Plekker’s century steers Paul Roos to victory at Grey High
Luka Plekker stroked an outstanding century to help Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG) register a 10-wicket win over Grey High School in a two-day declaration match played at Grey High on Friday and Saturday.
After the visitors had limited Grey to only 140 in their first innings, Plekker compiled a patient 104 off 176 balls, which included 10 fours and two sixes. His composed knock led the visitors to a healthy 202-run first innings lead.
The Stellenbosch side chose to field after winning the toss and made use of seven bowlers, with all of them making an impact.
The most expensive economy rate came from James Holm, but he picked up a wicket for only seven runs in a single over. Nathan van der Berg performed an exemplary job, snapping up three wickets for 21 runs in nine overs. Plekker, too, chipped in, dismissing Anfred Jansen and Nathan Howell for 29 runs from 10 overs.
Logan Goddard-Ford battled hard for Grey, keeping the PRG’s attack at bay as scored 55 runs from 93 deliveries.
Paul Roos replied with 342/6 declared, which gave them an intimidating first innings. Plekker’s ton was the cornerstone of their total, but there were many other good contributions. In, after the fall of the first wicket, Plekker shared a 122-run second-wicket partnership with Etienne Serfontein (62). That was one of two major partnerships that put Paul Roos in control. The second was a 114-run third-wicket stand between Plekker and Matthew Seymore (63).
Liam Basson (67) became the third Paul Roos batsman to record a half-century as Grey High’s bowlers toiled for little reward. Nathan Howell, Markus Potgieter, Matthew Tinley, Anfred Jansen, and Teun Kloppeneburg finished with a wicket each.
Jansen stood tall in Grey’s second innings with a brisk half-century. The all-rounder lashed 76 runs off 50 balls to help the home team to 232 all out the second time around. He was also part of an industrious 115-run sixth-wicket partnership with Goddard-Ford, who weighed in with 44 to come close to a half-century in both innings.
Grey’s downfall was their inability to stitch together partnerships, and the one between Jansen and Goddard-Ford stuck out like a sore thumb in a desultory innings.
Nathan van der Berg was, again, the destroyer-in-chief for Paul Roos, knocking over five for 25 in 10.5 overs. That left him with an impressive match haul of eight wickets for 46 runs from 19.5 overs.
Requiring only 32 to win, Paul Roos chased down those runs in 8.2 overs. Enré van Zyl and Etienne Serfontein had no trouble as they shepherded the visitors home with an unbroken 34-run opening partnership.
Scorecards
Grey High first innings 140/10 (Logan Goddard-Ford 55, Charl Posthumus 20, Nathan van der Berg 3/21, Luka Plekker 2/29). Paul Roos first innings 342/6d (Luka Plekker 104, Liam Basson 67, Teun Kloppenburg 1/23, Nathan Howell 1/47). Grey High second innings 232/10 (Anfred Jansen 76, Logan Goddard-Ford 44, Nathan van der Berg 5/25, Etienne Serfontein 3/30). Paul Roos second innings 34/0 (Enre van Zyl 10*, Etienne Serfontein 15*, Iviwe Mazomba 0/1, Conner Parry 0/1). Paul Roos won by 10 wickets.
