Sacks’ five-for sets up gritty win for Grey College over Pretoria Boys High
Just across the road from Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool, where Affies battled their way to a thrilling seven-run win over St David’s Marist Inanda on Saturday, another gripping contest between two traditional powerhouses of South African schoolboy cricket unfolded.
In a nail-biting game, Grey College claimed a three-wicket victory over Pretoria Boys High School on Boys High’s Hofmeyr Oval.
The clash was the opening fixture of a two-match tour for the Bloemfontein school, ahead of a visit to the André van Wyk Oval on Sunday to face an in-form Hoërskool Waterkloof.
The visitors won the toss and elected to send their hosts in, a decision that paid immediate dividends as Grey snapped up three early wickets inside the opening six overs.
It marked the beginning of a memorable day with the ball for Michael Sacks. Responsible for two of the early breakthroughs, the Grey College spearhead went on to claim a further three wickets, leaving him with the outstanding and match-defining figures of 5/29 from 6.3 overs.
He was well supported by the rest of the attack, with wickets shared evenly across the unit, as Pretoria Boys High was bowled out for 200. Timothy Gordon anchored the home team’s innings, top-scoring with a composed 59.
The conditions were challenging. In the face of disciplined bowling, however, Grey College’s Christian Kind and Peter le Roux absorbed the early pressure superbly, with their 93-run opening stand providing the foundation for a successful run chase.
Kind was the first to depart, bowled by Steyn Botha for a well-compiled 46. Le Roux followed for 39, also falling to Botha, who returned 3/43.
With the openers dismissed, Botha, with strong support from Ruan Coetzee (2/41), threatened to derail Grey’s pursuit. When the visitors slipped to 153/6, the result was very much up for grabs. However, River Scott (36) and Bergh Vorster (25*) calmly steered the innings back on track and took Grey College to victory.
Vorster, in particular, demonstrated outstanding composure, and he was there at the end when a three-wicket win was secured in the 45th over.
Summarised scorecard
Pretoria Boys High 200 (Timothy Gordon 59, Louis Kruyshaar 28, Victor Loux 26, Tshepang Baloyi 24; Michael Sacks 5/29); Grey College 201/7 (Christian Kind 46, Peter Le Roux 39, River Scott 36, Daniel Hattingh 27, Bergh Vorster 25*; Steyn Botha 3/43, Ruan Coetzee 2/41). Grey College won by three wickets.
