Swanepoel and Van Zyl, Merensky’s nightmare
Hoërskool Pietersburg was the first to bite in a battle between Limpopo’s big dogs on Saturday.
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A man of the match performance by Stephan Swanepoel, who was aided by a superb batting display from captain, Hanno van Zyl, saw the Pieties to a convincing 83-run victory over Merensky Landbou Akademie in Tzaneen.
The pair did the bulk of the hard work with the willow for the visitors, combining well for a massive and much-needed partnership of 140 runs. Merensky was left wondering what might have been if they had held onto their chances early on in the partnership.
Van Zyl was dropped just after his arrival, then went on to play some high-quality strokes, facing 75 balls for a crucial 73 runs. Swanepoel, meanwhile, played the anchor role wonderfully and also notched a half-century. He was eventually the victim of a peach of a delivery from seamer, Topher Elphinstone, for 68.
Swanepoel then led the way with the ball, capturing 5/50 from his 10 overs to cause a severe wobble in the Merensky response. Good support from SJ Stander, who took 2/25, and AJ Galloway, who picked up 2/35, meant the Pieties never looked like losing.
Merensky’s newfound gem, bowling all-rounder Timothy Baker, fought valiantly. The left-arm off-spinner snared 4/52 in 10 and smashed a quick-fire 35 from only 22 deliveries. Rinaldo Borman chipped in with 35 runs, too, while opening batsman Logan Janse van Rensburg knuckled down for a well-played 29.
Hoërskool Ben Vorster’s home field, the Premier Park Oval, hosted a low-scoring thriller. On a weekend in which there was a five-for in the second innings of every match played across the league, it was the Ben Vorster captain Njabulo Maseko who stepped up to the plate and guided guide his side to an important victory over Phalaborwa Boys Hub.
Defending only 102, the home side opted to open with spin from both ends. Maseko worked his magic, spinning a web around the visitors to snap up 5/11 in 9 overs. Fellow spinner, Ndzalama Mushswana, also enjoyed success, claiming three scalps from his end while conceding 44 runs as the Phalaborwa side was rolled over for a meagre 68.
Phalaborwa’s Hlalani Ngomane continued his good form with the ball, leading the visitor’s attack with a sparkling return of 4/11 from four overs, while opening bowler Bradley Rikotso bowled well up front, capturing 4/37.
Hoërskool Piet Potgieter, a dark horse contender for league honours, taught Nkowankowa Boys Hub a proper cricket lesson.
After setting Nkowankowa a target of 228 for victory, thanks to a fine contribution of 85 runs from Muaaz Muhammed and 56 from captain Aeron Vaidyan, his second half-century in succession, it was up to the bowlers to get the job done. They did it in some style.
Opening bowler Ruben Oosthuizen led the way with an innings-destroying spell that he will remember for a long time. He stormed in, sending down six overs during which he knocked over 7/11 to return his best figures of the season thus far.
Vaidyan, meanwhile, capped off a proper captain’s performance by picking up three wickets for only one run as the visitors stumbled to a disappointing 52 all out.
Nkowankowa’s seamer, Allen Shiviri, was the star of the show for his side. While his team was well beaten, Shiviri would have been satisfied with his haul of 6/55.
Summarised scorecards
Hoërskool Pietersburg 256/8 (Hanno van Zyl 73, Stephan Swanepoel 68, Hanru Marais 35, Juan Rademeyer 20*; Timothy Baker 4/52); Merensky 173/10 (Rinaldo Borman 35, Timothy Baker 35, Logan Janse van Rensburg 29, Extras 28, JP Botha 23; Stephan Swanepoel 5/50, SJ Stander 2/25, AJ Galloway 2/35). Hoërskool Pieterburg won by 83 runs.
Ben Vorster 102/10 (Amaris Nortjé 28; Hlulani Ngomane 4/11, Bredley Rokotso 4/37); Phalaborwa Boys Hub 68/10 (Rivoningo Chauke 21; Njabulo Maseko 5/11, Ndzalama Mushwana 3/44). Ben Vorster won by 34 runs.
Hoërskool Piet Potgieter 227/10 (Muaaz Muhammed 85, Aeron Vaidyan 56, Du Preez Coetzee 28, Extras 28, Jaque Fourie 21; Allen Shiviri 6/55); Nkowankowa Boys Hub 52/10 (Extras 14, Nhlalala Malangana 13; Ruben Oosthuizen 7/11, Aeron Vaidyan 3/1). Hoërskool Piet Potgieter won by 175 runs.
