Ritchie and Van Biljon shine as KES and DHS register emphatic Michaelmas wins
Callum Ritchie was outstanding as King Edward VII School (KES) recorded an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Hilton College on day two of the 2024 edition of the Oppenheimer Michaelmas Cricket Week on Sunday.
Almost 10km away, at Howick High School, Joshua van Biljon scored an unbeaten ton as Durban High School (DHS) overran Hudson Park, defeating the East London school by 178 runs.
Instead of playing 50-over matches, the teams had to adjust the length of their games based on what the venues allowed after rain fell throughout Saturday.
The KES-Hilton match was reduced to 40 overs, while the DHS-Hudson Park encounter was reduced to 39 overs a side.
KES, who were asked to bowl first by their hosts, bundled out Hilton for 99 runs in 25.4 overs, before chasing down the 100-run target in 18.1 overs for the loss of four wickets.
Ritchie, the captain, delivered an outstanding 2.4-over spell that turned the match around for KES. He also took three catches and was at the crease when his side cantered to victory to avenge a 129-run loss at Hilton during last year’s Michaelmas Week.
Matthew Burgess and Fayaz Vawda gave KES the perfect start by bagging three wickets in the first four overs of the match to put Hilton on the back foot. The home side attempted to rebuild through Simon Steyn (11) and Jayden Roux (37). However, the pair added only 30 runs to the total before their partnership was undone.
Roux then joined forces with Alex Pitman (26) to construct Hilton’s highest partnership, with their fifth-wicket stand producing 52 runs. When it ended, the hosts still appeared to have many more runs to score, with 20 overs to bat and six wickets in hand. However, KES had other ideas and what followed was something few could have foreseen.
Hilton collapsed in a monumental heap, going from 90/5 to 99/10 in the space of 5.4 overs, or 34 deliveries. Ritchie delivered the match-defining blow when he dismissed Roux in the 24th over. Ritchie also took the catches that ended the innings of Ben Erasmus, Charles Swart, and Natenzi Denenga.
Connor Kuijers was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets for 21 runs in six overs. Burgess and Ritchie took two wickets each, while Vawda, Christian Sabela, and Wade Mcquinn bagged a scalp each.
Luke Clark top-scored for KES in their chase, with 28 off 26 balls. Troy Gordon was the second-highest scorer, with 17, but that proved impactful in pursuit of a small total. Ritchie (14*) and Zieg Roos (14*) remained unbeaten as they saw the Johannesburg side home.
In Howick, Joshua van Biljon smashed an unbeaten 100 of 99 balls (12×4) to steer DHS to a total of 234 for two in their tie against Hudson Park. Then, despite conceding 10 extras, DHS bowled out their opposition for a paltry 56 runs.
Van Biljon shared an unbroken 190-run third-wicket partnership with DHS skipper Semal Pillay, who was unbeaten on 82 off 101 deliveries. They had joined forces in the 10th over, following the dismissal of Ethan Cooper for 16.
DHS made light work of the Hudson Park batting lineup and needed only 17.5 overs to dismantle it. None of the Hudson Park batsmen reached double figures.
The wickets were shared around, with Cooper capturing 2/6 in three overs. Sbusiso Msibi, Dhilan Naraidu, and Taine Havemann also bagged two wickets apiece, while Jared Havemann and Pillay walked away with a wicket each.
Summarised Scorecards
Hilton College 99/10 (Jayden Roux 37, Alex Pitman 26; Connor Kuijers 3/21, Callum Ritchie 2/4, Matthew Burgess 2/18) KES 100/4 (Luke Clark 28, Troy Gordon 17, Callum Ritchie 14*, Zieg Rose 14*; Ethan van Heerden 2/25, Kyle Christie 1/16). KES won by 8 wickets.
DHS 234/2 (Joshua van Biljon 100*, Semal Pillay 82*) Hudson Park 56/10 (Ethan Cooper 2/6, Sbusiso Msibi 2/9) DHS won by 178 runs.
