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Waterkloof’s Riley Miller steals the Clifton T20 spotlight

By Brad Morgan , in Cricket | Featured Cricket | News , at 2025-02-15 Tags: , , , , , ,

Waterkloof captain Riley Miller smashed an astonishing third century of the season in his side's big win over Glenwood. Photo: Brad Morgan.
Waterkloof captain Riley Miller smashed an astonishing third century of the season in his side’s big win over Glenwood. Photo: Brad Morgan.

Rain allowed only three matches to be played in the Clifton T20 Tournament on Saturday, but, boy, were there fireworks!

Hoërskool Waterkloof vs Glenwood High School

Waterkloof, with captain Riley Miller leading the way, launched an astonishing attack on Glenwood‘s bowlers on the Crusaders 2 field, blasting 290/4 in only 18 overs.

That’s a jaw-dropping run rate of 16.04 per over.

Before Miller made it to the crease, though, Rico van der Walt and AJ de Villiers, laid into the Green Machine‘s bowlers, rocketing their way to a 99-run partnership for the first wicket. It ended when Van der Walt was caught by Prince Shezi off the bowling of Elgenio Oerson for 45 from only 18 balls, which included four fours and four sixes.

While Glenwood might have expected some respite after his departure, the arrival of Miller opened the floodgates.

Catch the action LIVE on DStv Channel 216 or follow it on SuperSport Schools

The Waterkloof skipper spent 40 balls at the crease. More than a third of those, 14, he dispatched for six. Another six deliveries went for four. Batting at over three runs a ball, he rocketed to a breath-taking 123 not out.

Juan Swart added a marvellous cameo. In just 11 balls, the grade 9 learner contributed 35 runs, smashing four sixes and two fours as he and Miller enjoyed a 109-run stand for the fourth wicket.

Glenwood’s bowling figures made for miserable reading. Mishaela Gunawardana was the pick of their bowlers, picking up 2/43. At 10.8 runs per over, he was comfortably the least expensive of the eight bowlers employed by the Durban side.

To their credit, Glenwood went hard at Waterkloof from the start of their innings, even though their chance of victory appeared all but impossible.

Kressan Pillai was excellent at the top of the order, cracking six fours and three sixes in making 49 from only 22 balls. Krian Jugoo, in at three, also went after the Waterkloof bowlers, belting three sixes and two fours in a quickfire 26 from just 10 deliveries. Together, they added 50 for the second wicket but, after Jugoo departed on 71, matters went south quickly.

The next 39 runs cost eight wickets. Then, a stubborn last-wicket stand of 25 took Glenwood to 135 all out.

Jean Cloete wrecked the local team’s response. He was a little expensive, but his 3.2 overs brought him a decisive 5/28. Johan Liebenberg, with 3/19 from four, played his part, too, and Waterkloof exited with a spectacular 155-run victory.

Clifton College vs Kearsney College

After a heart-breaking last-ball loss to Maritzburg College on Friday, Clifton was desperate to win against Kearsney on Saturday, but the Botha's Hill boys claimed victory. Photo: Brad Morgan.
After a heart-breaking last-ball loss to Maritzburg College on Friday, Clifton was desperate to win against Kearsney on Saturday, but the Botha’s Hill boys claimed victory. Photo: Brad Morgan.

Clifton College and Kearsney College were able to play a full T20 on the Crusaders Main Oval, but the mid-afternoon game left the hosts rueing their narrow loss to Maritzburg College on Friday after Kearsney claimed a 26-run win.

Clifton skipper Tim Saulez made Kearsney bat first, but their top three came off. Captain Jason De Gryse and Rivan Moodley made 28 for the first wicket before De Gryse was caught by Byron Ward off the bowling of Regan Radley for 16.

Moodley and Aaron Blackburn, then, took the score to 63, which was when Moodley was dismissed by Shiraz Perumal for 29 from 22 balls, which featured four fours. After his departure, Kearsney haemorrhaged wickets.

Blackburn, though, kept going. He was the seventh man out after contributing 46 runs from 39 balls, with two sixes and a four.

There was one other useful contribution, with Nic Comrie weighing in with 24 not out from just 13 deliveries, which helped Kearsney complete their overs on 142/8.

Shiraz Perumal claimed 3/23 with his leg spin, and Blake Johnson took 2/28 with his orthodox left-arm spin.

Clifton needed to bat at 7.15 runs per over to win. Litha Gonya set the home team on its heels, though, when he bowled Byron Ward when there were just three runs on the board.

Clifton made some progress through Hayden Drieselmann and Tim Saulez, but run outs of Saulez and Shiraz Perumal, either side of the dismissal of Drieselmann, were hammer blows to the host’s chances.

Wickets followed at regular intervals and Clifton never quite threatened to win. Their innings finished on the first ball of the 20th over. They were all out for 116.

Zach Williamson made 28, Hayden Drieselmann 22, and Lawson Dinsdale 20, but Saulez, with 12, was the only other player to hit double figures.

Left-arm paceman Litha Gonya, who has been enjoying a fine season, was the spearhead of the Kearsney attack, capturing 3/23 from four overs, while Rivan Moodley bagged 2/19 with his leg-spin and left-arm wrist spinner Matthew Gorrie 2/33.

