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Thabatha bags five as only two teams remain unbeaten in Potchefstroom

By Franco Oberholzer , in Cricket | Featured Cricket | News , at 2025-01-17 Tags: , , , , , ,

Photo: Potchefstroom Gimnasium on Facebook.

Friday afternoon’s matches in the regional final of the Schools SA20 tournament in Potchefstroom – featuring the top teams from the North West, Northern Cape, and Free State -, demonstrated the unpredictability of T20 cricket, especially at the schoolboy level.

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Potchefstroom Gimnasium remained one of only two unbeaten teams after toppling St Andrew’s School on the Puk Oval.

The boys from Bloemfontein couldn’t quite replicate what they did in the morning against Hoërskool Rustenburg and came up 19 runs short against the locals. The Gimmies‘ victory was led by an exceptional bowling performance from Thloni Thabatha.

Saints were well on track to record a second win, batting at nearly 10 runs an over, before Thabatha intervened. The seamer dismantled coach AJ van Wyk‘s side in just three overs. In that decisive spell, he captured five wickets while conceding only 11 runs.

Earlier, Ulrich Botha (55) and Jahndré Coetzee (54*) had batted superbly and combined for a vital 81-run partnership, which ultimately laid the foundation for Potchefstroom Gimnasium’s victory.

Saints’ Naudé Botha (37) and Jonathan Hickly (26*) fought valiantly, but their efforts were ultimately in vain.

Hoërskool Rustenburg suffered a second loss, going down by four wickets to a spirited Kalahari side on the University of Potchefstroom’s Ibbies Oval.

The off-spin of Janko Noeth proved integral to his sides’ success as he snared 4/17. Leander Smith (3/11) and Liam Laing (2/14), once again, provided good support as Rusties were restricted to only 101/9 from their 20 overs.

Hendré Robinson was Rustenburg’s mainstay with the bat, scoring a valuable 46 runs. Unfortunately, Tristan van der Linde (25) was the only other Rustenburg batsman to make a noteworthy contribution.

Kalahari’s SW van Heerden, as he had done in the recent Kovsie Smash tournament, came to his side’s rescue with an unbeaten 38 runs to seal a four-wicket win.

Grey College stayed in the ranks of the unbeaten sides, alongside Potchefstroom Gimnasium, after racing to a nine-wicket win over Hoërskool Upington at Potchefstroom Gimnasium’s Witrand Oval.

Off-spinner Lamla Mgezi‘s three wickets for only nine runs, supported by Edrich Hanekom‘s 2/7 kept the Uppies under pressure and they mustered only 54/7 from their 20 overs.

Opening batsman, Christian Kind, made light work of the run chase, smashing 22 not out as the Grey boys charged past the victory target in a flash for the second time on Thursday, thus firmly establishing themselves as one of the favourites.

Summarised scorecards

Potchefstroom Gimnasium 126/4 (Ulrich Botha 55, Jahndré Coetzee 54*; Andrew Sobiech 2/25); St Andrew’s School 107/10 (Naudé Botha 37, Jonathan Hickley 26*; Thloni Thabatha 5/11). Potchefstroom Gimnasium won by 19 runs.

Hoërskool Rustenburg 101/9 (Hendré Robinson 46, Tristan van der Linde 25; Janko Noeth 4/17, Leander Smit 3/11, Liam Laing 2/14); Kalahari 103/6 (SW van Heerden 38*; Henlo van Rooyen 2/18, Thian Labuschagne 2/20). Kalahari won by four wickets.

Hoërskool Upington 54/7 (Extras 17, Wian Pienaar 12; Lamla Mgezi 3/9, Edrich Hanekom 2/7); Grey College 55/1 (Christian Kind 22*, Pieter Smit 20; Kriel du Plessis 1/11). Grey College won by nine wickets.

Franco Oberholzer
error: Sorry ol' chap, those shenanigans are not permissible.