Somerset College see off challengers from far and wide to lift T20 crown
Somerset College reigned supreme at their home T20 tournament on Sunday, winning two of their three matches, to lay claim to the silverware.
After battling to a stalemate in their two-day match against Framesby, the home team regrouped well and found the energy reserves to see out two more thrillers on Sunday before Outeniqua finally got the better of them in the final game of the weekend.
Firstly, Somerset had to battle hard against Wellington College, from the UK, to open their account with a narrow six-run win.
The prestigious Berkshire school’s recent cricketing alumni include brothers, Sam and Tom Curran, who represent England in all formats. With a history that spans 165 years, many English heroes of the past have also walked the halls of Wellington College.
Chad Ayford provided the hosts with a positive start, smashing five boundaries in a sharp 30 runs from 26 deliveries. Later, Jonno Firth bolstered the Somerset total with a brisk 48 runs off of only 28 balls.
Every run proved vital as Somerset posted their highest total of the day to keep the Englishmen at bay.
Next, the hosts faced Framesby again. After the previous two days of heated competition, a tight contest was expected, but the teams managed to exceed expectations.
Somerset sneaked a victory, scoring the winning runs off the penultimate delivery of the match, with only a wicket to spare, thanks to David de Klerk‘s boundary. It was a spectacular victory, and it secured the T20 title for the home side.
JJ de Lange (58) and Dewan Wessels (47) led Framesby to 158/5 before Troy Varie was unleashed on the visitors.
He knocked over five batsmen in two overs and conceded only three runs, to stymie Framesby’s batting efforts.
Somerset College’s captain, Tyrone Rieth (77), then combined brilliantly with the young Buhle Mfunelwa (25) for a 72-run partnership, which was the cornerstone of the home team’s successful run chase.
Stefan May ripped through the hosts batting’ lineup in their final game, snaring five Somerset batsmen for a miserly eight runs. Then, batting with Daniel du Plessis, he scored the winning runs to secure the Garden Route boys’ first win of the weekend. By then, though, the trophy already belonged to Somerset College.
Even though they ended up tied in the final rankings with the visitors from the UK, Somerset College took the title over Wellington College because of their head-to-head win.
Summarised Scorecards
Somerset College 165/9 (Jonno Firth 48, Chad Ayford 30, Callum Hughes 20; Alexander Padbury 4/21); Wellington College 159/3 (Toby Barton 62, Edward Campion 43*, Hugo South 24; David de Klerk 1/28). Somerset College won by six runs.
Framesby 158/5 (JJ de Lange 58, Dewan Wessels 47, Extras 24; Troy Varie 5/3); Somerset College 159/9 (Tyrone Rieth 77, Buhle Mfunelwa 25; Juan Grigor 2/22, Juandré Vos 2/23, Logan Fleetwood 2/33). Somerset College won by one wicket.
Somerset College 97 (Chad Ayford 23; Stefan May 5/8, Danie Venter 2/11); Outeniqua 98/2 (Stefan May 40, Daniel du Plessis 27; Troy Varie 1/17). Outeniqua won by eight wickets.
