St John’s wins at Grey College, St Andrew’s School trumps KES
Malan du Plessis carved a fluent half-century that created the foundation for St John’s College’s 28-run win over Grey College at Grey College on Sunday, while FG Botha’s half-century powered St Andrew’s School to a 77-run victory over King Edward VII School (KES).
St John’s victory was their first over Grey in seven years. It also marked a successful tour of Bloemfontein for the Johannesburg side, who also defeated St Andrew’s on Saturday.
Du Plessis crunched six fours and four sixes for his 68 off 51 to help St John’s make 240 all out in 39.4 overs in their one-day match against Grey College. Later in the day, he bagged a brace of wickets as St John’s dismissed the home side for 212 in 39.3 overs.
St John’s won the toss and elected to bat first but ran into choppy waters almost immediately, losing two early wickets, with Herman Basson and Nkosana Sibiya back in the visitor’s dugout by the close of the sixth over.
Darshik Lutchman (33) offered some resistance, but it wasn’t until Du Plessis and Aiden Barberrini batted together that St John’s seized control. Barberrini anchored their 98-run sixth-wicket partnership while Du Plessis played his shots.
Otto Krause and Edrich Hannekom bagged three wickets each for Grey as they strived to keep the visitors’ total within reach. Krause finished with three for 51 from seven overs, while Hanekom returned a very tidy three wickets for 17 runs in eight overs.
The hosts made a good start to their run chase with a 52-run opening stand between Christian Kind (29) and Pieter Smit. After Kind’s dismissal, Smit shared the crease with four other batsmen, but he found himself fighting a lone battle against the St John’s bowling attack. He almost made it to triple figures, cracking 12 fours and a single six for his outstanding 98 from 97 balls.
However, his effort was in vain, and the St John’s attack did the trick. Ethan Robinson was their most successful bowler, claiming three wickets for 37 runs in eight overs, while Du Plessis bagged two wickets for 30 runs in eight overs.
The other Johannesburg side touring Bloemfontein, KES, was not as successful. They failed to follow up their big victory over Grey College on Saturday with another over St Andrew’s School.
FG Botha’s 84 helped St Andrew’s post a total of 214 all out in 45.1 overs. Then, in a display of brilliance with the ball, he snared four wickets for 32 runs as Saints bowled KES out for only 137 in 32.2 overs. With a dazzling performance, the all-rounder showed why he was named the Player of the Week at Cricket South Africa’s National u16 Week.
The hosts won the toss, elected to bat first, and put their best foot forward, with Naudé Botha and Andrew Sobiech stitching together a 62-run opening partnership that provided the innings with a solid foundation. However, after the pair’s dismissals, the hosts struggled to build partnerships.
It wasn’t until Reuben van Aarde joined FG Botha in the middle that they got it right. Botha had arrived at the crease in the 12th over, after his namesake Naudé Botha’s dismissal. His combination with his first two partners didn’t produce much, but he and Van Aarde then shared a telling 51-run fourth-wicket stand.
Christian Sabela and Luke Clark bowled superbly and finished with four wickets each. Clark led the way with four wickets for 27 runs in seven overs and Sabela captured four wickets for 34 runs in 9.1 overs. However, FG Botha’s four-wicket haul for St Andrew’s was an effective counter to their efforts. He got rid of Matthew Bromley, Eric Southey, Wade McQuinn, and Matthew Burgess to help St Andrew’s take control.
Opening batsman Tiago Dias stood tall for KES, scoring a patient 63 off 93 deliveries. However, his effort lacked support from the rest of the KES batting lineup. Only Matthew Bromley passed the 20-run mark, with a breezy 22 off 30 balls. The rest simply failed to get their eye in.
Scorecards
St John’s 240/10 (Malan du Plessis 68, Aiden Barberrini 48, Henru de Wet 3/17, Otto Krause 3/51). Grey College 212/10 (Pieter Smit 98, Christian Kind 29, Ethan Robinson 3/37, Malan du Plessis 2/30). St John’s won by 28 runs.
St Andrew’s School 214/10 (FG Botha 84, Andrew Sobiech 44, Naudé Botha 22, Luke Clark 4/27, Christian Sabela 4/34). KES 137/10 (Tiago Dias 63, Matthew Bromley 22, FG Botha 4/32, Grove du Preez 2/1). St Andrew’s won by 77 runs.
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