Taljaard and Roolvink blaze the path for Noordheuwel in Schools SA20 tie
Dian Taljaard and Wander Roolvink scythed sensational half-centuries to build a rock-solid platform for Noordheuwel in a 139-run Switch Schools SA20 Volume Two victory over Queens High School on Noordheuwel’s Main Oval on Friday.
Taljaard assessed the conditions and opted to bat first before mowing down the Queens’ bowling attack as the hosts rumbled their way to 217/2.
Nories then unleashed their bowling attack, which ran through the Queens’ batting and bundled them out for only 78 runs in 18.5 overs.
Taljaard tonked 11 fours and six sixes as he rocketed to 95 from just 47 deliveries and shared a dominant 134-run opening stand with Roolvink, who also went hard at the visitors.
Roolvink struck five fours and three sixes for an unbeaten 50-ball 72 and kept Noordheuwel rolling after Taljaard’s dismissal. He also shared a 66-run second-wicket partnership with Reney van der Berg, who made a brisk 29 off 19 deliveries.
Then, when Noordheuwel took to the field. JD Bezuidenhout and JJ Basson made life uncomfortable for the Queens’ top order and were rewarded with three wickets in the powerplay. That start set the tone for the rest of the innings as Queens was kept off balance.
Heinrich Smith starred for Nories with a return of 3/11 from three overs, while Tristan Helmand and Bezuidenhout bagged a brace each. Helmand finished with 2/10 in 2.5 overs, while Bezuidenhout picked up 2/25 in three.
Queens would have recorded a much lower total had the hosts been better disciplined with their lines. Twenty-eight extras were the largest contributor to the Queens’ total. None of their batsmen made it to 20.
Nkateko Maluleka top-scored with a laboured 18 from 22 balls, while Bafana Mthunzi, with 12, was the only other player to reach double figures.
Summarised Scorecard
Noordheuwel 217/2 (Dian Taljaard 95, Wander Roolvink 72; Thami Lethebele 1/21, Nkateko Maluleka 1/31). Queens High 78/10 (Nkateko Maluleka 18, Bafana Mthunzi 12; Heinrich Smith 3/11, Tristan Helmund 2/10, JD Bezuidenhout 2/25). Noordheuwel won by 139.
