Prinsloo’s golden bat sees Centurion home in style
It’s not every day a team scores 208 in a T20 and loses by nine wickets.
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However, with a talent like Hoërskool Centurion’s Charl Prinsloo, anything seems possible.
In an astonishing turn of events, the talented Prinsloo, along with his opening partner Jayden Potgieter, sent the ball to all parts of the Affies Oval as Centurion claimed a nine-wicket victory over SACS that they will remember for some time.
Chasing 209 for victory, after Keiran Bowers had bashed 62 from 25 balls and Reeza Salie 54 off just 31, the Woeries’ opening pair produced an extraordinary, breath-taking 140-run partnership in only 11 overs. Potgieter was the main aggressor, striking 78 from just 38 balls.
Prinsloo went about his business as usual, but he was moving at a rate of knots. It was, however, only after the demise of Potgieter that he truly put the pedal to the metal, smashing 12 fours and six sixes in an unbeaten 104, which was the first century of the tournament. In just 15.3 overs, Centurion rocketed past the required target.
Carlo Kotze was the pick of the Woeries’ bowlers snapping up 2/24, while Prinsloo showcased his all-round ability by claiming two SACS’ scalps.
A return to the first side for all-rounder Franco Cronje saw him help the defending champions, Hoërskool Waterkloof, to a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Rondebosch Boys’ High. Cronje who tore knee ligaments during the rugby season, received a rude welcome from Rondebosch’s batsmen, though, travelling for 20 runs in his first over.
Responding well, he brushed that off quickly and snapped up four wickets for just five runs in his second spell. The magician, Marcus Bakker, played his part, claiming three wickets for 24 runs in his four-over spell, as the side from the Western Cape was held to only 142 all out.
Wian Ruthven, who also returned from injury, got back into the swing of things with a rapid 29 at the top of the order, but it was Divan Behrens who stole the show with an unbeaten 43. Alexander Volschenk added a useful 28 to ensure a comfortable win for the Klofies.
Paarl Boys High‘s spin-bowling attack challenged the 2023 runners-up, Hoërskool Menlopark. That was, however, until Matt van der Westhuizen and Pierre de Villiers met up in the middle.
Menlopark was limping along, on 61/5, when Van der Westhuizen and De Villiers joined forces. Van der Westhuizen struck an unbeaten 41 and De Villiers made 34 not out as they shared in an unbroken 82-run partnership to take their team to a five-wicket victory.
The Camp Discovery pitch will offer something for the spinners across the four days. That was shown by Menlopark’s young right-arm off-spinner, Murray Hofmeyr, and Boys’ High’s left-arm off-spinner, Aden Batt, as they shared five wickets between them. Hofmeyr snared 3/25 while Batt impressed with a return of 2/17 from his four overs.
St Andrew’s School, from Bloemfontein, and Grey High School, from Gqeberha, put together the closest contest of the day with the Free Staters eventually winning by 10 runs. Andrew Sobiech was, without a doubt, their standout. He led their batting effort with a well-played 56 and then claimed two wickets for 28 runs with the ball.
Kian Cambier‘s 47 and Xander Elkington‘s undefeated 41 gave the Eastern Cape side a glimmer of hope, but they were unable to topple Saints.
Day One of the tournament saw 10 half-centuries and one century scored, which emphasised the abundance of talent that has made its way to the Jacaranda City.
Summarised scorecards
SACS 208/6 (Keiran Bowers 62, Reeza Salie 54, Luke Whitehead 23, Keegan Borst 22; Carlo Kotze 2/24, Charl Prinsloo 2/37); Hoërskool Centurion 212/1 (Charl Prinsloo 104*, Jayden Potgieter 78; Ulrich Roth 1/20). Hoërskool Centurion won by nine wickets.
Rondebosch Boys’ High 142/10 (Declan Gillespie 27, Joshua Neill 24, Noah Heath 20; Franco Cronje 4/25, Marcus Bakker 3/24, Marno Pienaar 2/18); Waterkloof 148/3 (Divan Behrens 43*, Wian Ruthven 29, Alexander Volschenk 28, Riley Miller 20*; Jamie Hundermark 1/13). Waterkloof won by seven wickets.
Paarl Boys’ High 139/9 (Pieter Gildenhuys 38, JJ van der Sandt 30, Christiaan Wege 25; Murray Hofmeyr 3/25, Tiaan Serfontein 2/30); Menlopark 143/5 (Matt van der Westhuizen 41*, Pierre de Villiers 34*, Wian van Deventer 30; Aden Batt 2/17). Menlopark won by five wickets.
St Andrew’s School 187/9 (Andrew Sobiech 56, FG Botha 25, Mosa Maqunqi 21; Tristan Grundling 3/52, Nathan Howell 2/18); Grey High School 177/6 (Kian Cambier 47, Xander Elkington 41*, Frederick Jansen 34*; Andrew Sobiech 2/28). St Andrew’s School won by 10 runs.
