Rowles and Manack catapult St David’s to victory over St John’s
Jason Rowles and Armaan Manack struck classy centuries to lead St David’s Marist Inanda to a nine-wicket win over St John’s College in their 50-over encounter on La Valla Oval at St David’s on Saturday.
The hosts, who won the toss and elected to bat first, were bowled out for a decent-looking 282 in 46 overs. Jeff Levin’s boys, however, needed six overs less to chase down that big total, cruising to 287/1 in 40 overs.
Rowles showed his class as he creamed 14 fours and two sixes on his way to a brilliant 118 off 105 deliveries. The opener was at the crease for 27.3 overs and forged a 185-run opening stand with Armaan Manack.
The St John’s bowlers had no answers against the duo, and it took a moment of luck for them to break the openers’ partnership, with Rowles, after successfully negotiating a Lwazi Khuphe delivery, accidentally dislodging his bails.
Following the SA u19 Emerging star’s departure, Armaan Manack took control of the innings and put on an unbroken 102-run second-wicket partnership with his captain, Samrat Basu (38*).
It was during that partnership that Manack recorded his century, going on to finish with an unbeaten 114 off 101 balls. He put on a clinic, showing an ability to severely punish loose deliveries, as he carved 18 fours. It was also Manack’s second century of the week, following a knock of 167 off 108 balls against Northcliff.
Earlier in the day, Armaan’s twin brother, Morteza Manack, starred with the ball, bagging four wickets for 42 runs in 10 overs. Morteza, fresh off a double-hundred in the 50-over format, removed three of the top six batsmen in the St John’s batting order, getting rid of Nkosana Sibiya, Malan du Plessis, and Darshik Lutchman.
Sibiya scored one of the two half-centuries for St John’s, contributing 51 runs off 57 deliveries. The other half-ton came from Connor van der Walt. The opener hit a 64-ball 60 to give his side a solid start. However, neither fifty was enough to withstand the St David’s onslaught.
Ethan Greenstein, Kyle Butler, Hayden Campbell, and Jared Stern perfectly supported Morteza’s bowling. Both Greenstein and Butler picked up a pair of wickets, while Campbell and Stern took one wicket each.
Summarised Scorecards
St John’s 282/10 (Connor van der Walt 60, Nkosana Sibiya 51; Morteza Manack 4/42, Kyle Butler 2/25); St David’s 287/1 (Jason Rowles 118, Armaan Manack 114*; Lwazi Khuphe 1/28).
St David’s won by nine wickets.
