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Unbeaten Grey College into Schools SA20 semis in Potchefstroom

By Franco Oberholzer , in Cricket | Featured Cricket | News , at 2025-01-18 Tags: , , , , , ,

Photo: Grey College on Facebook.

Grey College heads into the semi-finals as the only unbeaten side at the Schools SA20 regional playoffs in Potchefstroom after another emphatic victory on Saturday morning.

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The Bloemfontein boys were made to work hard by the only other unbeaten team at that stage, Potchefstroom Gimnasium.

The Gimmies, having batted first on the JB Marks Oval posted a solid 143/5 in their 20 overs. Lukas Kotze (47) deserved a half-century but fell just three runs short, while the consistently impressive Ulrich Botha (44) also made a telling contribution.

Botha was the local side’s mainstay with the ball, too, heaping pressure on Grey by capturing three wickets for 26 runs.

The limelight, however, belonged to Grey’s star opening batsman, Christian Kind, and the all-rounder Daniel Hattingh. Kind made 53 at the top of the order, while Hattingh top-scored with 56 runs.

Their 81-run partnership bolstered Grey’s reply, which enabled the Bloemfontein school to maintain its winning streak. They will head into the playoffs as the favourites to go all the way.

St Andrew’s School, the Free State Schools SA20 champion, also, secured a semi-final spot after charging to a big 72-run victory over Kalahari at Potchefstroom Gimnasium’s Witrand Oval. The side from Kuruman mustered a disappointing 92 all out while chasing 165 for victory, with Janko Noeth providing nearly half their runs with a well-played 42.

Naudé Botha‘s batting prowess, however, stole the show. The 67 from his blade paved the way for Saints. Botha’s fellow opener, Andrew Sobiech, also chipped in with 37 of his own, while the spinners, FG Botha (3/12) and Nikhil Sukraj (3/20), inflicted irreversible damage with the ball.

In the upset of the weekend, Hoërskool Upington toppled Hoërskool Rustenburg by 16 runs on the Puk Oval. That defeat meant Rusties finished the event without a victory in Potchefstroom, which was where they won the North West Schools SA20 in September 2024.

After Upington posted only a moderate 121/8 in their 20 overs, their bowlers knew it was up to them to secure victory, and they delivered.

The Uppies‘ Vaylen Lombaard claimed two scalps for only nine runs and Likumi Aide played his part with two wickets, too. In the end, Rustenburg made just 105 all out.

Summarised scorecards

Potchefstroom Gimnasium 143/5 (Lukas Kotze 47, Ulrich Botha 44, Ruhann Steenkamp 24; Edrich Hanekom 2/32); Grey College 144/7 (Daniel Hattingh 56, Christian Kind 53; Ulrich Botha 3/26, Adriaan van Niekerk 2/26). Grey College won by three wickets.

St Andrew’s School 164/5 (Naudé Botha 67, Andrew Sobiech 37, Reuben van Aarde 21; Janko Noeth 2/28); Kalahari 92/10 (Janko Noeth 42; FG Botha 3/12, Nikhil Sukraj 3/20, Erhard Barends 2/16). St Andrew’s School won by 72 runs.

Hoërskool Upington 121/8 (Roux Erasmus 28, CJ Botha 26; Waide Davey 2/15, Henlo van Rooyen 2/13); Hoërskool Rustenburg 105/10 (Waide Davey 18*; Vaylen Lombaard 2/9, Likumi Aide 2/19). Hoerskool Upington won by 16 runs.

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