Undefeated Eldoraigne crowned new champions of Kovsie Smash
Hoërskool Eldoraigne was crowned the new Kovsie Smash champion after completing a superb five-day campaign with an unbeaten record in the T20 competition following a commanding victory in Friday morning’s final.
The Eldos faced what appeared to be their sternest test of the tournament when they took on their fellow unbeatens, Hoërskool Transvalia, in the title contest at the Fichardtpark Oval.
The Centurion outfit passed the challenge emphatically, cruising to a nine-wicket win with a huge 9.4 overs to spare.
Captain Rowan McLaren once again led from the front, rocking Valia early by capturing 3/4 from his four overs.
McLaren’s damaging spell opened the door for Heinrich Klue, who claimed 2/7, to take his tally for the tournament to 13 wickets. Leg-spinner Ruan Boshoff also enjoyed success, taking two wickets as Transvalia, under relentless pressure, mustered only 90 all out.
A last-wicket stand of 38 between top scorer Ashton Cachia (31*) and Eduann Raubenheimer (10) was the lone highlight for the Vanderbijlpark school.
Needing 91 to win, and with their batsmen, especially Benyael Morkel and Vince Lotz, in rich form, Eldoraigne chased down the victory target with ease.
Morkel finished unbeaten on 33 to end the tournament with an outstanding 282 runs, while Lotz raised his bat for another half-century, finishing on 50 not out exactly, to take his aggregate to 216 runs across the five days.
In the third-place playoff, Hoërskool Kalahari returned to winning ways with a clinical eight-wicket victory over the hosts, Hoërskool Fichardtpark.
Carl Thole anchored a successful run chase with an unbeaten 45 in pursuit of 131. Earlier, Janko Noeth had knocked over 3/21 to impair Fichies‘ batting effort.
In an all-Pretoria clash for fifth place, Hoërskool Overvaal edged out Oos-Moot by three wickets in a thrilling finish.
Zander Oliver laid the platform for victory, returning a superb 3/13 with the ball. Then, Ethan Kruger‘s 40 and a composed unbeaten 35 from Cameron van der Westhuizen sealed the win off the final ball of the match.
In a Bethlehem derby, Witteberg handed Voortrekker a six-wicket defeat. The tournament’s leading wicket-taker, Xander Fourie, claimed 2/32, while Dumisani Johnson played his part by nabbing 2/30.
Fourie‘s strong influence continued with the bat. He struck a match-winning 69 not out and was lent strong support by Pieter Wessels, who contributed an unbeaten 36.
For a second day in succession, Christiaan Schoeman, of Hoërskool Driehoek, was a thorn in the side of Hoërskool Duineveld.
On Thursday, he scored a masterful 80 against the Upington side. On Friday, he bettered that, finishing with an unbeaten 90, the highest individual score of the day. That big innings lifted his aggregate to 364 runs, which made him the tournament’s leading run scorer.
With Schoeman to the fore, Driehoek completed a double over Duineveld, rolling to a convincing 73-run victory to close out their campaign.
Summarised scorecards
Final
Transvalia 90/10 (Ashton Cachia 31*; Rowan McLaren 3/4, Heinrich Klue 2/7, Ruan Boshoff 2/13); Eldoraigne 91/1 (Vince Lotz 50*, Benyael Morkel 33*; Declan Steinmann 1/35). Eldoraigne won by nine wickets.
Third place playoff
Fichardtpark 130/9 (Juan 30, Davyd Oosthuizen 27, Jayden Geldenhuys 27; Janko Noeth 3/21, Kabelo Pitsoyagkosi 2/23, Wilrigh Moster 2/23); Kalahari 131/2 (Carl Thole 45*, Louhan Noeth 35, Liam Laing 20*; Dillan Geringer 1/31). Kalahari won by eight wickets.
Other results
Oos-Moot 119/7 (Elmar Theron 34*, Ian Labuschagne 20*; Zander Olivier 3/13, Cameron van der Westhuizen 2/24); Overvaal 121/7 (Ethan Kruger 40, Cameron van der Westhuizen 25*; Henco Erasmus 2/14, Marnus Broodryk 2/28). Overvaal won by three wickets.
Potchefstroom Volkskool Stayers 188/2 (Nolan Roets 75*, Jacques Oosthuizen 70, Damian Pretorius 25*; Hennie Schoeman 2/40); Hoërskool Pietersburg 166/8 (Stephan Swanepoel 59, Alez Thomson 23; Pierre Joubert 2/31). Potchefstroom Volkskool Stayers won by 22 runs.
Trio 87/10 (Robbie van der Vyver 28; Henco Roets 4/12, Dean Harris 3/17); Hoërskool Sasolburg 90/3 (Liam Singleton 29*, Henco Toets 21*; WJ van Niekerk 2/10). Hoërskool Sasolburg won by seven wickets.
Voortrekker 167/6 (Vlag Janse van Rensburg 50*, Jayden Strydom 44, Thato Nthebere 30; Dumisani Johnson 2/30, Xander Fourie 2/32); Witteberg 168/4 (Xander Fourie 69*, Pieter Wessels 36*, WJ Geldenhuis 21; Janno Olivier 2/32). Witteberg won by six wickets.
Sentraal 119/10 (Damian Smith 38, Daniel Pienaar 25; Johan van Dyk 3/27, Cobus Wilken 2/12); Jim Fouché 120/2 (Jordan Vorster 64, Niel Wilken 29; Ruardt Kleynhans 1/23). Jim Fouché won by eight wickets.
Goudveld 125/5 (Jenadré Ferreira 49, Edrich du Plessis 22; Reinhardt Cronje 1/6); Hoërskool Lichtenburg 123/9 (Dovhan Wiese 31; Delan van Zyl 4/22, Edrich du Plessis 2/18). Goudveld won by two runs.
Driehoek 171/5 (Christiaan Schoeman 90*, Janco Smit 35; Marnus Myhburg 2/18); Duineveld 98 (Wilmar Myburgh 38; Durandt Lubbe 4/12, Jaden Heckler 2/13, Divan Dreyer 2/26). Driehoek won by 73 runs.
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