Runs a plenty in Northerns as batsmen fill their boots.

The fourth week of the Northerns Frist Platinum A Section took place this past weekend. The day was perfect for a game of cricket. Clear blue skies greeted the teams on Saturday morning with springtime in full display.

There were several high scoring matches which ended up with schools on the winning side winning by large margins.

Hoërskool Waterkloof hosted Cornwall Hill College, who were playing in their first fixture of the season.

Waterkloof batted first and set the tone for the match by amassing an intimidating first innings total of 338/10 from their 50 overs.

Four of the top six batsmen all made starts with three of them going on to score half centuries.

Opener SW Kemp and middle order batsmen Simeon de Bruyn both scored 59 runs. Waterkloof’s Zander Maree came in with the score sitting at 158/4 with the platform set he moved into over-drive batting at a strike rate of 237 and was in a destructive mode putting the bowlers to all parts of the ground.

Maree ended on 90 from 38 balls narrowly missing out on a well-deserved century. Jordan Neil was the pick of the bowlers picking up figures of 3/40 in 9.4 overs. Prince Trotter picked up 4/72 in 10 overs but was slightly expensive going at 7.2 runs an over, however he picked up the important wicket of Maree.

In response Cornwall’s innings got off to a rocky start with both openers losing their wickets within the first powerplay. Valentine Kitime put up some fight by digging into score 52 from 63 balls and was well supported by Jordan Neil who scored 25 from 30 balls.

Richardt Ackermann and Kyle Welman both picked up four wickets a piece, with the latter returning impressive figures of 4/9 from 4 overs. Cornwall were eventually bowled out for 112 in 17 overs and lost the match by 226 runs.

Pretoria Boys’ High School travelled up the N1 to host school Prestige College. PBHS batted first and scored 358/ from 50 overs. PBHS had two of their batsmen go on to score centuries which made up the bulk of their runs.

Opening batsmen Nathan Meyer scored 106 from 103 balls and wicket-keeper batsmen Hanu Viljoen scored 132 runs from 106 balls which included nine fours and six sixes. The two batted patiently and capitalized on some bad bowling.

Tim Ferguson’s rich vein of form continued as he ended up on 50 not out. The middle order batsmen now averages 237, having only been dismissed once this season for 1 in his previous knock against Waterkloof. Right arm medium pacer Lesholo Selemela picked up figures of 2/50 in 10 overs.

With a tough challenge laid out for them Prestige College looked to chase down the large total. The team was bowled out for 196 in 42.2 overs losing by 142 runs.

Opener Sithembiso Mothise batted for over two hours and anchored the innings ending up on 89 from 96 balls which included twelve fours.None of the other batsmen provided much support other than Polite Shingange who scored a run-ball 36.

The bowling unit from Boys’ High proved too strong with opener Devon Allen picking up 3/34 from 7.2 overs. The real challenge for the batting side came when left-arm chinamen Ruan Van Rooyen was brought onto bowl. The spinner bowled neatly picking up figures of 4/35 in 10 overs.

Hoërskool Centurion played up against a strong Affies side. Affies were asked to bat first after Centurion won the toss. Affies were restricted to 257 all out from 49.3 overs. Several batsmen made starts but it was Dewald Brevis who held the innings together with a well-constructed innings of 66 from 70 balls.

Brevis was well supported by Aerton Helena who made 46 from 37 balls. The Centurion bowlers bowled well as a unit sharing the wickets amongst themselves. Four of the bowlers picked up two wickets each. Joubert Eybers and opener Zander Van Tonder were the pick of the group returning figures of 10-34-2 and 8-33-2 respectively.

With a competitive total set, Affies looked to defend it by picking the early wicket of Ryan Salomon off the bowling of Jaco Beneke. Ryan opened the batting with his brother Michael Salomon who hung in a bit longer scoring 27 from 26 balls. Beneke bowled with real control returning figures of 2/26 in 10 overs.

Centurion found it difficult to score runs throughout their innings and lost wickets at regular intervals. As dot balls accumulated so did the pressure to score runs.

Dewald Brevis was pick of the bowlers for Affies with figures of 3/21 from 5 overs adding to an impressive day out for the all-rounder. Centurion were eventually bowled out for 144 in 39.5 overs. Affies won convincingly by 112 runs.

In the other fixture for the day Garsfontein took on Menlopark in what was the lowest scoring match of the three games which were taking place. The low scoring game seemed to be the tightest match with Menlopark chasing down 181 in 48.2 overs.

Garsfontein batted first and were asked questions early on by the Menlopark opening bowlers who bowled tight lines and restricted the scoring rate in the beginning. Both openers were rewarded at the back end of the innings for their hard work upfront as each opener took three wickets.

Stephan Kruger took 3/34 in 8 overs and other opener Christiaan Daniels took 3/24 in 7.3 overs. Larno Botha top scored with 37 runs from 42 balls. Five of the Garsfontein batsmen failed to capitalize on their starts all making scores above twenty.

Menlopark’s chase started well with the two openers seeing off the new ball. Menlo number four Tristan Janse Van Rensburg was the glue which held the chase together picking up another half century scoring 59 from 84 balls. He was well supported by Wybri Thuynsma and Christiaan Daniels who both scored thirties to help guide the team home to a six wicket win with eight balls to spare.

Garsfontein bowled well to ensure that the match was drawn out to the final stages of the innings. Benco Van Der Walt bowled neatly picking up figures of 10-23-2. He was well aided by Jethro Duigen who although didn’t pick up any wickets returned economical figures of 10-22-0.

The last round of fixtures before the schools close for the holidays takes place this weekend on the 14th September 2019.

Results:

Waterkloof 338/10 from 50 overs (Zander Maree 90 (38b), Simeon de Bruyn 59 (56b), SW Kemp 59 (88b); Jordan Neil 3/40, Prince Trotter 4/72); Cornwall Hill College 112 from 17 overs (Valentine Kitime 52 (63b), Kyle Welmen 4/9 and Richardt Ackermann 4/32). Waterkloof won by 226 runs.

Pretoria Boys’ High 358/6 (Hanu Viljoen 132 (106b), Nathan Meyer 106 (103b), Lesholo Selemela 2/50); Prestige College 196 from 42.2 overs (Sithembiso Mothise 89 (96), Devon Allen 7.4-34-3/34, Ruan Van Rooyen 4/35). Pretoria Boys’ High won by 142 runs.

Affies 257/10 from 50 overs (Dewald Brevis 66 (70) Aerton Helena 46 (37), Joubert Eybers 2/34, Zander van Tonder 2/33); Centurion 144 from 39.5 overs (Ryan Salomon 27, S Nieman 29 (72), Dewald Brevis 3/21, Jaco Beneke 2/26). Affies won by 113 runs.

Garsfontein 181/10 from 38.3 overs (Larno Botha 37 (42b), Stephan Kruger 3/34, Christiaan Daniels 3/24); Menlopark 182/6 from 48.2 overs (Tristan Van Janse Rensburg 59 (84b) and Christiaan Daniels 32 (50b), Benco van Der Walt 2/23). Menlopark won by 4 wickets.

Fixtures 14 September 2019

Section A

Cornwall Hill vs Pretoria Boys High School
Centurion vs Waterkloof
Garsfontein vs Affies
Prestige College vs Menlo Park