), delivered the knockout blow in the 46th over of a comfortable, well-paced chase.
Ethan Nel (72) and Liam Basch (47) rediscovered their best form as St Alban’s College recovered from a heavy defeat to Glenwood (142 runs) the day before to give Hudson Park a hiding by 133 runs. The pair’s 87-run partnership led the way to a total of 246, one that the side from Pretoria managed to defend with ease to dismiss Hudson Park for a mere 113.
Summarised scorecards
Waterkloof 314/9 (Darius Maritz 67*, AJ de Villiers 61, Rico van der Walt 36, Ricardo Crous 36, Riley Miller 28, Jaydon Blom 27, Extras 22; Michael Groom 3/45, Litha Gonya 3/56, Rivan Moodley 3/62); Kearsney College 165 (Aaron Blackburn 37, Keegan de Jager 30, Cade Francis 21, Extras 20; Wian du Plessis 5/16). Waterkloof won by 149 runs.
Paul Roos Gimnasium 180 (Rueben Coetzee 59, Jason Raal 44, Niel Barnard 33; Thandani Zuma 5/36, Rendani Nonge 3/30); Michaelhouse 181/5 (Ethan Muir 95*, Ben Heuer 32; Morné Pauw 1/30). Michaelhouse won by five wickets.
Grey College 209 (River Scott 64, Aiden Dodd 50, Jaco Prinsloo 35; Kyle McGough 3/17, Misbah Nair 2/16); Westville Boys’ High 212/4 (Seth Simpson 90*, Kyle McGough 58, Tristin Delvin 31*; Juan Maree 2/44). Westville Boys’ High won by six wickets.
St Alban’s College 246 (Ethan Nel 72, Liam Basch 47, Josh Melville 28, Extras 26; Iminathi Baca 4/46, Lukhanyo Hlathuka 3/35); Hudson Park 113 (Slade Bambie 30; Christopher von La Chavellerie 2/3). St Alban’s College won by 133 runs.
