Manacks on fire vs CSA Hub Invitational, Saints and Garsies claim DLS wins
St Andrew’s School, St David’s Marist Inanda, and Hoërskool Garsfontein got their Schools SA20 Final Showdown campaigns off to winning starts in the opening round at the University of Pretoria on Wednesday.
Saints, from Bloemfontein, secured a convincing 37-run victory over Northwood according to the Duckworth–Lewis–Stern method. Their match was cut short due to lightning and rain with 21 deliveries to go on the Tuks Oval.
St Andrew’s won the toss, elected to bat first, and tallied 162/7 from their 20 overs with opening batsman Naudé Botha (45) making the biggest contribution. Johnathan Hickley (28) and Johan Liebenberg (25) also chipped in with useful knocks.
Northwood’s Jordan Matthews (3/20) caused the most problems for the Saints’ batsmen with his left-arm spin bowling.
When the Knights took to the crease, Tuswa Phetha (31) tried his best to keep the team from Durban in the game. However, when they lost Connor Leclezio (13) to an injury, they were in trouble, on 89/6 and running out of overs.
St David’s won their opening encounter against Cricket South Africa’s Hub Invitational side by 13 runs, also on the Duckworth–Lewis–Stern method.
The team from Johannesburg posted 173/3 in their 20 overs, with the Manack brothers, Morteza (55*) and Armaan (45), leading their charge.
St David’s enjoyed two significant partnerships, with Armaan sharing a 65-run stand for the second wicket with South African u19 player Kamogelo Phiri (26), while Morteza and captain Samrat Basu (19*) put on an unbeaten 70 for the fourth wicket.
Morteza faced a mere 29 deliveries, striking five fours and three sixes, in his unbeaten half-century. Another SA u19 player, spinner Enathi Kitshini, was the pick of the Invitational side’s bowling attack, picking up 2/33.
The CSA Hub Invitational XI produced a valiant reply and had reached 119/4 when lightning and later rain interrupted their innings after 16.1 overs. At that stage, Tshepang Laka (48*) and Paul Matlala (33*) had added a steady 77 for the fifth wicket.
Morteza Manack, who picked up three wickets at a cost of only 15 runs, was also the pick of his side’s bowling attack.
Garsfontein secured a comfortable five-wicket victory over Graeme College, overhauling the Eastern Cape side’s total when they reached 144/5 off the first delivery of the 18th over.
Garsies‘ opening batsmen, Reuben van Zyl (37) and Charl van Staden (29), laid the foundation for their win with a rapid 69-run partnership in the first six overs.
Graeme College’s Corbin Tidbury (52) also shone, weighing in with a solid half-century, while Echard Struwig returned 2/27 from four overs for the Ysbere.
Summarised Scorecards
St Andrew’s School 162/7 (Naudé Botha 45, Johnathan Hickley 28, Extraas 26, Johan Liebenberg 25; Jordan Matthews 3/20); Northwood 93/6 (Tuswa Phetha 31; Heindré Serfontein 1/5, Andrew Sobiech 1/5). St Andrew’s School won by 37 runs (DLS method).
St David’s Marist 173/3 (Morteza Manack 55*, Armaan Manack 45, Extras 23, Kamogelo Phiri 26; Enathi Kitshini 2/33); CSA Hub Invitational 119/4 (Tshepang Laka 48*, Paul Matlala 33*; Morteza Manack 3/15). St David’s Marist won by 13 runs (DLS method).
Graeme College 141/5 (Corbin Tidbury 52, Luphelo Mdyesha 28; Echard Struwig 2/27); Garsfontein 144/5 (Reuben van Zyl 37, Charl van Staden 29; Ajay Jeggels 2/28). Garsfontein won by five wickets.
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