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Kingswood sneaks by St David’s in dramatic Makhanda Cricket Festival clash


Morteza Manack on the drive for St David’s Marist Inanda.

There were no centuries on Saturday, with matches on day three of the Makhanda Cricket Festival affected by rain. The conditions made for good bowling surfaces, but Josh Loon, Oliver Johns, Corbin Tidbury, and Tyler Chapman, nonetheless,  produced scintillating performances with the bat to lift their teams to victory.

Morteza Manack continued his fine run of form with a half-century as St David’s Marist Inanda came up just short against Kingswood College, going down by one wicket in a tense and chaotic finish.

Fresh off scoring an imperious unbeaten double-century in a win over Pearson, Manack followed up that stupendous performance with a brisk 53-ball 61.

Unlike in the match against Pearson, which had seen Manack take to the crease with his side on 47/2, this time St David’s had already laid a sound platform and were on 124/3. However, the dismissal that brought him to the crease, the wicket of Khutso Sekgobela, was the first of three to tumble in the space of 1.5 overs. Manack, then, stabilised matters by sharing in a 92-run sixth-wicket partnership with Samrat Basu (38).

Patrick Mouton continued his great run with the ball for Kingswood, with his 10 overs bringing him a return of 4/55. His fine effort and an unbeaten 75 from Josh Loon in Kingswood’s innings, enabled the home team to squeak by their Johannesburg opposition.

Oliver Johns struck an unbeaten half-century to guide St Andrew’s College to a five-wicket victory over Pearson. Following the dismissal of Rhys Wiblin in the 17th over, Johns took charge, cracking 10 fours on his way to an even-paced 71 off 113 balls. At the other end, though, he had to watch Ethan Bradfield and Benjamin Coventry depart within 14 deliveries of each other, after adding only two runs.

Johns’ measured innings received the support it needed when Ben Scharges contributed an undefeated 31 as the duo combined for an unbroken 85-run sixth-wicket partnership, which took them to victory.

Earlier in the contest, Alistair de Kock and Rhys Wiblin had claimed three wickets apiece as Pearson was bowled out for 174 in 48 overs. Sulaymaan Gangat‘s half-century and Luke Hector‘s 49 were not enough to carry the Gqeberha school to a total that would challenge the Makhanda boys. William Beamish and Thomas Bussiahn also got in on the wicket-taking act for College, picking up two each.

Corbin Tidbury carved a brilliant 95 off 94 balls to lead Graeme College to an insurmountable total of 235/7 in a match restricted to 40 overs a side by the rain when they faced off against Hellenic Academy. That score was too great for the Zimbabwean side, who folded for a meagre 130 runs in 39 overs, giving Graeme College an emphatic 105-run victory.

Tidbury joined forces with Zuko Pontshi (46) to add 109 runs for the fourth wicket, which took the game away from Hellenic. Tom Sinclair shone for visitors, capturing 4/36, but Graeme went on to a dominating victory.

On the batting front, Ruben Sanders offered stubborn resistance, carrying his bat to score an unbeaten 66 off 114 balls. Unfortunately for the opener, he was one of only two Hellenic batsmen to make it into double figures. The other was Kirby Madharamete, whose approach was aggressive. He chipped in with 36 and together with Sanders put on 57 for the fourth-wicket, which was the best partnership of Hellenic’s innings.

Andrew Muir was Graeme College’s most successful bowler, snapping up three wickets for 19 runs. Jordan Damons weighed in with a useful 2/10, while Erin Nelson, Ajay Jegels, and Lisekho Zinyane grabbed a wicket each.

Tyler Chapman and Isheunopa Mutungi scored superb half-centuries to steer Peterhouse to a 62-run victory over St Alban’s College. Chapman’s 71, from 70, and Mutungi’s unbeaten 52, from 37, boosted Peterhouse to a sound 254/7 after their 40 overs. Liam Chetty excelled for St Alban’s, knocking over 5/30, but the Zimbabwean side batted at more than six runs an over.

In reply, Zayd Mohanlall kept Peterhouse at bay, fighting hard for a valiant 46 from 83 balls, but St Alban’s was limited to 192/7 in their 40 overs.

It was a welcome pick-me-up for the Zimbabwean schools after Hellenic’s heavy defeat at the hands of Graeme College.

Summarised scorecards

Kingswood 269/9 (Josh Loon 75*, Ross Thompson 40, Alister Knott 38, Hayden Campbell 3/48, Christopher Emslie 3/58). St David’s 268/9 (Morteza Manack 61, Hayden Campbell 46, Samrat Basu 38, Patrick Mouton 4/55, David Loudon 2/17). Kingswood won by one wicket.

Pearson 174/10 (Sulaymaan Gangat 54, Luke Hector 49, Alastair de Kock 3/21, Rhys Wiblin 3/36). St Andrew’s College 175/5 (Oliver Johns 71*, Ben Scharges 31*, Cayden Wilson 2/21, Jonno Holmes 1/19). St Andrew’s College won by five wickets.

Graeme College 235/7 (Corbin Tidbury 95, Zuko Pontshi 46, Tom Sinclair 4/36, Ruben Sanders 2/20). Hellenic Academy 130/10 (Ruben Sanders 66*, Kirby Madharamete 36, Andrew Miur 3/19, Jordan Damons 2/10). Graeme College won by 105 runs.

Peterhouse 254/7 (Tyler Chapman 71, Isheunopa Mutungi 52*, Liam Chetty 5/30, Joshua Jordaan 1/32). St Alban’s College 192/7 (Zayd Mohanlall 46, Liam Detert 38, Tafadzwa Kashaya 3/25, Isaac Hildbrand 2/22). Peterhouse won by 62 runs.

CS Chiwanza
error: Sorry ol' chap, those shenanigans are not permissible.