Batters make merry at Peninsula fest

THE first day of the Peninsula Schools Festival kicked off in Cape Town, with batsmen making hay on the docile wickets in hot conditions.

Teams winning the toss had no hesitation in batting first with three schools posting 300plus totals and five centuries being recorded.

Pride of place must go to the Bishops opener, 16-year-old Adnaan Lagadien, in their match against Hilton College. He batted throughout the innings, smashing an undefeated double century (218*) in his side’s mammoth 325-7 declared off 55 overs.

He was in scintillating form in an innings punctuated by fierce drives on both sides of the wicket and some lusty hitting after reaching his century. He scored his runs at a brisk pace off only 171 balls.

The next highest scorer was Callum Daniels (31), who featured in a fourth-wicket partnership of 57 runs. The KZN side’s bowlers toiled manfully in the hot sunshine with spinner David Hill (3-46) the pick of the attack.

In reply, the visitors were were looking solid at 110-2 with opener Ben Hockly (78) leading the way. However, the introduction of leg-spinner Peyton Leigh (7-44) precipitated a batting collapse with eight wickets falling for the addition of only 28 runs as Hilton were dismissed for a meagre 138, giving the home side a massive 167-run win.

Neighbours Rondebosch were not to be outdone, compiling 303-5 declared in 58 overs against St Davids College from Johannesburg. Bosch lost early wickets against a disciplined visitors attack spearheaded by opening bowler Matthew West (2-39).

St Davids must have been happy with their performance when they had half the Bosch side back in the hut for a modest 111.

But enter centurions Daniel Bosman (106*) and David Simon (102*), who turned the innings around with an unbroken sixth- wicket partnership of 192. Simon’s innings was particularly forceful coming off only 80 balls, including 11 fours and four sixes.

In reply, the Saints batsmen were intent on occupying the crease with very little meaningful partnerships forthcoming. In the end they were hanging on desperately for a draw at 155/9.

Wynberg’s Divan Linde (135) was the fourth centurion of the day against Waterkloof. Batting at No 3, he came to the wicket when the first wicket fell early on with five runs on the board.

Linde and Xavier Garvs (53) put on 116 for the third wicket and were largely responsible for Wynberg reaching 302-8 declared off 65 overs. Jayden Blom (3-20) was the best of the Kloof bowlers.

Waterkloof put up a valiant reply but up against a steady Berg attack were always behind the run rate.

Opener Divan Behrens (79) and a last-ditch century late in the day by lower order batter Franco Cronje (106*) saw them home safely for a draw with the score 265-5 at stumps

The other game that produced an outright result was between Pretoria Boys and St Charles of Maritzburg. The KZN Inland side were bowled out for a paltry 127 with opener Cian Fortmann (47) battling valiantly to stem the tide.

Adam Cannata (4-26) did the most damage with the ball.The team from Tswane coasted to a 10-wicket win with openers Marc van der Nerwe (71*) and Luke Marshall (50*) both undefeated.

The game between Affies (307-8) and SACS (152-5) ended in a tame draw.