Michaelhouse vs Maritzburg College

In the day’s other game, Michaelhouse, who beat Kearsney on Friday, made it two wins on the trot with a 19-run victory over Maritzburg College in a match reduced to 14 overs a side.

Playing on Northwood‘s Robin Smith Oval, ‘House scored at exactly nine runs an over to rattle up 126/3.

As he had done in the win over Kearsney, Michaelhouse skipper Ethan Muir excelled at the top of the order. He and Victor North shared an opening stand of 77 runs before North was caught by Sphamandla Dzanibe off Nathan Pembridge for 29 from 25 balls.

Ben Heuer and Michael Blignaut went cheaply as ‘House desperately chased more runs, but Muir ended undefeated on 71 from 46 balls, which included five fours and three sixes.

College’s run pursuit started well, with both openers, Tian van Niekerk and Daniel Nadasan, batting at better than a run a ball. They tallied 63 for the first wicket before Van Niekerk was out for 39, which had included five fours.

A couple of sixes in a rapid 23 from Karl Dedekind wasn't enough to lift Maritzburg College to a win over Michaelhouse. Photo: Brad Morgan.
A couple of sixes in a rapid 23 from Karl Dedekind wasn’t enough to lift Maritzburg College to a win over Michaelhouse. Photo: Brad Morgan.

Still, College managed to up their scoring rate as Karl Dedekind launched a couple of sixes in a 13-ball stay that brought him 23 runs. He was dismissed on 84 and two runs later Nadasan was caught by Michael Blignaut off Ben Heuer for 35.

After another two runs, Luka Puddu was removed, and Luca van der Merwe followed two after that, which left College on 90/5. They made it to 107/5, but never quite managed to challenge the Michaelhouse total.

Rendani Nonge had plenty to do with that. He knocked over 3/21 in three overs.

Playoffs

On Sunday, the action will begin with a juicy traditional rivalry, with Hilton College facing Michaelhouse in the first eliminator on the Crusaders Main Oval from 08:30.

The second eliminator, on Crusaders 2, will feature St Charles College and Kearsney. Saints advanced even though rain allowed them to play only one match on the first two days. They won that one convincingly, though, cruising to a seven-wicket win over Glenwood.

If only Waterkloof hadn’t had a match rained out. One feels they would be playing for a higher position, but they’ll have to settle for a showdown with Maritzburg College at Durban High School (DHS) at 09:00 for seventh place.

At the same time, Clifton will tackle St John’s College (Harare) at Northwood, where the bat of the powerful St John’s captain Connor Lovatt will be key. They’ll dispute ninth place.

Matters didn’t go Northwood’s way and the KZN Schools SA20 champs will face Glenwood on the Kingsmead Oval for eleventh place, also at 09:00.

Both DHS and Westville Boys’ High went two for two on Friday and won their matches comfortably. At 11:30, Westville will tackle the winner of the first eliminator in a semi-final on the Crusaders Main Oval, while DHS, the defending champion, will take on the winner of the second eliminator on Crusaders 2 in the other semi-final.

The final will be played on the Crusaders Main Oval at 14:30.

The weather forecast for Sunday in Durban is cloudy, with no rain, and temperatures in the upper twenties.

SUMMARISED SCORECARDS

18 overs

Hoërskool Waterkloof 290/4 (Riley Miller 123*, AJ de Villiers 60, Rico van der Walt 45, Juan Swart 35, Mishaela Gunawardana 2/43); Glenwood High School 135/10 (Kressan Pillai 49, Krian Jugoo 26, Jean Cloete 5/28, Johan Liebenberg 3/19). Waterkloof won by 155 runs.

T20

Kearsney College 142/8 (Aaron Blackburn 46, Rivan Moodley 29, Nic Comrie 24*, Shiraz Perumal 3/23, Blake Johnson 2/29); Clifton College 116/10 (Zach Williamson 28, Hayden Drieselmann 22, Lawson Dinsdale 20, Litha Gonya 3/23, Rivan Moodley 2/19, Matthew Gorrie 2/33). Kearsney College won by 26 runs.

14 overs

Michaelhouse 126/3 (Ethan Muir 71*, Victor North 29, Reece Willson 1/23); Maritzburg College 107/5 (Tian van Niekerk 39, Daniel Nadasan 35, Karl Dedekind 23, Rendani Nonge 3/21). Michaelhouse won by 19 runs.

SUNDAY FIXTURES

08:30 – Hilton College vs Michaelhouse, eliminator one, Crusaders Main Oval
08:30 – St Charles College vs Kearsney College, eliminator two, Crusaders 2

09:00 – Hoërskool Waterkloof vs Maritzburg College, DHS (7th place)
09:00 – Clifton College vs St John’s College (Harare), Northwood (9th place)
09:00 – Northwood School vs Glenwood High School, Kingsmead Oval (11th place)

11:30 – Westville Boys’ High vs winner eliminator one, semi-final, Crusaders Main Oval
11:30 – Durban High School vs winner eliminator two, semi-final, Crusaders 2

14:30 – Final – Crusaders Main Oval

Brad Morgan
error: Sorry ol' chap, those shenanigans are not permissible.