Venter and Van Zyl power Garsfontein to Fain Noordvaal title
Hoërskool Garsfontein captain, Xander Venter, and star batsman, Reuben van Zyl, bid Garsies‘ cricket farewell in the best possible manner by leading their side to the Fain Noordvaal title on Saturday.
Venter spearheaded the bowling attack and Van Zyl the batting effort of their team in the Ysbere‘s dominant nine-wicket victory over Hoërskool Dr Malan in the final of the competition on St Alban’s College‘s TC Mitchell Oval.
The victory ended an eight-year trophy drought for Garsfontein’s 1st XI side in the competition. They had last won it in 2018 when they beat Hoërskool Waterkloof in the title game in in Potchefstroom.
Garsies succeed Hoërskool Hans Moore as the champions of the prestigious competition.
When Saturday’s toss went Venter’s way, he elected to bowl first. It soon became apparent why, with the skipper inflicting the bulk of the damage done to the Dr Malan batting effort.
He was fired up, eager to play a major part in his final match for the Garsfontein 1st XI. He was also miserly, conceding only 17 runs from his 10 overs, and he did that while capturing four wickets to place Dokkies under severe pressure.
After 13.3 overs, the Meyerton side was wobbling on 44/4. They were in a hole, and they struggled to climb out of it, with Jared Carr knocking over 2/34 to lend his skipper crucial support.
Heindrich Jansen van Rensburg, with a fighting knock of 47, lifted Dr Malan’s spirits, while Adriaan Greyling weighed in with a battling 31 not out from 56 deliveries, which helped Dokkies to 154 all out, a total which, they hoped, would be enough to defend.
Van Zyl soon dispelled those thoughts, however. He opened the Garsies’ innings and got the Pretoria school off to a flyer. Racing along, he struck 12 fours and a six in a 58-ball stay that produced a decisive 85 runs.
Eventually, he lost his wicket, but that proved to be the only success for Dr Malan. It was Van Zyl’s third consecutive half-century, following similar successes in the quarter- and semi-finals.
When he departed, the hard work had already been done, with Van Zyl and his opening partner, Wikus du Preez sharing a 119-run stand for the first wicket. Although Du Preez played second fiddle, he played it superbly, feeding Van Zyl the strike, which allowed him to go after the Dokkies’ bowlers.
When the contest finished in the 22nd over, with Garsfontein winning by nine wickets, Du Preez was on 51 not out.
Fain Noordvaal u15 Final
The future looks bright for Potchefstroom Gimnasium, who were crowned the u15 champions after comfortably winning a low-scoring final against Hoërskool Kempton Park. It was the first time in four years that a team other than Garsfontein had lifted the title.
Batting first, Gimmies mustered only 134 all out, but they limited Kempies to just 92 all out in reply, winning by 42 runs.
Their winning total owed much to Heinru and Wico Cato, whose knocks of 42 and 24 respectively, gave their side sufficient runs to defend. Heinru’s innings was a testament to his patience. Batting was not easy on Murray Oval, at St Alban’s, but he battled away for 108 balls. Wico, meanwhile, spent 52 balls in the middle.
Zian Ferero was the pick of the Kempton Park bowlers. He enjoyed the conditions and returned a tidy 3/20. Wico le Grange, with 2/11, and Hugo Wilbers, with 2/17, backed him up well.
Unfortunately for Kempies, Dian de Bruyn also took to the conditions with relish. In just 4.3 overs, he produced a match-winning spell of 4/14.
Tristan Brits offered a defiant 29 runs, but his departure was followed by a stunning batting collapse. Pieter Scholtz took 3/28 and Juvan Botes played his part with 2/15 to help De Bruyn to dismiss Kempton Park eight runs shy of 100.
It was a spectacular fall for Kempies, who lost their last seven wickets for only nine runs.
Summarised scorecards
Dr Malan 154 (Heindrich Jansen van Rensburg 47, Adriaan Greyling 31*; Xander Venter 4/17, Jared Carr 2/34); Garsfontein 155/1 (Reuben van Zyl 85, Wikus du Preez 51*; Heindrich Jansen van Rensburg 1/37). Garsfontein won by nine wickets.
u15 Final
Potchefstroom Gimnasium 134 (Heinru Cato 42, Wico Cato 24; Zian Ferero 3/20, Wico le Grange 2/11, Hugo Wilbers 2/17); Hoërskool Kempton Park 92 (Tristan Brits 29; Dian de Bruyn 4/14, Pieter Scholtz 3/28, Juvan Botes 2/15). Potchefstroom Gimnasium won by 42 runs.
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