St David’s pummels St Benedict’s, while St John’s overpowers St Alban’s
Sohail Seonath carved an imperious 172 to power St David’s Marist Inanda to a 113-run win over St Benedict’s College when they crossed swords in a 50-over match on the La Valla Oval at St David’s on Saturday.
Roberto Mariano, the St David’s captain, won the toss and elected to bat first. His side responded with an impressive 314/6 in their 50 overs. St Benedict’s struggled to find a foothold in the match and were bowled out for 201 after 48.5 overs.
Seonath hit 22 fours and four sixes in his match-winning 172 from 153 balls. Last weekend, the opener was St David’s highest scorer against Affies, contributing 102 from 133.
He was one half of the home side’s highest partnership, 158 runs for the second wicket, with Jonah Gruskin, who provided the foil to Seonath’s attacking stroke play, scoring a steady 98 from 131 deliveries.
Their partnership took the game beyond St Benedict’s reach. Even though the rest of St David’s batsmen failed to reach double figures, that didn’t matter as the duo had done all the work.
Mariano made up for his single-digit score at the top of the order by performing excellently with the ball, with the St David’s skipper capturing 4/27 in 8.5 overs. Miles Pegg and Christopher Emslie added their support by bagging a brace each, and Kairav Koobair and Maru Challies chipped in with a wicket apiece.
Treasure Dube was the shining light for St Benedict’s with a well-played 72 from 88 balls. Shae Pollard (24*), Matthew Hickman (24), and Tom McArthur (23) made decent contributions, but those couldn’t match the big innings of Sohail Seonath and Jonah Gruskin.
St John’s vs St Alban’s
Jarred Gilmour and Herman Basson shared eight wickets between them to help St John’s College secure a 51-run win over St Alban’s College on Mitchell Field, in Houghton, on Saturday.
The hosts, who won the toss and opted to bat first, put up 214 all out in 48.3 overs. Gilmour and Basson then formed a formidable tag team to help the Blues restrict St Alban’s to 163/9 in reply.
Gilmour delivered St John’s a much-needed breakthrough when he dismissed Rea Makoka (22) in the 14th over. The opener had looked comfortable and was rebuilding the St Alban’s innings with Thomas Hall (39), after Zaid Mohaniarr‘s dismissal earlier.
Maintaining disciplined lines and lengths, the Grade 10 paceman accounted for four of the visitors’ top five batsmen. He finished the match with 4/28 from 10 overs.
Basson then took over and spun his way through the next four wickets, causing a St Alban’s collapse. He returned 4/21 in eight overs. Ethan Robinson, the other wicket-taker for the Blues, claimed 1/20 from seven overs.
Ethan Nel was the best of the St Alban’s batsmen, scoring a patient 41 from 71 balls. Thomas Hall almost matched him, with his 39, but only Rea Mokoka and Kyle Earl (13) also exited single figures.
Earlier in the day, Ethan Robinson led the scoring for St John’s with a brisk 39-ball 43. Captain Nkosana Sibiya added a vital 42 from 44 deliveries, while Darshik Lutchman (38) and Joshua Hall (33) contributed a combined 71 runs.
The St John’s win was the third of three victories by Johannesburg teams over Pretoria sides on Saturday. Jeppe and King Edward VII registered wins over Waterkloof and Pretoria Boys High, respectively.
Summarised Scorecards
St David’s Marist Inanda 314/6 (Sohail Seonath 172, Jonah Gruskin 98; Treasure Dube 3/13, Shae Pollard 1/70). St Benedict’s College 201/10 (Treasure Dube 72, Shae Pollard 24*; Roberto Mariano 4/27, Christopher Emslie 2/22) St David’s won by 113 runs.
St John’s College 214/10 (Ethan Robinson 43, Nkosana Sibiya 42; Christopher von La Chevallerie 3/23, Tristan Naidoo 2/35). St Alban’s College 163/9 (Ethan Nel 48, Thomas Hall 39; Herman Basson 4/21, Jarred Gilmour 4/28). St John’s won by 51 runs.
