Rondebosch hands PBHS their first defeat at 2024 Peninsula Fest
Rondebosch Boys’ High continued their impressive run at the 2024 Old Mutual Peninsula Cricket Festival when they cut down Pretoria Boys High on Thursday. The locals’ bowling attack sliced through the visitors’ lineup to bring their unbeaten run to an end.
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Electing to take to the crease first, the ‘Bosch batsmen were under pressure early on at 77-4, thanks to some brilliant bowling by Adam Cannata and Johan Coetzer.
However, the locals did well to regroup after the initial onslaught and Joshua Neill steadied the ship with an impressive knock of 65 runs. Nathan Ball also notched a half-century to help his side to a respectable 223 before the final Rondebosch wicket fell in the 50th over.
PBHS, who already had two victories under their belt this week after overcoming Wynberg Boys’ High in a thrilling battle on Tuesday and outplaying St Charles College on the opening day, took to the middle with their sights set on another impressive victory, but Hlumelo Mgweba and co had other plans.
Mgweba claimed four wickets for a mere 18 runs as ‘Bosch quickly dowsed Boys High’s hopes of a successful run chase. In fact, PBHS failed to make out of double figures as ‘Bosch recorded a third decisive win on the trot.
Wynberg Boys’ High bounced back from a defeat on day two, with their SA Schools’ captain, Beni Hansen, leading from the front, striking a confident 55 not out as they overhauled a modest victory target set by Hilton College.
Bishops‘ bowlers Alex Vincent, Peyton Leigh, and Michael Kotze each picked up a brace as they restricted Affies to 146 in their clash.
Vihan Pretorius, who was brilliant with the bat for the Pretoria-based team on the second day, led the charge for his squad again. He scored 46 off 58 deliveries, but it wasn’t enough as the rest of their lineup struggled against the relentless Bishops’ bowling.
Adnaan Lagadien raced to 60 runs and James Robb-Quinlann weighed in with 23 as the home team chased a third successive win. With the pressure and the extras mounting, Calum Daniels and Samuel Stavely-Alexander saw Diocesan College over the line and to another decisive victory.
St Charles‘ Marcell Wellmann produced an excellent performance with the bat as he scored the only century of the day, making 120 against St David’s Marist Inanda.
Rico Honiball added 52 and Cian Fortmann contributed an unbeaten 38 to take Saints to a respectable 277/6 in their allotted overs.
In pursuit of a big total, St David’s capitalised on every opportunity they received. Their top order combined effectively to chip away at the task, with Morteza Manack spearheading their assault with an innings of 87.
Matthew West added a half-century, while Jason Rowles and Armaan Manack made solid contributions, too, which allowed Samrat Basu and Joshua Jacobs to go on the attack and power the team from Sandton to victory.
After showing promising potential on the first two days without reward, Waterkloof secured their first victory of the Festival against SACS.
The locals started strongly with Josh van Staden and Nicholas Oscroft striking early on to remove the Waterkloof opening duo, but the rest of the batsmen dug their heels in and grafted hard to score 270/8 in their 50 overs.
Franco Cronje, batting at seven, top-scored for Klofies, smashing 52 off 42 deliveries before Oscroft caught him off a delivery by Ulrich Roth.
SACS’ inspirational captain, Reza Salie, did his best to get his team back on track, weighing in with 57 runs as they chased the Pretoria school’s challenging total but, after his wicket fell, the home team’s chances crumbled.
Their young dual-sport star, Litha Kraai, offered stubborn resistance with a well-played innings of 27, which included five boundaries, but it wasn’t enough. The Waterkloof bowlers were on top and saw their team to a comfortable 92-run win.
Marcus Bakker led the Waterkloof attack, with a return of 3/37, while Wian Ruthven put SACS on the back foot by dismissing both openers as he picked up his 2/9 to set his side on course for victory. They face their biggest challenge thus far on Thursday when they take on a rampant Bishops’ line-up in their penultimate fixture.
Summarised Scorecards, Day Three
u19
Rondebosch Boys’ High 223 (Joshua Neill 65, Nathan Ball 51, Noah Heath 36, Extras 21; Adam Cannata 3/29, Johan Coetzer 2/33, Connor Hall 2/37); Pretoria Boys High 89 (Tim Gordon 27; Hlumelo Mgweba 4/18, Daniel Bosman 2/6, James Kirsten 2/25). Rondebosch Boys’ High won by 134 runs.
Hilton College 133 (Robert Burman 55, Charles Swart 27; Ebrahim Fakir 3/20, Ethan Leibrandt 2/14, Luke Kleinsmith 2/25, Muhammad Ameen Schroeder 2/30); Wynberg Boys’ High 138/2 (Beni Hansen 55*, Paul James 24*, Shadley Allie 23; Murray Loughor-Clarke 1/11). Wynberg Boys’ High won by eight wickets.
Affies 146 (Vihan Pretorius 46, Jorich van Schalkwyk 31; Alex Vincent 2/15, Peyton Leigh 2/36, Michael Kotze 2/40); Diocesan College 148/4 (Adnaan Lagadien 60, Extras 25, James Robb-Quinlann 23; Petrus Rautenbach 3/28). Diocesan College won by six wickets.
St Charles 277/6 (Marcell Wellmann 120, Rico Honiball 52, Extras 39, Cian Fortmann 38*; Oliver Botha 3/61); St David’s Marist Inanda 281/5 (Morteza Manack 87, Matthew West 54, Extras 43, Jason Rowles 41, Armaan Manack 28, Samrat Basu 21; Tinotenda Nzua 2/13, Kaiyuran Naidoo 2/47); St David’s Marist Inanda won by five wickets.
Waterkloof 270/8 (Franco Cronje 52, Marcus Bakker 43, Beukes van den Berg 36, Riley Miller 35; Johan Feuth 28; Extras 20; Ulrich Roth 2/28, Nicholas Nejthardt 2/35); SACS 178 (Reza Salie 57, Rowen Taplin 28, Litha Kraai 27, Keagan Borst 25; Marcus Bakker 3/37, Wian Ruthven 2/9, Luan Ferreira 2/29). Waterkloof won by 92 runs.
u15
Affies 241/8 (Zian Labuschagne 74, Dawie Barnard 51); Diocesan College 86. Affies won by 155 runs.
Rondebosch 312/4 (Matthew Brooks 71, Schalk Fourie 64, Nur Limbada 52); Pretoria Boys High 89. Rondebosch won by 223 runs.
Waterkloof 117. SACS 118/5 (Aqeel Waggie 56); SACS won by five wickets.
Hilton College 232; Wynberg 200 (Harbin Smith 87). Hilton College won by 32 runs.
St David’s 89; St Charles 90/5. St Charles won by five wickets.
