St. Andrew’s School’s stubborn fightback overcomes SACS at Cape Schools Festival
St. Andrew’s School vs SACS (unlimited overs, one-day, one-innings)
In their opening fixture of the Cape Schools Festival, the sole Free State outfit, St Andrew’s School, defeated their hosts, SACS, by 30 runs, in a one-innings, one-day, unlimited overs fixture.
The visitors won the toss on the De Villiers Oval and chose to bat. Having armoured up to face the first delivery, Naudé Botha struck three fours and a six at the top of the order, making 22 from 22, but Ronan Meintjies had the visitors on the hop.
The opening bowler had Saints wobbling on 14/3 in the fourth over and went on to capture five of the first seven wickets to fall as the Bloemfontein boys clawed their way to 79/7.
Grové du Preez, in at seven, slowed the SACS’ assault, scoring a sturdy 39 off 89 to get the runs flowing at the back end of the innings. Schalk van Rensburg, batting ninth, played a crucial knock, making unbeaten 36 off 63, which included six fours and a six, helping St Andrew’s School to 162 all out.
Meintjies sparkled for SACS, capturing 5/29 in 12 overs, while Benjamin Blackburn also caused the visitors problems, securing 2/35 in 13 overs.
After his century against Palmerston North last Saturday, Jordan Berry continued the good work, contributing a solid 35 off 45 to the SACS’ run chase.
Opener Luke Whitehead also aided their effort with 21 off 47, but the hosts lost four wickets for 19 runs in the middle order and lost momentum, ultimately being dismissed for 132.
Andrew Sobiech led the St Andrew’s attack with a stunning 4/44 from 15 overs, while FG Botha, who, unusually, missed out with the bat, snapped up 2/31 from his eight overs of leg spin.
Nikhil Sukraj brought a swift end to the contest, claiming two victims for no runs off just two deliveries.
SCORES
St. Andrew’s School 162/10 (Grové du Preez 39, Schalk van Rensburg 36*, Nikhil Sukraj 24, Naudé Botha 22; Ronan Meintjies 5/29, Benjamin Blackburn 2/35); SACS 132/10 (Jordan Berry 35, Luke Whitehead 21; Andrew Sobiech 4/44, Nikhil Sukraj 2/0, FG Botha 2/31).
St. Andrew’s School won by 30 runs.
