Richards shines as opening day produces six fivers and three centuries

Three centuries and six five-wicket hauls got the 2019 edition of the Khaya Majola Week off to an exciting start during the opening day in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.

South Western Districts’ Heath Richards star shined the brightest during the opening day’s play. He helped his side reach 231/8 in their first innings scoring 117 runs off 172 deliveries.

Richards shared a 124-run partnership over the second wicket with Jhedli van Briesies (51) who is attending his third Khaya Majola Week.

Richards also then caused Northern Cape’s batsmen problems with his medium-paced deliveries removing their last five batsmen while conceding only a solitary run from a no-ball.

Northerns’ Jordan Hermann (115) carried his team in a victory on the first innings against hosts KwaZulu-Natal Inland. Hermann was, with his century, the only batsman of Northerns to reach double figures. That is if you don’t count a certain batsman by the name of Extras (23).

Eastern Province recorded the highest total on the opening day of 250/8 against Boland before the forced declaration after 65 overs. Mainly thanks to a 101-run second-wicket partnership between James Mullins (95) and Nicholas Keevy (39). 

Not even the best bowling figures of the opening day by Nathan Jacobs (6/46) could keep Eastern Province from recording the highest total. Boland however managed to hold on for the draw. 

A century by Western Province’s Daniel Smith (130) could not help his side to a victory over KwaZulu-Natal. The match ended in a draw after KwaZulu-Natal’s opening batsman Francis Moran (51*) used up 163 deliveries for his half-century.

Gauteng bagged a first innings victory over the Free State with Levert Manje (81*) making a more than valuable contribution with the willow. Manje struck 12 fours in his innings. Jack Lees (51) supported Manje well with his half-century. The duo shared a 93-run partnership for the fifth wicket.

Border secured the only outright victory on the opening day of the week by defeating Limpopo by seven wickets on Hannah’s Oval at Michaelhouse.

The match produced two of the five-wicket hauls of the opening day. Limpopo was bundled out for only 77 runs with Lilitha Reed grabbing five wickets for only nine runs in 4.4 overs.

Border had their back against the wall early in their innings as they struggled to 20/6 after facing only nine overs. Thomas Mayes picked up five wickets for a mere 14 runs, but Border still managed to recover to reach 103 before all their batsmen were back in the shed.

SA Schools’ player Nonelela Yikha (49) led the recovery with some help from Dean Lones (17). Limpopo managed only 70 in their second innings before losing their fifth and final wicket. Border reached the winning target thanks to an unbeaten 17 runs by none other than Yikha. 

Easterns’ Leander Lubbe grabbed five wickets for 27 runs as his side secured a first-innings victory over Mpumalanga. The other five-wicket haul of the opening day was produced by Namibia’s Stefan Bezuidenhout (5/28) in his side’s match against North West.

PHOTO: Theo Garrun

Summarised Scorecards:

KwaZulu-Natal Inland first innings 151 (Michael Booth 30, Nicholas Hatten 29; Merrick Brett 4/19, Zeeshan Ismail 2/27); Northerns first innings 174 (Jordan Hermann 115; Sanele Mbatha 3/19, Michael Booth 3/29, Michael Frost 3/57). Northerns won on first innings.

Eastern Province first innings 250/8 (James Mullins 95, Luke Beaufort 56, Nicholas Keevy 39; Nathan Jacobs 6/46); Boland first innings 157/9 (Johann Smal 68, Nathan Engelbrecht 37; Tiaan van Vuuren 3/18, Ethan Frosler 3/18). Match Drawn.

Free State first innings 200 (JP Coetzee 61, Ruan Cronjé 42, Michael Kershaw 28; Sebastian de Oliveira 3/22); Gauteng first innings 236/5 (Levert Manje 81*, Jack Lees 51, Nick Halstead-Cleak 30, Cameron Rowe 28); Free State second innings 34/2 (Marco de Kock 24*). Gauteng won on first innings.

Western Province first innings 231/7 (Daniel Smith 130, Lehan Botha 39; Joshua Stocks 2/28); KwaZulu-Natal first innings 136/3 (Francis Moran 51*, Thulani Chiliza 33, Cade Carmichael 30; Raees Carr 2/31). Match Drawn.

South Western Districts first innings 231/8 (Heath Richards 117, Jhedli van Briesies 51; Boitumelo Melesi 3/51, Elrich Cloete 3/87); Northern Cape first innings 154 (Orapeleng Mothlhoaring 64, Joshua Barends 40; Heath Richards 5/1). South Western Districts 18/0 (Tristan Reid 18*). South Western Districts won on first innings.

Mpumalanga first innings 131 (Kyle Klesse 25; Leander Lubbe 5/27, Saahil Khan 2/15); Easterns first innings 148/8 (WP Myburgh 52*, Adriaan de Vries 45; Zuan Swart 2/14, Akhulile Makatu 2/17). Mpumalanga 8/0. Easterns won on first innings.

North West first innings 166 (Estiaan Schonfeldt 58, Francois Viviers 27; Stefan Bezuidenhout 5/28); Namibia first innings 154 (Ramon Wilmot 42, JC Balt 35; Karabelo Matlawe 4/39, Odirile Modikoane 3/25); North West second innings 39/0 (Paballo Sibande 18*). North West won on first innings.

Limpopo first innings 77 (Saba Mridha 31; Lilitha Reed 5/9, Nonelela Yikha 2/9); Border first innings 103 (Nonelela Yikha 49; Thomas Mayes 5/14, Tiaan Enslin 2/2, Ricardo Booysen 2/17); Limpopo second innings 70/5 (Nhlamulo Mboweni 22; Nqaba Peter 2/3); Border second innings 45/3 (Nonelela Yikha 17*; Gerhardus Fourie 2/4). Border won outright by seven wickets.

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