Makhanda Cricket Festival showcases top schoolboy talent
Highlight sees players taking on two visiting teams from Zimbabwe
ome of the finest schoolboy talent was put on show at the Makhanda Schools Cricket Festival co-hosted by Kingswood and Graeme College from Wednesday January 10 to Saturday January 13.
A highlight was the visiting teams from Peterhouse and Hellenic Academy in Zimbabwe; others were St Andrew’s College, Kingswood College, Graeme College, Woodridge, Hudson Park High, Dale College, Muir College and Trinityhouse.
A superb century by Peterhouse opener Nicholas Anderson with 104 off just 96 balls saw the Zimbabweans to 275 all out in the two-day opening match of the festival against St Andrew’s at Lower Fields.
Roman van Zyl fought back for College with the second new ball with a 4/25 spell that put the brakes on
SPeterhouse. College batted well under lights before ending up on 298 for 6 on Day 2 on Lower field.
Peterhouse were 96/8 at 4.30pm when the rain ended what might have been an interesting last session of play.
St Andrew’s romped to wins over Muir College and Dale in follow-up fixtures.
Against Muir, a superb hat-trick by Roman Van Zyl (5/10 in six overs) ensured a convincing win for College.
Earlier, Mitchell Coventry 70 (87) and William Beamish 82 (102) set up College’s day, declaring on 244/6 in 49 overs.
The College batsmen were in the runs vs Dale College on Lower field.
Beamish 105 (111) and Samuel Scheckter 73 not out off 47 shone with the bat and Alastair de Kock (6/11) secured the win for College. In the other opening fixture, Kingswood XI bowlers had the Hellenic batters in trouble early on after they were sent in to bat at City Lords.
No less than six players made their debut for Kingswood.
A fine bowling performance from Jack Collett (3/10) helped bowl Hellenic out for 96.
The KC batters started very well, ending up with 130/4 off 33 overs before the rain came down. Josh Loon batted brilliantly for his 68 not out to lead Kingswood to a six-wicket victory in their one-innings fixture.
Graeme, in their opener against Trinityhouse at Somerset was sent into bat after losing the toss.
Enrique Strydom, who top scored with 74 runs and experienced opener
Athandile Feni, showed guts and determination with an opening partnership of 57 runs after 12 overs.
Ashton Williams followed with a run-a-ball half century, with captain Murray Tyson declaring on 197/5 after 52 overs. Trinity got off like a steam train compiling 112/2 after 20 overs before rain stopped play.
Against the touring Hellenic Academy on Friday, the Graeme bowlers put the Zimbabweans to the sword to have them bowled out for 127 all out. Ashton Williams took 3/2 in three overs and captain Murray Tyson 3/22 in six overs.
Graeme passed Hellenic’s score with five wickets in hand. Tyson scored 64 off 71 and Ashton Williams 37 off 39. Graeme declared on 197/5 with a lead of 67 with 16 overs remaining.
Hellenic finished on 42/2, conceding the match on the first innings.
In their final match of the tournament, Graeme 1st XI took on Peterhouse, with the College boys deciding to bat.
Despite losing three early wickets, a good partnership by Marcus Williams (68) and QamaNgoma (38) set up a very competitive target of 203.
Graeme were probably 20 runs short of a decent total as they struggled to build partnerships in vital moments.
An excellent spell of bowling from young fast bowlers Erin Nelson and Jordan Damons, who took three wickets apiece, brought Graeme back into the game. But Graeme were unlucky at the end with wet bowling conditions to lose by one wicket.