Ruthven-train hits St Stithians, Cooke bats Rondebosch to victory
St Stithians College was hit by the Ruthven train on the second day of the Westvaal North/South Tournament in Pretoria on Friday.
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Hoërskool Waterkloof‘s Wian Ruthven began by doing most of the damage with the ball for his side.
Playing at Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool and knowing that the side from Johannesburg would be looking to get off to a dominating start, Ruthven was thrown the ball to see how Saints would cope with his off-spin.
It was a gamble that paid off as he quickly dismissed the Saints’ top three, snapping up 3/24 in his four overs. He then put them to the sword when opening the batting. Playing some exquisite strokes, especially straight, the talented Titans’ u18 batsman wasted no time breaking the backbone of the 195-run chase.
Ruthven needed only 47 balls to bring up his century with a trademark pull shot. He was eventually run out for 106 from only 49 deliveries, which had included 10 fours and eight sixes.
He and his long-time batting partner Divan Behrens enjoyed their time together out in the middle. Behrens let Ruthven lead the assault as he contributed a classy 45 from 32 balls in the pair’s match-winning 147-run partnership.
Left-arm spinner, Marcus Bakker shone with the ball, too, claiming two wickets in the penultimate over to finish with a return of 2/19.
Saints’ Tasheen Hanslo batted superbly to get his side out of their hole after Ruthven’s spell. Striking at 172, the number five batsman creamed eight fours and four sixes in his classy 83. Aidan van der Westhuizen supported him well with a mix of power-hitting and elegant strokes in an innings of 63.
Daniel Cooke batted Rondebosch Boys’ High to their first victory of the tournament as his 83 helped them to a 25-run victory over Northwood. Cooke smashed seven sixes in his innings, which lasted only 44 deliveries. Nqobani Mokoena was, once again, the pick of the Northwood bowlers, snapping up three wickets and conceding only 26 runs.
David de Bruyn continued his good batting form from the first day. His 67, alongside Kyle White‘s 43, gave the side from Durban a glimmer of hope, but only until Hlumelo Mgweba set the Knights back by picking up 2/22 to restrict Northwood to 175/8.
Affies’ Jorich van Schalkwyk scored a second consecutive half-century to lead the Pretoria school to a comfortable eight-wicket win over Potchefstroom Volkskool. Vihan Pretorius was also among the runs again, batting sensibly for an unbeaten 44, as the pair steered their side to victory.
Eduan van der Merwe was the standout with the bat for the Volkies, finishing with an unbeaten 48. Berno de Klerk chipped in with 34, but Xavier de Wet and company kept the Potchefstroom side from getting going. De Wet snapped up two wickets while conceding only 18 runs.
Henru de Wet was at the forefront of another Grey College victory, this time by six wickets over Wynberg Boys’ High. His bowling will be a key feature in their forthcoming matches, especially in their afternoon showdown against their old foes, Affies. Snapping up 3/21, De Wet helped to limit the Cape Town school to 161, which was not enough on the batting-friendly track.
Christian Kind and Adem Nieuwoudt made light work of the chase. Kind top scored with 67, while Nieuwoudt batted well for his 48 to lead the Bloemfontein-based side to a second victory in as many games.
Summarised scorecards
St Stithians College 194/7 (Tasheen Hanslo 83, Aidan van der Westhuizen 63; Wian Ruthven 3/24, Marcus Bakker 2/19); Waterkloof 195/3 (Wian Ruthven 106, Divan Behrens 45; Tasheen Hanslo 1/39). Waterkloof won by seven wickets.
Rondebosch Boys’ High 200/8 (Daniel Cooke 83, Noah Heath 24, Tyler Heyns 21; Nqobani Mokoena 3/26, Mason Storm 2/33); Northwood 175/8 (David de Bruyn 67, Kyle White 43, Mason Storm 29; Hlumelo Mgweba 2/22). Rondebosch Boys’ High won by 25 runs.
Potchefstroom Volkskool 147/9 (Eduan van der Merwe 48*, Berno de Klerk 34, Arrie Liebenberg 20; Xavier de Wet 2/18, Divan de Villiers 2/21, Armin Snyman 2/24) Affies 149/2 (Jorich van Schalkwyk 51, Vihan Pretorius 44*, Ruben Groenewald 27*; Berno de Klerk 1/20). Affies won by eight wickets.
Wynberg Boys’ High 161/5 (Paul James 43, Beni Hansen 35, Storme van Rooyen 28, Xavier Garvs 25*; Henru de Wet 3/21); Grey College 162/4 (Christian Kind 67, Adem Nieuwoudt 48, Daniel Hattingh 27; Divan Linde 1/24). Grey College won by six wickets.
