Van Biljon and Omar double act powers DHS to victory
A massive 198-run partnership for the third-wicket powered Durban High School (DHS) to a convincing 73-run limited-overs victory over Westville Boys’ High on the Theobald Oval on Saturday.
The visitors’ decision to bowl first brought them two early wickets, but then it backfired badly.
Suliman Jadwat and Aktar Basha were removed before they had reached double figures, which left the home side on 46/2 in the 11th over. Unfortunately, for Westville, they next tasted wicket-taking success 35.4 overs later, and in that time, opening batsman Ismaeel Omar and captain Josh van Biljon advanced the total by almost 200 runs.
It has been a quieter season for Van Biljon than he would have liked. It’s not that he’s been bad. No, not at all. However, given his consistent run scoring for the DHS 1st XI in recent seasons, he would have expected more big scores from himself this season. Yet, he had seldom pushed on in 2026. It left observers wondering when that would happen. The answer was Saturday, in Durban. That was bad news for Westville.
Van Biljon was the aggressor, and Omar his trustworthy lieutenant, as they united to make it an energy-sapping, tough day in the field for the visitors.
When, at last, their stand was broken by Misbah Nair bowling Omar, the opener had notched a century. He faced 137 balls and struck eight fours.
Van Biljon, meanwhile, continued to add to his big innings. By the time that 50 overs had been bowled, he was on 162 not out, and DHS had reached 294/3, which, on the Theobald Oval, is a substantial total and a tough target to chase. He had faced only 132 balls, dispatching 13 of them for fours and another seven for six.
In an effort to dislodge Omar and Van Biljon, Westville used nine bowlers. None was particularly successful. Perhaps, though, their best performer was Lwandle Bulose, who returned 1/20 from four overs.
Westville had a mountain to climb, and their ascent didn’t start well, with opener Aiden Baudach, their most consistent batsman this season, being trapped in front by Taine Havermann for six. Josh Morley removed the very capable Ewan du Toit cheaply, and Seth Edwards ran out Ashton Kidgell for nine, which left the visitors in a spot of bother on 44/3 in the tenth over of their reply.
Tristin Delvin joined the skipper, Kyle McGough, in the middle and they gained a foothold, adding 49 for the fourth wicket before Delvin was LBW to Tristan Quail for 20.
Aarin Rasmussen was in and out quickly, but Jamie Hasselbach and his captain then settled in, partnering for 65 runs before McGough’s strong resistance came to an end when he was bowled by Taine Havermann for 73. He had hit nine fours and a six in his 95-ball stay.
Hasselbach found an able ally in Misbah Nair, and they tacked on another 45 runs before Hasselbach fell to Seth Edwards for a hasty 67 from 52 balls, which included five fours and four sixes. Edwards, though, was just getting started, and he didn’t need long to make a big impact. He claimed another three wickets, and Westville’s innings lasted only 2.4 more overs before they were dismissed for 221.
Edwards rushed DHS to victory with a sparkling spell that brought him 4/13 in 2.5 overs. Taine Havermann’s contribution was 2/47 from eight overs, but those two were the key wickets of Aidan Baudach and Kyle McGough.
Summarised scorecard
Durban High School 294/3 (Josh van Biljon 162*, Ismaeel Omar 101; Lwandle Bulose 1/20); Westville Boys’ High 221/10 (Kyle McGough 73, Jamie Hasselbach 67, Tristin Delvin 20; Seth Edwards 4/13, Taine Havermann 2/47). Durban High School won by 73 runs.
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