Selborne and Dale start Cape Schools Festival with victories
Selborne College and Graeme College made strong starts to their Cape Schools Cricket Festival campaigns on Saturday, with Selborne subjecting Union High to a 161-run thrashing, while Graeme College marched to a six-wicket win over Dale College on Rondebosch Boys High’s Meadow A field.
At Wynberg Boys’ High, in a declaration match, the toss went the way of Selborne captain Aaron Senekal, and he chose to bat first.
The skipper backed up his decision with a wonderful half-century as the East London side put 353/7 declared on the board in 55 overs. Then they bowled out Union out for 182.
Opener Matthew Hendry (84 off 82) gave Selborne a solid start with a well-paced half-century and held down the fort for 28.2 over before he was dismissed by Tristan Hulleman. With Hendry’s departure, Senekal made his way to the middle with Selborne was in the throes of a collapse, having lost three wickets for three runs in 11 balls as Hulleman wreaked havoc.
Senekal, who finished the match with an 80-ball 83, however, consolidated with a 131-run sixth-wicket partnership with Reece Wait (50). Both were dismissed by Hulleman, who took it upon himself to stop Selborne and captured 6/78 in 12 overs.
When Union High batted, Senekal put his all-round skills on display by claiming three wickets for 13 runs in three overs. He was the joint-highest wicket-taker with Michael Hess, who bagged 3/52 from 12 overs.
Yaseen Kazi top-scored for Union with a patient 39 from 74 balls, while Hulleman weighed in with 35 from 49 deliveries.
At Rondebosch, Graeme College produced a solid team performance to record a six-wicket win over Dale College. Avuyile Ngqawana, the Dale College captain, elected to bat first at the toss, but his side struggled, progressing in fits and starts on their way to being bowled out for only 99.
Endinako Mnguni top-scored for Dale with 28 runs from 35 balls, while Somila Malapi was the only other batsman to reach the 20-run mark, contributing a patient 21 from 45 deliveries.
Andrew Muir, who took the new ball for Graeme College, knocked over 3/13 in six overs, while Ajay Jeggels and Luphelo Mdyesha took a brace each.
Graeme College replied with 161 all out, which owed much to a fighting 36 from Enrique Strydom and Mdyesha’s relatively brisk 33 from 38 deliveries.
Lihlumelo Ngcukana and Endinako Mnguni picked up three wickets each to ensure that Graeme didn’t build a mammoth lead.
The second time around, Dale produced an improved performance with the bat, declaring after scoring 94/5. Inga Mafanga led the way with a 49-ball 40, while Malapi chipped in with a patient 23 from 62 deliveries. That small 33-run lead, however, did not put the match beyond Graeme’s reach.
The boys from Makhanda won, but not without some setbacks. Only Mdyesha, with an unbeaten 17, reached double figures as the Odwa Xonxa-coached side fought their way to 35/4 to claim victory.
Ngcukana and Sibongisile Nzima did their best to stop Graeme College in their tracks with the ball, snapping up two wickets each.
SCORES
Selborne 353/7 (Matthew Hendry 84, Aaron Senekal 83; Tristan Hulleman 6/78, Leander Kraai 1/52). Union High 182/10 (Yaseen Kazi 39, Tristan Hulleman 35; Aaron Senekal 3/13, Michael Hess 3/52).
Selborne won by 161 runs.
Dale College 99/10 (Endinako Mnguni 28, Somila Malapi 21; Andrew Muir 3/31, Luphelo Mdyesha 2/10). Graeme College 161/10 (Enrique Strydom 36, Luphelo Mdyesha 33; Lihlumelo Ngcukana 3/17, Endinako Mnguni 3/31). Dale College 94/5 (Inga Mafanga 40, Somila Malapi 23; Lisekho Zinyane 3/12, Andrew Muir 1/13). Graeme College 35/4 (Luphelo Mdyesha 17*, Enrique Strydom 4; Sibongisile Nzima 2/16, Lihlumelo Ngcukana 2/18).
Graeme College won by six wickets.
