Graeme bag T20 in fitting end to season
The Graeme College cricket team made history by winning the Shaw-Brown T20 Trophy for the first time in Grahamstown this weekend.
With the three teams – Graeme, St Andrew’s and Kingswood – all having powerful lineups, it was a brilliant effort by Graeme.
This triumph comes on top of them making it to the finals of the national CSA T20 tournament earlier in 2018.
Graeme had to beat Kingswood to be in with a chance of winning the trophy after playing to an incredible tie with St Andrew’s on Friday.
After seemingly having blown their chances, St Andrew’s rallied to snatch a tie.
The game marked the 50th first team match for both Garwin Dampies and Siphesihle Madlongolwana.
Batting first, St Andrew’s scored an impressive 156/3, with Peter Jarvis (67) and Guy Rushmere (57 not out) superb.
For Graeme, Madlongolwana was the pick of the bowlers with 2/22.
Bavuyise Manyakanyaka (49) and Chris Gleaves (43) seemed to have the game wrapped up, but pressure caused some panic in the batting order and Graeme scrambled a single off the last ball to tie the match.
On Saturday, they got off to an excellent start through Romario Fritz (40) and Manyakanyaka (35). They batted with maturity and determination.
The Kingswood spinners, however, bowled superbly and regained some control.
Mark Amm (22 not out) had to also show his maturity against some phenomenal death bowling from Caleb Daniels, who conceded 13 runs in three overs, and Blaine Archibald (3/20).
They managed to restrict Graeme to 131/7. Graeme were confident of defending the target, but knew they would have to be at their best.
As it turned out, they were clinical from the first ball and bowled Kingswood out for 79.
Madlongolwana (3/17) was outstanding with the new ball, and immediately put Kingswood on the back foot.
There was a lot still to do when the skipper introduced Sihle Mginywa into the attack, but he struck twice in a superb spell of 2/14.
Liam Agnew (2/11) and Dampies (2/7) kept up the pressure in the field to win by 52 runs. It was a fitting send-off for Graeme’s matric players.
Fritz ended with more than 2,200 runs and wicketkeeper Gleaves had yet another fine performance with five dismissals against Kingswood.
He confirmed his allround ability with more than 2,300 runs for the first team.
Manyakanyaka has been in superb form, finishing with 1,200 runs, while Mginywa has led the bowling attack with 89 wickets at an average of 12.8.
Agnew ended his school career with 80 wickets and among the all-rounders, Jeremy Beyleveld scored more than 1,600 runs and took 62 wickets.
Likewise, Amm has been a huge cog for the Graeme side, scoring more than 1,900 runs and taking 114 wickets.
These young men have left a legacy for the likes of Lakhanya Sam, Madlongolwana, Dampies and Riaan Labuschagne to follow.