Monday 19 February 24: The report on WBHS 1st XI vs Affies, as published in the Cape Argus – re-published, with permission of and credit to, Mogamat Goosain Abrahams.
Visitors from Pretoria’s Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool (Affies) snatched defeat from the jaws of victory when they succumbed to an 11-run defeat against Wynberg in a game that went right down to the wire.
The hosts won the toss and had no hesitation in choosing to bat on a wicket that was docile and placid. The fired-up Affies attack spearheaded by Northerns’ under 19 quickie Divan de Villiers (2/23) struck an early wicket when opener Storme van Rooyen (12) was dismissed. His partner, Shadley Allie (39), stood firm in compiling his runs which included 5 boundaries. Together with SA Schools captain Beni Hansen, they took the score to 79 before Allie was dismissed.
With wickets falling regularly around him and runs difficult to come by, it was left to Hansen (54) to hold the innings together. His painstaking knock off 92 balls enabled Wynberg to post a modest 180 in 45 overs.
In reply, Affies were given a solid start by openers Jorich van Schalkwyk (44) and Vihan Pretorius (32) who were intent on occupying the crease. Their opening partnership of 92 put them well on the way to victory. However, the wicket was starting to take turn and the introduction of spin twins Xavier Garvs (off) and Divan Linde (leg) saw a dramatic shift in the game.
At 100/1 the visitors were on course to complete the double having won their T20 fixture against Wynberg at the Cape Cricket Festival in January. But with Garvs (4/32) gaining lots of purchase and Linde (3/29) bowling a nagging length backed up by energetic fielding, Wynberg exerted a stranglehold on the Affies batters. Tail ender Daniel Murray (21) was their lone hope but the end was inevitable as they imploded to 169 all out.
In other school cricket news:
The much-vaunted Bishops batting lineup failed dismally in their away match against Paul Roos when they went down by 2 wickets in a low-scoring match.
Bishops were sent in to bat and the reliable opening pair of Adnaan Lagadien and Kashief Joseph took them to 59/2 before they both departed. It was SA under 19 seamer Riley Norton who struck first and then proceeded to wrap up the back end of the innings with his comeback spell to end with 4/38. But it was the turn extracted by left-arm spinner Deon Winkel (4/13) that put the pressure on the Bishops batters. Many were guilty of poor selection, contributing to their demise as they capitulated to 95 all out before lunch.
The drama didn’t stop there as the Bishops quicks Tiaan Louw (4/38) and Waco Bissack (4/30) struck back with venom sending the first three batters back to the pavilion with only three runs on the board when lunch was taken. After lunch the carnage continued and at 57/8 it seemed over for Paul Roos. But Roux Joubert (24*) kept his cool while everyone around him was losing theirs to see his team through to yet another upset victory. A repeat of last year’s result and bragging rites for the country cousins for another year.
In a high scoring match at SACS, Paarl Boys won the toss and sent the home team into bat in overcast conditions. The SACS openers made a solid opening stand of 46 in 9 overs. Opener, Rowen Taplin scored a solid 50 off 61 balls before uncharacteristically playing a loose shot. His partnership with in-form captain, Reza Salie (45 of 58 balls) , laid the foundation for a blistering innings by Kieron Bowers who ended undefeated on 108 off 68 balls including 10 x 4 and 6 x 6. SACS ended their allotted 50 overs on 272 for 6.
Paarl Boys started off in solid fashion, with the opening pair of Christiaan Wege and Daniel Lombard putting on 69 before the next 4 wickets tumbled for just 5 further runs. Johan Wege played a determined and undefeated innings of 100 off 100 balls including 14 x 4 and 1 x 6, in a losing cause with Paarl Boys completing their allotted 50 overs on 236 for 8 for SACS to win by 36 runs
