Murray, Linde centuries get Affies’ season off to a rollocking start
Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies) piled on the runs in the Noordvaal this past weekend, with Daniel Murray and Christian Linde both striking hundreds.
Follow and relive all the 2025 Cricket action live on SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com)
Four centuries were scored in total, and the heavy scoring made life particularly miserable for the visiting Potchefstroom powerhouses, Potchefstroom Gimnasium (Gimmies) and Potchefstroom Volkskool (Volkies), at the Irene Country Club, in the Jacaranda City.
The Gimmies arrived buoyed by a comfortable seven-wicket win over Pretoria Boys High in a shortened T20 on Friday afternoon. However, the confidence they carried into Saturday’s clash with Affies was swiftly extinguished by the brilliance of Vihan Pretorius.
He ripped through the visitors’ batting, knocking over 4/8, while Nico Loggerenberg logged an impactful 3/13, as Potch Gim was skittled for just 109.
That was never going to be enough to challenge Affies, and they cruised home, with JP Botha unbeaten on 49 and Christian Linde on 31. His innings foreshadowed the destruction that was to come the following day against Volkies.
On Sunday, Linde produced a superb knock at the top of the order, compiling 108, which included 14 fours and a six. Yet it was Murray, batting at five, who stole the headlines. In just 82 deliveries, he hammered 13 fours and seven sixes on his way to 118, including a commanding 139-run partnership with Linde, that powered Affies to 300/7 from their 50 overs.
The Volkies’ woes deepened even further once the Affies’ bowlers went to work. Schalk Coetzee tore through their batting, snapping up 5/21 in only five overs. With SF Vermeulen chipping in with two more wickets, Volkskool crumbled to only 71 all out, leaving Affies the handsome winners by a massive 229-run margin.
In Benoni, Hoërskool Hans Moore, playing at home, suffered a dismal outing against Hoërskool Waterkloof, a week after they had scored a narrow four-run win over Affies.
This time, their batting unit faltered badly through poor shot selection and impatience. Opener Stephan Vermaak top-scored with a modest 23 as Hans Moore collapsed to just 106 all out.
Waterkloof’s bowling onslaught was ruthless, with Rivan Booysen capturing 3/8 and AJ de Villiers 3/19.
Chasing a modest 107 to win, the in-form Franco Schmidt and Wian du Plessis made light work of the target. Du Plessis top-scored with 43, while Schmidt added an unbeaten 39 to back up his 60 from earlier in the week to steer the Pretoria side to an eight-wicket victory inside 26 overs.
Summarised scorecards
Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool (Affies)
Affies vs Potchefstroom Volkskool (Sunday 17/08):
Affies 300/7 (Daniel Murray 118, Christian Linde 108, JP Botha 25, Extras 23; Andries Venter 3/53); Potchefstroom Volkskool 71 (Sihle Duma 14; Schalk Coetzee 5/21, SF Vermeulen 2/5). Affies won by 229 runs.
Affies vs Potchefstroom Gimnasium (Saturday 16/08):
Potchefstroom Gimnasium 108 (Christivan Coetzer 39, Extras 28; Vihan Pretorius 4/8, Nico Loggenberg 3/13); Affies 109/1 (JP Botha 49*, Christian Linde 31*; Jahndré Coetzee 1/24). Affies won by nine wickets.
Pretoria Boys High vs Potchefstroom Gimnasium (Friday 15/08):
Pretoria Boys High 99/2 in 16 overs. (Nel 44, Van Dijk 24; Caiden Seleka 2/23); Potchefstroom Gimnasium 100/3 in 14.1 overs. (Lukas Kotze 40, Christivan Coetzer 27). Potchefstroom Gimnasium won by seven wickets.
Waterkloof vs Hans Moore (Saturday 16/08):
Hans Moore 106 (Stephan Vermaak 23, Extras 22, Kenan Shaw 21; Rivan Booysen 3/8, AJ de Villiers 3/19); Waterkloof 107/2 (Wian du Plessis 43, Franco Schmidt 39*; Kearan Wyers 1/23). Waterkloof won by eight wickets.
