Waterkloof’s openers see them through to Fain Noordvaal quarter-finals
There are many good reasons why Hoërskool Waterkloof is the defending champion of the Fain Noordvaal competition.
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The Klofies showed that they will be hard to stop in their title defence after comprehensively beating Hoërskool Wesvalia by eight wickets in Pretoria on Saturday.
The Klofie victory was set up by a disciplined and ruthless display by their bowlers, led by captain Marcus Bakker, once again. He bowled with great control and sublime variations to snare three wickets while conceding only 30 runs from his 10 overs.
It was, however, the opening bowler Ruan Ferreira, who kickstarted the onslaught, picking up his two wickets within the first six overs of Wesvalia’s innings. Jaydon Blom enjoyed his day out, too, sending down seven overs and claiming 2/28 from a solid spell that contained 30 dot balls.
Marneau Dreyer kept a level head amid the chaos around him. The experienced Wesvalia top-order batsman made a classy 37 runs. Quewen Fourie (29) and Dundré Hales (27) each produced valuable contributions to get the Wessies past the 150-run mark, which made it appear as if they might have something to bowl at. Unfortunately for the side from Klerksdorp, Wian Ruthven was in one of his destructive moods. The Waterkloof opener wasted no time setting his side on course for a comfortable victory.
In just 62 balls, he blasted eight sixes and seven fours before falling only one run short of what would’ve been a well-deserved century. His opening partner, Divan Behrens did what he does best, knocking the ball around and rotating the strike, to make 48 runs in the pair’s match-winning 149-run partnership.
The Wessies might have felt after the game that they should’ve brought Regardt van Deventer on to bowl a little bit sooner as he was the one who removed both Ruthven and Behrens. He boasted excellent figures of 2/6, but his success came too late for Wesvalia and the home side cruised to victory in the 21st over.
Hoërskool Marais Viljoen‘s Jordan Baijnath and Aldré Huyzers appear determined to lead their school to the final again this year. The pair batted extremely well in the Alberton school’s 48-run victory over Hoërskool Rustenburg in Rustenburg. Baijnath led the way, expertly pacing his innings while smashing six fours and two sixes in his 87 runs.
Huyzers followed suit, cracking 10 boundaries in his innings of 81 from 100 deliveries. Nathan Coleske’s quickfire 28 gave Marais Viljoen a further boost, which helped lift them to a very respectable 271/9 from their 50 overs.
It was no surprise that the talented youngster, Callie Fryer, led the Rusties with the ball. He did most of his damage up front, claiming three wickets in seven overs, including the prized scalp of Baijnath. Marnus de Wit (2/62) and Zandré Diederiks (2/31) provided good support by each claiming two scalps.
The home side made Marias Viljoen work hard for their wickets in the opening 10 overs, but it was again Baijnath who caused problems for Rustenburg. He followed up his fine innings with a penetrative bowling performance, snapping up 3/38.
Abdullah Tadwala was even more impressive, spinning a web around the home side to snare 3/26 in 10, while AJ van Niekerk (2/5) and Tiaan Kühn (2/48), each contributed two wickets.
Rusties’ Tristan van der Linde was the shining light for the hosts with the willow. Occupying the crease and grafting hard, he earned himself a well-deserved 58. Wessel Oosthuizen supported him well, with 35 coming from his blade, but the visitors were just too good, with the last Rustenburg wicket falling with the score on 222.
Hoërskool Kempton Park might be a dark horse to make the final. The side from the East Rand fired some serious warning shots in a rampaging 10-wicket win over Heidelberg Volkskool. Warren Pretorius (5/20) and Marko van Voort (3/22) shared eight wickets between them as Volkies were held to only 113 all out.
Floors Mynhardt, then, wasted no time setting up a successful run chase, blasting a blistering 72 from only 35 deliveries, which included nine fours and four sixes. Wian Pieters played his part, finishing with an unbeaten 25, to guide the Kempies to a one-sided victory.
Summarised scorecards
Wesvalia 159/10 (Marneau Dreyer 37, Quewen Fourie 29, Dundré Hales 27; Marcus Bakker 3/30, Ruan Feirreira 2/23, Jaydon Blom 2/28); Waterkloof 162/2 (Wian Ruthven 99, Divan Behrens 48; Regartd van Deventer 2/6). Waterkloof won by eight wickets.
Marais Viljoen 271/9 (Jordan Baijnath 87, Aldré Huyzers 81, Nathan Coleske 28, Tiaan Kühn 21; Callie Fryer 3/41, Zandré Diedericks 2/31, Marnus de Wit 2/62); Hoërskool Rustenburg 222/10 (Tristan van der Linde 58, Wessel Oosthuizen 35, Callie Fryer 22, Christivan Coetzer 21, Tiaan Labuschagne 20; Abdullah Tadwala 3/26, Jordan Baijnath 3/38, AJ van Niekerk 2/5, Tiaan Kühn 2/48). Marais Viljoen won by 48 runs.
Heidelberg Volkskool 113 (Marco Botha 24, Matthew Wentzel 21; Warren Pretorius 5/20, Marko van Voort 3/22); Hoërskool Kempton Park 114/0 (Floors Mynhardt 72*, Wian Pieters 25*). Hoërskool Kempton Park won by 10 wickets.
