Wilson shoots the lights out on day one of Makhanda Cricket Festival
Cayden Wilson and Patrick Mouton showed themselves to be a class apart with bat and ball on the first day of the Makhanda Cricket Festival. The event is being hosted by Kingswood College and runs from 9 to 12 January.
Wilson blitzed an outstanding century, while Mouton bagged a brilliant 10-wicket haul.
Wilson’s century was instrumental in Pearson High School securing a dominant draw against St Alban’s College. He was in an unforgiving mood, smashing 13 fours and eight sixes on his way to an imperious 128 off only 59 deliveries.
When he came in to bat, Pearson was on 24/2, but the youngster tore into the St Alban’s bowling attack, and his rapid strike rate of 217 set the game up for Pearson to take control.
Wilson has been on an incredible run of form since December 2024. Last month, he became the first Pearson learner to be selected for the SA Colts team after the completion of the Khaya Majola Week. He was outstanding with the ball, finishing the tournament as Eastern Province’s leading wicket-taker. However, he showed his class with the bat against St Alban’s.
Luke Hector was Pearson’s second-best batter with a wonderful 80 from 78 balls. Sulayman Gangat complemented the batters with a four-wicket haul for Pearson as the Gqeberha side made light work of the St Alban’s batting order. Zayd Mohanlall was the batsman from the Pretoria school to cross 40 runs, with a patient 42 off 95 deliveries.
Patrick Mouton starred with the ball for the hosts, Kingswood College, in their first match of the festival, capturing 10 wickets across two innings in his side’s draw with Hellenic College.
Mouton knocked over 6/42 as Hellenic was restricted to 148 all out in their first innings. The home side produced an emphatic reply to their Zimbabwean counterparts’ modest score. Ross Thompson struck a brilliant 56 off 41 and Daniel Jakins matched his tally. However, his runs came off slightly more than twice as many deliveries. He faced 83 balls for his 56.
Mouton then bagged 4/41 as Kingswood held Hellenic to 95/4 in their second innings. As they did in the first innings, the Zimbabweans struggled to handle Mouton’s bowling as he ran through their top order before time ran out.
Myles Sansom carved an unbeaten half-century in St Andrews College’s first innings’ victory over St David’s Marist Inanda. The number three batter struck 10 fours and two sixes to help St Andrew’s reach 204/2 in reply to the 203/9 posted by St David’s. Oliver Johns weighed in with an unbeaten 45 and he and Sansom shared an unbroken 122-run third-wicket partnership.
SACS had a low total in their sights thanks to some wonderful bowling from Ababalwe Zingela, who took 4/11. He was supported by Tom Busshain, who bagged a brace of wickets. Jared Stern stood firm, however, his valiant unbeaten half-century for St David’s was in vain. It wasn’t enough to help his side avoid defeat.
Summarised Scorecards
Hellenic Academy 1st innings 148/10 (Ruben Sanders 39, Daniel Makings 37; Patrick Mouton 6/42, Daniel Jakins 2/16). Kingswood College 1st innings 246/8d (Ross Thompson 56, Daniel Jakins 56; Tian Nicholson 3/33, Christian Makings 2/20). Hellenic Academy 2nd innings 95/4 (Ruben Sanders 29, Tom Sinclair 28; Patrick Mouton 4/41, Franco Klopper 0/1). Match drawn.
St David’s 203/9 (Jared Stern 50*, Kamogelo Phiri 42; Ababalwe Zingela 4/11, Tom Busshain 2/71). St Andrew’s College 204/2 (Myles Sansom 68, William Beamish 49; Morteza Manack 1/46, Ethan Greenstein 1/49). St Andrew’s College won on the first innings.
Pearson 319/10 (Cayden Wilson 128, Luke Hector 80; Kallan Nel 5/75, William Hewitt 2/70). St Alban’s 131/9 (Zayd Mohanlall 42, Liam Chetty 29; Sulayman Gangat 4/32, Kade Myburg 2/13). Match drawn.
