Nellies upset Middies, Viljoen combo lethal for Hoogies against Secunda
A patient half-century by top-order batsman, Dian Boucher, and an incisive bowling attack enabled Hoërskool Nelspruit to upset the unbeaten Hoërskool Middelburg on Saturday in Nelspruit.
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Boucher stood firm against the aggressive bowling from the Middies, selecting his shots meticulously. His patience over 102 deliveries was rewarded with a well-played 51 runs, which included five fours.
Boucher was eventually dismissed by Gavin Genis, who picked up another two wickets (2/67) in this year’s league. The Nellies’ sole Khaya Majola Week representative, Janco Breyl, was among the runs too with 31, while Vaughn van Zyl, upon his return to the side, managed 24.
This helped the Nellies to a fairly modest 199 before the last wicket fell in the 45th over, but still something to bowl at. JP Nel was the Middies’ standout with the ball, boasting figures of 4/33, while fast bowler Hendré Nel also shared in the spoils with 2/25.
The Nellies bowlers obliged indeed. Gerdu van Eeden led the way with a noteworthy outing of 3/20, picking up the big scalps of Herman Potgieter (14) and the Middies’ top scorer, Zubair Desai, albeit after he had made his way to a positive looking 52 runs. At one stage, Desai and Genis (48) appeared as if they would reach the target quite comfortably, but Desai’s dismissal swung the momentum completely.
Safwaan Muller (2/32) and Samual Day (2/42) helped Van Eeden wrap up the Middies innings, restricting them to only 181 and thereby claiming an 18-run victory.
In Secunda, Hoërskool Hoogenhout‘s Viljoen duo produced a batting blitzkrieg to help secure a comfortable 76-run victory over Hoërskool Secunda. Johan Viljoen top-scored with a blistering 64 runs, coming from only 58 balls. Pieter Viljoen, also Hoogenhout’s captain, thereafter set the stage alight with a 16-ball 40, smashing three fours and four sixes. Wyatt Johnson also got in on the act with an unbeaten 54 runs, a crucial contribution to the target of 250 set by Hoogies.
Nathan Erasmus made his way to a half-century for Secunda, but he didn’t enjoy the same level of support as Viljoen. Umar Badat was the only other Secunda batsman to cross the 30-mark, losing his wicket to Johnson for 33.
From thereon, Johnson went on to hurt the home side even more. Following his 10 overs, he boasted a match-winning return of 5/43, to add to his 54* from earlier. Logan Schutte provided support with 3/29 as the last Secunda wicket fell with the score on only 174.
Summarised scorecards
Hoërskool Nelspruit 199 (Dian Boucher 51, Extras 36, Janco Breyl 31, Vaughn van Zyl 24, Waldemar Graham 21; JP Nel 4/44, Hendré Nel 2/25, Gavin Genis 2/67); Hoërskool Middelburg 181 (Zubair Desai 52, Gavin Genis 48, Extras 25; Gerdu van Eeden 3/20, Safwaan Muller 2/32, Samual Day 2/42). Hoërskool Nelspruit won by 18 runs.
Hoërskool Hoogenhout 250 (Johan Viljoen 64, Wyatt Johnson 54*, Pieter Viljoen 40, Extras 32; Nathan Erasmus 3/47, Jayden Scholtz 2/50); Hoërskool Secunda 174 (Nathan Erasmus 51, Umar Badat 33, Andries Coetzer 23, Extras 23; Wyatt Johnson 5/43, Logan Schutte 3/29). Hoërskool Hoogenhout won by 76 runs.
