Swart and Strydom lead Middies to Finsbury B Section berth

On Saturday, Middies secured their promotion with a 24‑run victory in a low‑scoring thriller against Hoërskool Marais Viljoen in Alberton.

All‑rounders Nijan Swart and Eduan Strydom were at the forefront of their side’s winning performance.

Swart delivered the contest’s pivotal knock in difficult batting conditions, facing 67 deliveries, four of which he hit to the boundary and two of which he dispatched over it, on his way to a match-winning contribution of 52.

Strydom supported him well with a valuable 27 from 48 balls at the top of the order.

In the end, the visitors battled their way to a modest 145 all out.

Marais Viljoen’s first‑change bowler Hendré Cilliers got stuck into the Middelburg batsmen, capturing 3/20 in just five overs.

His impactful spell followed hard work done with the new ball by Ziam Hashim, who claimed three wickets of his own while conceding 44 runs from his nine overs. Daymian Coetzee chipped in with 2/15 from four overs as the home side’s bowlers rose to the challenge.

Trent Shrives then led Marais Viljoen’s reply, opening the innings with 42 runs. He and Jared Mentz, who made 29, provided the hosts with a solid foundation, but Middies’ quick Hendré Nel hamstrung their efforts when he hit his straps, picking up two crucial wickets, on his way to 2/29 from seven overs.

Strydom followed up his good work with the bat by returning 2/36. The decisive spell, however, came from Herman Potgieter. After missing out with the bat, he redeemed himself with a match‑winning 3/25, which included the vital scalp of Shrives.

The well‑oiled Middelburg attack eventually proved too much for the home side, who were bowled out for 121, with the final wicket falling to the first ball of the 32nd over.