St Charles charges to Eston T20 Night League title
St Charles College successfully defended their Eston One Insurance T20 Night League title on Wednesday evening, powering their way to a comfortable 32-run victory over Maritzburg College.
There was none of the drama that accompanied their four-run victory over Hilton College in the 2023 final, nor their spectacular run chase to beat Westville Boys’ High in the last over of the semi-finals. This was a solid and comprehensive victory.
Saints‘ skipper Marcell Wellman elected to bat first after winning the toss and that proved to be a good call, with the captain doing his bit to make it so.
The openers, Cian Fortmann and Rico Honiball, got St Charles off to a strong start, partnering for 62 runs in 7.5 overs before Fortmann was caught by College captain Chad Mason off the bowling of Julian Konigkramer for 21 from 24 deliveries, with three fours.
His dismissal brought another left-hander to the wicket, Wellmann, and he proceeded to take the game to the College bowlers. He and Honiball shared a stand of 53 runs before Mason had the opener caught by Brendon Senzere for a well-played 38. Honiball’s innings included four fours and lasted 43 balls.
There was no respite for College as Brendon Sunguro joined Wellmann out in the middle. They spent only two overs together but added 23 runs before the captain departed for a decisive 56 from only 36 balls, which included six fours and two sixes. He’s been in superb form this season, leading from the front, and Wednesday’s crucial innings was the latest of many examples of his all-round excellence.
The Zimbabwean international, Sunguro, went on to blast an unbeaten 30 from only 15 balls, sending two of them over the boundary and cracking another two into it, as Saints totalled a healthy 170 for 3 from their 20 overs.
Mason did a solid job with the ball for the Red, Black, and White, picking up 1/23 in his four overs, while Julian Konigkramer removed two batsmen at a cost of 35 runs.
The College run chase began with a hiccup as the in-form Llewellyn Sutherland fell to Saints’ paceman Rowen Rajah, caught by Connor Riley, for a single. Daniel Nadasan and Chad Mason did a fine job, however, of getting their team back into the contest.
In just over 10 overs, they added 82 runs before Mason was run out by Covhan Baaitjies in a costly blow to Maritzburg College’s chances. He’d made a telling contribution, nonetheless, of 50 from 37 deliveries, hitting seven fours and a six.
Just four runs later, Nadasan fell, bowled by Kaiyuran Naidoo for 31 from 32. His dismissal left College on 93/3 after 12.3 overs.
The loss of two set batsmen in quick succession proved to be a hammer blow to their chances. From there, their innings crumbled, with six more wickets going down for the addition of only 32 runs. Brendon Sunguro and Cian Fortmann ripped it apart. Sunguro was especially devastating, snaring 4/16 in his four overs, while Fortmann supported him superbly, claiming 2/28 in four.
A solid start had College in the hunt, but their challenge tailed off and they finished well short, restricted to 138/9 in their 20 overs, as only one other batsman made it into double figures.
Kaiyuran Naidoo snapped up 1/17 in three and Rowen Rajah finished with 1/23 in three as Saints retained the title with an assured and dominant performance.
Scores
St Charles College 170/3 (Marcell Wellmann 56, Rico Honiball 38, Brendon Sunguro 30*, Cian Fortmann 21, Julian Konigkramer 2/35); Maritzburg College 138/9 (Chad Mason 50, Daniel Nadasan 31, Brendon Sunguro 4/16, Cian Fortmann 2/28)
St Charles won by 32 runs
