Van der Merwe’s ton sets up Potch Volkies’s win at Grey Cricket Festival
AW van der Merwe scored a brilliant century to set Hoër Volkskool Potchefstroom up for a 24-run win over Northwood in their Grey Cricket Festival 50-over match at the Old Grey Sports Club on Saturday.
The toss went Northwood’s way, and the KwaZulu-Natal side chose to bowl first. Potch Volkies responded by putting a sound 226/7 on the board.
The Volkies‘ bowlers then displayed great skill in bowling out Northwood for 202 runs in 46.3 overs.
Van der Merwe struck nine fours and six sixes in his match-winning 109 from 134 balls, which provided the foundational upon which Volkskool innings was built. He was out in the middle while all of Potch Volkies’ 226 runs were scored.
During his stay, Van der Merwe shared the crease with six partners. The most fruitful of those partnerships was a 67-run stand with Schalk Pienaar (18) for the fifth wicket, and a 55-run sixth wicket stand with Juan van Niekerk (13*).
Sihle Duma, with 20 from 43 deliveries, was Volkskool’s second-highest scorer. He and Van der Merwe added 40 for the second wicket.
Zander Nel backed up Van der Merwe’s excellent batting performance with a great showing with the ball. He troubled Northwood’s batsmen throughout and bagged a decisive 5/24 from 9.4 overs, which ensured that the Knights were unable to settle into their run chase.
Captain Jamie Wimble, who batted at six, gave his side a fighting chance with a breezy 70 from 79 balls. Unfortunately, for the Durban school, though, they produced little after his dismissal in the 45th over.
Namibia Invitational vs St Charles Colts XI
Dan Brassell starred with both bat and ball to help the Namibia Invitational XI steamroll the St Charles College Colts XI by a mammoth 216 runs at Nelson Mandela University. The Namibians had everything going their way, from the toss to the last ball.
After they chose to bat first, Michael Muller, batting at four, provided them with stability in the middle order, facing 76 balls for 79 runs, which took the game away from Saints.
Brassell, the number eight batsman, made his way to the crease in the 34th over and quickly went after the St Charles’ bowling attack, accumulating a brisk 69 from 61 balls. He and Muller shared a 55-run seventh-wicket partnership, which Brassell followed with a 51-run eighth wicket stand with Erik Lintvelt.
The all-rounder then made his mark with the ball. In six overs, Brassell captured 3/12 as the St Charles’ batting line-up folded for a mere 29 runs.
The boys from KwaZulu-Natal were never in the game with the bat. Patrick Muruza, who scored 10 runs from 29 balls, was their highest scorer. No one else made it to five.
Other matches
Selborne College, meanwhile, edged out Framesby by two wickets, chasing down the local side’s 154 all out in a game ruled by the bowlers. Miles Feltham‘s 37 for Framesby was the highest score of the contest, while Josh Wilkie‘s 28 led Selborne.
Feltham was also Framesby’s best bowler, picking up 3/35. Avethandwa Manyongwa led Selborne’s attack with 3/37.
In another tight contest, Die Hoërskool Menlopark snatched a three-wicket win over Glenwood High.
Akhiel Sinath‘s 70 and 38 from Mishael Gunawardana powered the Durban school to 195/9, but Johan Bosch, with 5/37, ensured they received little meaningful support.
Bosch and Jovan Hartman, then, saw Menlo to victory with an unbroken partnership. When they crossed the line, on 196/7, Bosch had 40 and Hartman 38.
Summarised Scorecards
Hoër Volkskool Potchefstroom 226/7 (AW van der Merwe 109, Sihle Duma 20; Ryan van Zyl 3/35, Thabiso Mtambo 2/34). Northwood 202/10 (Jamie Wimble 70, David de Bruyn 29; Zander Nel 5/24, Olefa Padi 1/3). Hoër Volkskool Potchefstroom won by 24 runs.
Namibia Invitational 245/8 (Michael Muller 79, Dan Brassell 69; Dresden Coetzee 2/28, Matthew Buckley 2/40). St Charles Colts XI 29/10 (Patrick Muruza 10, Fabian da Rosa 2*; Dan Brassell 3/12, Waldo Smith 2/3). Namibia Invitational won by 216 runs.
Framesby 154/10 (Miles Feltham 37, Durandt Rootman 29; Avethandwa Manyongwa 3/37, Titus Sweetnam 2/18). Selborne College 156/8 (Josh Wilkie 28, Merrick Collins 26; Miles Feltham 3/35, Corné Pieterse 3/55). Selborne College won by two wickets.
Glenwood 195/9 (Akhiel Sinath 70*, Mishael Gunawardana 38; Johan Bosch 5/37, Morné Koekemoer 2/30). Menlopark 196/7 (Jovan Hartman 40*, Johan Bosch 38*; Kreesan Pillai 2/24, Misheal Gunawardana 2/34). Menlopark won by three wickets.
- Jeppe is building towards greatness - 2026-01-27
- Kuijers’ five-wicket haul secures big win for KES - 2026-01-26
- St Anne’s cruises to Brian Baker title - 2026-01-25
