Michaelhouse holds on for nail-biting Pink Day win over Hilton College
In a tense Pink Day showdown in support of the Pink Drive, Michaelhouse squeaked by Hilton College, claiming an anxiety-filled two-run win over their arch-rivals in a limited overs clash on the Roy Gathorne Oval, in Balgowan, on Saturday.
After Michaelhouse had totalled 190 all out, Hilton appeared to be in with a shout at victory when they reached 94/2, but by then they had used up almost two-thirds of their overs.
‘House hung tough, despite a fine 62 by Ben Hockly, to claim a nerve-wracking victory.
When the coin fell Michaelhouse’s way, they chose to bat first. William Russon was an early casualty, bowled by Sechaba Gude for four. After his dismissal, though, Michaelhouse skipper, Ethan Muir, and Rex Wardlaw settled in, adding 75 runs off the next 108 balls.
Muir, the aggressor, fell with the total on 95, out for a crucial 53 from 66 deliveries, which had included seven fours and a six. Just five runs later, with the century on the scoreboard, Wardlaw followed for a patient 27 from 66 balls.
Two more wickets fell in quick succession, with Benoit Rey getting rid of Graydon Leslie and Hayden Hewlett to leave Michaelhouse somewhat unsteady on 106/5. Four wickets had fallen for the addition of only 11 runs.
Cody Sander and Ben Heuer, however, steadied the ‘House innings, advancing the total by 32 runs before Sander was caught by Ben Wilson off Rey’s bowling for 19. Heuer followed for 26, having struck two fours and a six, which left the home side on 160/7.
Nicholas Baker, with 17, and Radhesh Jhilmeet, with 14, helped stretch the Michaelhouse innings to 190 all out after 46.2 overs. They were aided by 20 extras.
Benoit Rey shone for Hilton. He stymied the hosts’ run scoring, conceding only 23 runs from his 10 overs. He was also Hilton’s leading wicket-taker, claiming three victims.
Luke Wilson snagged 2/33 in eight, Luke Campbell chipped in with 2/40 in 10, and opening bowler, Sechaba Gude, although a touch on the costly side – his 10 overs cost him 58 runs – also sent two batsmen packing.
In reply, Hilton made a solid but slow start, with Barack Munawa and Ben Wilson putting on 45 for the first wicket before Munawa was caught by William Russon off Rex Wardlaw’s bowling for 23 from 47 balls, which featured four fours.
Wilson followed four runs later, bowled by Radhesh Jhimleet for 14 from 69 deliveries. He’d been held in check by Jhilmeet and Ben Heuer, who both conceded only 29 runs from their 10 overs, with Jhilmeet picking up two wickets. Although he went wicketless, Heuer’s contribution should not be underestimated. It ratcheted up the pressure on the visitors.
Even Alex Pitman, who usually plays with a fair amount of freedom and inventiveness, was restricted. He scored 17 off 43 before being bowled by Liam O’Dwyer. Soon after his exit, Luke Campbell and Simon Steyn followed him back to the pavilion, which left Hilton on 114/6 in the 39th over.
With another 77 runs required for victory in 68 balls, the visitors were under huge pressure. They hadn’t scored at close to that run rate earlier in their innings.
Still, Ben Hockly was out in the middle, and he had few problems maintaining a strong scoring rate. He, however, was bowled by Rendani Nonge in the 44th over, having whacked eight fours in his 62 from 70 balls. With his departure, the momentum tilted Michaelhouse’s way.
The match was far from over, though. ‘House looked close to locking up the win when they reduced Hilton to 159/8 in the 46th over, with Nonge striking another crucial blow by bowling Cameron Hargroves for 22 from 21 balls.
Hilton, though, kept fighting tigerishly, creeping ever closer to Michaelhouse’s total. With the 191 runs they needed almost within reach, Sange Qangule was run out off of the second ball of the last over for 16 from 14 balls. His dismissal left the visiting side on 184/9.
They needed seven runs to win, but they had only one wicket standing. It was a tough balancing act.
Radhesh Jhilmeet had been entrusted to bowl the final over by his captain, Ethan Muir, and he showed why, producing the goods for Michaelhouse went it mattered most by giving away only four more runs from the last four balls to drag his side to heart-pounding two-run win.
Summarised scorecard
Michaelhouse 190/10 (Ethan Muir 53, Ben Heuer 32, Rex Wardlaw 27, Extras 20; Benoit Rey 3/23, Luke Wilson 2/33, Luke Campbell 2/39, Sechaba Gude 2/58); Hilton College 188/9 (Ben Hockly 62, Cameron Hargroves 22,
Barack Munawa 20; Rex Wardlaw 3/31, Rendani Nonge 2/7). Michaelhouse won by two runs.
