Sunker shines for St Stithians takes control, while Bassick puts Bishops ahead with a patient 50
Cayden Sunker tore down the Nelspruit 1st XI bowling attack on his way to an unbeaten 99 that ensured that St Stithians 1st XI carried a 290-run lead into day two of their Fasken Time Cricket Festival match. The Johannesburg side was ruthless with both bat and ball as they dominated the action on Saturday.
Elsewhere, Waco Bassick’s evenly paced half-century helped Bishops 1st XI establish a healthy lead at the end of day one of their contest against St Davids Marist 1st XI. The Cape Town side carries a 69-run lead into day two.
Sunker’s 99 off 112 balls as he helped St Stithians romp to a first innings total of 372/7 in reply to Nelspruit’s first innings score of 63/10. The number seven batter is often a dependable bowler for Saints, always taking vital wickets. However, on day one of their tie against Nelspruit, he let his bat make a case for his all-round abilities.
Sunker shared an outstanding 106-run sixth-wicket partnership with Aiden van der Westhuizen that took the game beyond Nelspruit’s reach. Van der Westhuizen was in scintillating form as he clubbed four fours and nine sixes on his way to 88 off 65. When he arrived at the crease, Saints had a slender lead of 43 over Nelspruit.
The lead was in large part thanks to the 74-run opening stand between Rushil Bhulla (46) and Liam Mudenda (41). Nicholas Bayly (5) and Tahseen Hanslo (10), who came in the wake of Bhulla and Mudenda’s dismissals failed to get going.
Ombesa Matsha (39) and Tendai Kadyamadare (23*) made decent lower-order contributions.
St Stithians’ outstanding batting performance came on the back of a brilliant bowling display that saw their attack bundle Nelspruit’s batters for a mere 63 runs. None of their bowlers conceded at an economy over four runs an over. Their most expensive bowler just happened to be their most successful. Kadyamadare bagged three wickets for 13 runs in four overs.
Akhil Challa took two wickets for eight runs in three overs, while Sunker, Bhulla, Oliver Wilson, Tajendra Naidu and Thomas Collins claimed a single wicket each.
Vaughn van Zyl (22) and Janco Breyl (29) were the only Nelspruit batters to reach double figures.
Just before the close of day, Nelspruit walked out to begin their second innings. And before they could get into gear, Sunker struck to leave them on 19/1. Nathan Duncan (9) and Jayden Meyer (10) were at the crease.
In the other match, Bishops found themselves in trouble in the fifth over, when they lost the wicket of Camron Mcbeth. The opener was still trying to get his eye in when he was sent packing by Christopher Emslie. His erstwhile partner, Harry Morgan steadied the ship with a well-played 47 off 34.
The star of Bishops’ innings was Bassick, with whom Morgan shared a 42-run second-wicket partnership. Bassick scored a patient 62 off 122 to set his side on course to a first innings total of 289/9.
Mogamat Raa’ld Arendse (23) and Alex Vintcent (26) had starts, while Thaafier Japhta scored an unbeaten 40 off 54.
Samrat Basu led the St Davids bowling attack with three wickets for 69 runs in 19 overs and Jason Rowles pitched in with two wickets for 12 runs in six overs.
When speaking to Supersport Schools Plus, the South Africa Emerging U19 side coach Malibongwe Maketa mentioned that the selectors were placing an emphasis on players with serviceable secondary skills. Rowles’ secondary skill is his bowling. He is a batter by trade, and he showed up with the bat during the St Davids innings. He scored a run-a-ball 68 during his 113-run opening stand with Armaan Manack.
Basu came in and constructed a 47-run second-wicket partnership with Manack before the wheels came off for St Davids, who stumbled their way to 210 for six.
Michael Kruiskamp led the Bishops bowling attack with two wickets for 47 runs in nine overs. Bassick, Luke de Klerk, Benjamin Koenig and Julian Pilkington took a wicket each.
At the close of day one, Bishops was on 21/0. They had Morgan (19*) and Mcbeth (0) at the crease.
Summarised scorecards:
St Stithians vs Nelspruit
Nelspruit first innings: 63/10 (Vaughn Van Zyl 22, Janco Breyl 29 ; Tendai Kadyamadare 3/13, Akhil Challa 2/8, Tajendra Naidu 1/3, Thomas Collins 1/0)
St Stithians first innings: 372/7 (Cayden Sunker 99, Aiden Van Der Westhuizen 88, Rushil Bhulla 46, Liam Mudenda 41; Gherdu Van Eeden 2/52, Duan Smal 2/93, Rico Nel 2/52)
Nelspruit second innings: 19/1 (Nathan Duncan 9*, Jayden Meyer 10*; Cayden Sunker 1/6)
Bishops vs St Davids
Bishops first innings: 258/9 (Harry Morgan 47, Waco Bassick 62, Thaafier Japhta 40; Samrat Basu 3/69, Jason Rowles 2/12, Ethan Greenstein 1/10).
St Davids first innings: 210/6 (Jason Rowles 68, Armaan Manack 60, Samrat Basu 39; Michael Kruiskamp 2/47, Luke De Klerk 1/26, Benjamin Koenig 1/11)
Bishops second innings: 21/0 (Harry Morgan 19, Cameron Mcbeth 0; Kyle Butler 0/16, Christopher Emslie 0/5)
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