Scharges, Kloppenburg, and Damons shine in Eastern Cape clashes
Ben Scharges carved an outstanding century to set up St Andrew’s College for an emphatic 143-run win over Kingswood College when they crossed swords at St Andrew’s on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Teun Kloppenburg and Jason Damons recorded unbeaten half-centuries to play decisive roles in victories for Grey High and Graeme College respectively.
In a 50-over clash against their Makhanda rivals, St Andrew’s won the toss, chose to bat first, and cantered to 314/6. Kingswood managed only 171 all out in 42 overs in reply.
Scharges, who arrived at the crease in the sixth over, produced a patient knock of 100 from 133 deliveries, which featured just seven fours. Batting third in the order, he anchored the innings and allowed his batting partners to express themselves at the other end.
Together with Sam Scheckter, he added 136 runs for the fourth wicket, with Scheckter scoring a fluent 64 from 73 balls. Myles Sansom, who replaced Scheckter, played his shots and raced to 51 from only 37 balls in 73-run fifth wicket stand with Kloppenburg.
Scheckter, then, showed off his all-round ability when St Andrew’s took to the field, wrecked the Kingswood innings by capturing 4/9 in only four overs.
Rhys Wiblin matched Scheckter’s haul with four wickets of his own as Kingswood was dismissed well short of the St Andrew’s total.
At Selborne College, in East London, Kloppenburg thumped an unbeaten half-century, leading the charge for Grey High, who secured a comfortable seven-wicket win.
He clubbed 12 fours and two sixes on his way to a 76-ball 91 as the visitors made light work of the 207-run target set for them by the hosts.
Selborne, who won the toss and elected to bat first, put up 206 in 48.3 overs, with Reece Wait‘s steady 45 from 66 deliveries their best batting effort. It was a vital contribution from the number seven batsman after the top six had struggled.
Grey High’s Drisden Pretorius was one of the reasons why they found the going tough. The left-arm spinner bamboozled the hosts and finished the match with four wickets for 35 runs from 10 overs.
Alejo Nota enjoyed a good outing, too, snapping up 2/18 from 7.3 overs. Kloppenburg, meanwhile, showed that he had more than one arrow in his quiver when he claimed Joshua Wilkie‘s wicket in the 29th over. His contribution was 1/14 in five overs.
Graeme College, who travelled to Woodridge, put on a dominant show to pick up a comfortable 47-run win over their hosts.
Jason Damons starred with the bat for Graeme, weighing in with an unbeaten 77 from 86 balls, which helped to catapult the visitors to 300/8 in 50 overs. Woodridge replied with 253/9.
Luphelo Mdyesha (33) and Enrique Strydom (20) made starts for the visitors but failed to kick on. Their steady start, though, helped to lay the platform from which Damons launched his fluent knock.
Woodridge took some damage late in the Graeme innings when Damons and Ajay Joggels (25*) shared an entertaining ninth-wicket partnership that added 86 runs from only 72 balls.
The home side’s innings was held together by Ethan Moothoo and Randy Syce, who threatened to bat Woodridge to victory with a big 153-run stand for the third wicket. Their partnership was, however, broken by brilliant interplay between Strydom and Qhama Ngoma, who combined to execute a run out that ended Moothoo’s stay just six runs shy of a century.
Syce held on until the 44th over. Unfortunately for him, he watched a procession of wickets falling at the other end. Still, he played his part with a well-played 81.
Luphelo Mdyesha was Graeme College’s standout bowler, claiming three wickets for 64 runs in 10 overs. Andrew Muir, who took the new ball with Erin Nelson, finished with two wickets for 30 runs in 10 overs.
Scorecards
St Andrew’s College 314/6 (Ben Scharges 100, Sam Schecter 64, Myles Sansom 51; Jack Collett 3/37, Sinawo Bakula 2/88). Kingswood 171/10 (Allister Knott 50, Josh Loon 30; Sam Schecter 4/9, Rhys Wiblin 4/31) St Andrew’s won by 143 runs.
Selborne College 206/10 (Reece Wait 45, Joshua Wilkie 34; Drisden Pretorius 4/35, Alejo Nota 2/18) Grey High 210/3 (Teun Kloppenburg 91*, Charl Postumus 38; Reece Wait 1/19, Aaron Senekal 1/25). Grey High won by seven wickets.
Graeme College 300/8 (Jordan Damons 77*, Luphelo Mdyesha 33; Ethan Moothoo 3/56, Mpumelelo Magwetshu 2/63) Woodridge 253/9 (Ethan Moothoo 94, Randy Syce 81; Luphelo Mdyesha 3/64, Andrew Muir 2/30) Graeme College won by 47 runs.
