Kloppenberg and Grundling outstanding as Grey High defeats Selborne
Teun Kloppenberg and Tristan Grundling scored brilliant unbeaten half-centuries as Grey High School cantered to a comfortable five-wicket victory over Selborne College on the Pollock Oval, at Grey High, on Saturday.
Kloppenberg crushed 13 fours and a six on his way to an outstanding 87 off 81 deliveries, while Grundling struck seven fours and two sixes for his 58 off 56 deliveries.
Their half-centuries helped Grey High chase down Selborne’s total of 245, which they achieved in 49.4 overs. Grey High’s 248/5 came up off of 43.4 overs.
Nathan Howell decimated Selborne’s top four batters for next to nothing, with the visitors’ top four of Adam Rodgers, Reece Wait, Michael Hess, and Jacques van der Merwe scoring only a combined 27 runs off 50 deliveries. With their leading batsmen back in the hut, Selborne was staring at the possibility of a total below 100.
They were, however, rescued by Tre’ Gilbert and Waedon Plaatjies. Gilbert displayed great control as he hit 14 fours and a six on his way to a brilliant 104 off 107 balls. Plaatjies was happy to play a supporting role and grafted his way to 67 runs off as many deliveries as Gilbert faced. The next best batsman for Selborne was Liso Ndzamela, who contributed 13 runs to the total.
Opening bowler Likhona Gcora led the Grey High bowling attack, bagging four wickets for 36 runs at a run rate of 3.72 per over. His regular new ball partner Ben Ristow did not start in the match. Instead, Nathan Howell shared the new ball and did a fine job, picking up four wickets for 59 runs in 10 overs.
Grey High enjoyed a positive start to their run chase, thanks to a 74-run opening partnership between Luke Tait (28) and Josh Rennie (33). Grey High, then, experienced a wobble and was under the pump over the next 7.1 overs. They added only five runs and lost three more wickets. Richard Gilbert’s charges had slipped to 79/4 and were in trouble.
They needed someone to come through with an inspired knock if they were to regain control of the innings. Instead of one person, they got two, Kloppenberg and Grundling. The duo didn’t simply absorb the pressure the visitors were piling on, they fought fire with fire. Throughout their innings, they consistently scored a run rate of above a run-a-ball. Selborne’s attack was blunted.
Jacques van der Merwe was Selborne’s most successful bowler, picking up two wickets for 34 runs in 10 overs, while Ndzamela, Rogers, and Wait took a wicket each.
Scores
Grey High School 248/5 (Teun Kloppeneberg 87*, Tristan Grundling 58*, Josh Rennie 33; Jacques van der Merwe 2/34, 1/18 Reece Watt, Adam Rogers 1/38); Selborne College: 245/10 (Tre’ Gilbert 104, Waedon Plaatjies 65; Likhona Gcora 4/36, Nathan Howell 4/59)
