Seonath’s superb century in vain as Affies holds on in Pretoria
Not even a century from Sohail Seonath was enough for St David’s Marist Inanda to halt Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool‘s (Affies) imperious run of form and victories.
The Pretoria school was pushed all the way, but they eventually secured a gripping seven-run win after 100 overs in Pretoria on Saturday.
It was a tough test for the Johannesburg side, taking on a team that is arguably, alongside Hoërskool Waterkloof, the capital city’s premier cricketing outfit at present.
When the coin flip went their way, Affies elected to bat. At first, that decision appeared questionable, with the hosts losing AJ Morkel (20) and Dylan Stander (13) inside the opening 10 overs to St David’s new-ball bowler Christopher Emslie.
Yet sustained team success is often underpinned by contributions coming from multiple sources, especially when the chips are down, and that proved to be the case for Affies, whose lower order rose to the occasion.
Dawie Barnard, batting at eight, top-scored with a match-defining 60, while Zian Labuschagne weighed in with a composed and vital 34. Their crucial 69-run partnership swung the momentum in the hosts’ favour.
Emslie’s early heroics were later overshadowed by an outstanding spell from Kairiv Koobair, whose 3/37 dismantled the talented Affies’ middle order almost single-handedly.
In the St David’s reply, Seonath set about the pursuit of 225 with his customary composure. He faced 133 deliveries and stroked eight fours and three sixes in an innings that was not only a testament to his stroke play but also to his exceptional running between the wickets.
It took Affies almost the visiting side’s entire innings to end Seonath’s resistance. At last, though, in the 49th over, he was dismissed for a superb 102 with St David’s on 210. They went on to finish on 217/9.
The prized wicket of Senoath was a fitting reward for Labuschagne, who capped off a fine all-round performance by delivering his full quota of 10 overs and returning 2/53. It was, however, Christian Linde who had the final say, with his incisive spell of 2/22 sealing a tense and hard-fought victory for the home side.
Summarised scorecard
Affies 224/9 (Dawie Barnard 60, Zian Labuschagne 34, Christian Linde 23, AJ Morkel 20; Kairiv Koobair 3/37, Christopher Emslie 2/37, Roberto Mariano 2/38); St David’s Marist Inanda 217/9 (Sohail Seonath 102, Jonah Gruskin 39, Extras 22; Christian Linde 2/22, Zian Labuschagne 2/53). Affies won by seven runs.
