Maritzburg College holds off St Charles in Eston T20 Night League
St Charles College had lifted the Eston One Insurance T20 Night League title for an outstanding three years in succession. Their chances of adding a fourth were extinguished on Thursday evening at the Beaumont Eston Farmers Club, however.
Facing their Pietermaritzburg rivals, Maritzburg College, in a semi-final showdown, Saints came up agonisingly shy of victory – one big hit would have sufficed – having been set a revised target because of an interruption by Mother Nature.
All credit to College, they batted well, with their opening pair, captain Daniel Nadasan and Kyle de Bruyn, handling the St Charles bowling attack with aplomb in a stand of 150 runs, which took 17.3 overs.
When, at last, St Charles found success, De Bruyn was the man to depart, caught by Connor Simpson off Keegan Vermaak for 61 from 54 balls, seven of which he struck for four.
Karl Dedekind chipped in with a quickfire 10 off six, and Maritzburg College went on to finish on 176/2. Nadasan led their charge, striking a six and 11 fours in an undefeated 79 from just 59 deliveries.
Given College’s success with the bat, the Saints’ bowling figures didn’t make for pleasant reading, but Keegan Vermaak, with 1/22 from four, was a bright spot among the eight bowlers employed.
St Charles was left with 11 overs in which to score 97 runs. They gave it a good go, spearheaded by the in-form Caleb Sharp, but his departure via a run out in the last over, was a big blow to their chances of victory. The loss of captain Rico Honiball for a duck didn’t help either.
Sharp and Connor Simpson gave Saints hope with a partnership of 45 from seven overs after their openers had exited with 16 runs on the board. Dom du Toit, then, bowled Simpson for 22 from 21, which had included a six and three fours.
Rowen Rajah joined Sharp in the middle, and they smashed 30 in only 2.3 over to take Saints to within a big hit or two of victory. However, on the third last ball of the innings, Sharp was run out by Joseph Currie for 45 from 32. He had launched a six and added four fours.
St Charles was on 91/4, needing 97 to win, with two balls remaining. College held their nerve, however, conceding only two runs, to hold out for a hard-fought win.
Sphamandla Dzanibe did a good job up front, claiming 1/15 in two, while Dom du Toit was slightly more expensive, snaring 1/33 in four.
Scores
Maritzburg College 176/2 (Daniel Nadasan 79*, Kyle de Bruyn 61; Keegan Vermaak 1/22); St Charles College 93/4 after 11 overs (Caleb Sharp 45, Connor Simpson 22; Sphamandla Dzanibe 1/15).
Maritzburg College won by four runs.
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