Piet Pot defeats Pieties to take the lead in Limpopo
Hoërskool Piet Potgieter usurped the lead in the Limpopo Impala Super League, having comprehensively seen off Hoërskool Pieterburg by 62 runs in the fourth round, in Polokwane on Saturday.
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The side from Mokopane now leads the pack with 18 league points, three points abreast of Merensky Landbou Akademie (15), who also secured a bonus-point, nine-wicket win against Hoërskool Ben Vorster on Saturday. Piet Pot, however, has played four games, one more than the Plasies.
Ryaan Malji swapped his bowling heroics for a spot in the limelight as Piet Pot’s leading batter on the day. Batting at six, with his side in a spot of bother at 64/5, Malji steadied the ship with an industrious 69 runs. Facing only 56 deliveries, he smashed eight fours and four sixes.
With further contributions by Hamza Vahora (31), lower down the order, and Ridhwan Patel (25), the visitors were eventually able to reach 221 before the last wicket fell.
Pieties’ opener, Celliers van der Merwe, was the main architect of Piet Pot’s initial difficulty. His outing of 3/44 in 8.3 overs produced the best figures for the Pieties on the day.
Frederik Botes responded in likewise fashion for Piet Pot, also claiming three wickets, while conceding only 14 runs, causing the home side to wobble in pursuit of victory. Following the run-out of Stephan Swanepoel (45) and the wicket of in-form Hanru Marais (43), the Pieties suffered a massive collapse, conceding five wickets for only 22 runs. Michael Jooste (2/25) and Ruben Oosthuizen (2/52) supported Botes in the 62-run win.
Merensky’s bonus-point victory over Ben Vorster also ensured bragging rights after the local derby had taken a turn for the worse in the Black Caps’ batting department.
The spinning-friendly wicket of the Merensky Oval suited the hosts’ decision to bowl first, with right-arm off-spinner Rinaldo Bornman (4/13) and the left-arm spin from Timothy Baker (2/22) causing severe headaches for the visitors. Baker’s two wickets also established him alone as the leading wicket-taker in the league.
Captain Luka Heinlein again led by example, snapping up 3/18 with his canny out-swing bowling. The combined effort by the bowling trio restricted Ben Vorster to a meagre and disappointing 81 runs.
The Plasies made the pitch look quite different when it was their turn to bat. Njabulo Maseko was the only one able to pick up a wicket, that of James Durant (9), before the experienced Xander Schoeman (32*), nicknamed Mike, and Logan Janse van Renburg (29*), steered the Plasies home with a 63-run partnership for the second wicket.
Nkowankowa Hub‘s Abongwe Mopayi (4/5) and Alen Shiviri (4/15) played a lethal role to bungle out Hoërskool Louis Trichardt for only 49. The side from Nkowankowa chased down the target comfortably, winning by eight wickets in the end.
Summarised scorecards:
Hoërskool Piet Potgieter 221 (Rayaan Malji 69, Extras 34, Hamza Vahora 31, Ridhwan Patel 25, Ruben Oosthuizen 23; Celliers van der Merwe 3/44, Henco Prinsloo 2/21, Hanru Marais 2/32, AJ Galloway 2/68); Hoërskool Pietersburg 159 (Stephan Swanepoel 45, Hanru Marais 43, Extras 31; Frederik Botes 3/14, Michael Jooste 2/25, Ruben Oosthuizen 2/52). Hoërskool Piet Potgieter won by 62 runs.
Ben Vorster 81 (Ruben Pohl 18; Rinaldo Bornman 4/13, Luka Heinlein 3/18, Timothy Baker 2/22); Merensky Landbou Akademie 82/1 (Xander Schoeman 32*, Logan Janse van Rensburg 29*; Njabulo Maseko 1/21). Merensky Landbou Akademie won by nine wickets.
Hoërskool Louis Trichardt 49 (Ayaaz Patel 10; Abongwe Mopayi 4/5, Alen Shiviri 4/15); Nkowankowa Hub 50/2 (Ntsako Makaringe 18*; Juandro Kruger 1/14). Nkowankowa Hub won by eight wickets.
