Nkowankowa and Queens hit the ground running, Saints and Jeppe unbeaten at Switch Schools SA20

The Nkowankowa Hub and Queens High recorded wins over Chatsworth Hub and Saints Christian School in their first matches at the Switch Schools SA20 Volume Two Final Showdown in Pretoria on Wednesday. Both matches were played on the Tuks C Field.

Motlalepule Joan Sebele claimed a sensational 4/4 in four overs to put Nkowankowa on the path to a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over Chatsworth.

In a nail-biting contest, Koketso Mokgara scooped up three wickets to help Queens High to a one-wicket win (DLS) over Saints.

Nkowankowa's captain, Respect Mabasa, made the right call when she chose to bowl first after winning the toss. Her bowlers responded superbly and bundled Chatsworth out for only 41 runs in 17 overs. The Limpopo side then took 10 overs to reach 42/2.

Sebele accounted for three of Chatsworth's top five batters, including their star player, Shreeya Subbiah. The Chatsworth opener fought a lone battle with her 20 runs from 25 balls.

None of her teammates stayed in long enough to join her in double figures. Seyuri Gounden, with a laboured six from 28 deliveries, was the KZN team's second-highest scorer.

Lunghelo Malungana and Shelfa Tsakisi Mukhari were the other wicket-takers for Nkowankowa. Malungana snapped up 3/10 in four overs and Mukhari took 2/9 in two.

Tshepiso Dinoe Motswi led Nkowankowa's chase with 18 runs from 22 balls. Karabo Katlego Monyela (6), Respect Mabasa (6*), and Ripfumelo Faith Nkuna (6*) chipped in with a combined 18 runs of their own.

Boitumelo Chuene, the Queens High captain, won the toss and asked Saints to bat first in a weather-affected contest. Her bowlers then restricted the North West side to 66/8 in 17 overs. The Queens' run pursuit almost came up short, but they clawed their way to 63/9 in 16.1 overs to snatch victory.

Mokgara, who claimed 3/13 runs in four overs, was Queens' most successful bowler, while Thanya Nkuna, Bonolo Phalane, Mankwana Moriri and Nonhlanhla Danisa each bagged a wicket.

Commendably, Queens ensured that no Saints' batters made it beyond single-figure scores, with nine from both Reabetswe Dithipe and Jessica Joshua the best that the Potchefstroom school managed.

When they visited the crease, Queens also found it tough to get going. However, they did just enough to win.

Nonkululeko Mthethwa, Nonhlanhla Danisa and Mikhulu Mtuzula were the joint top-scorers with 11 runs each, and those 33 runs set the Johannesburg side on course for a heart-pounding victory.

Summarised Scorecards

Saints Christian School 66/8 (Extras 18; Koketso Mokgara 3/13); Queens High 63/9 (Nonkululeko Mthethwa 11, Nonhlanhla Danisa 11, Mikhulu Mtuzula 11; Gogontle Padi 2/12, Siphokazi Duma 2/15). Queens High won by one wicket.

Chatsworth Hub 41/10 (Shreya Subbiah 20; Motlalepule Sebele 4/4, Lunghelo Malungana 3/10, Shelfa Mukhari 2/9); Nkowankowa Hub 42/2 (Tshepiso Motswi 18; Aadya Mohun 1/3). Nkowankowa Hub won by eight wickets.

Only two unbeaten sides, St Andrew’s School of Bloemfontein and Jeppe High School for Boys, are left after the opening day of the Switch Schools SA20 Final Showdown Volume 2 hosted at the University of Pretoria.

Both sides managed to defend low totals in their afternoon matches to keep their unbeaten records intact.

Saints reached only 99/9 in their allotted 20 overs against Hilton College with Schalk van Rensburg (19) leading the charge. Hilton’s Sange Qangule (3/15) and Obakeng Motsepa (3/24) produced the goods upfront leaving Saints struggling at 44/5 in the eighth over.

Hilton was restricted a mere five runs short with Cameron Hargraves (23*) and Luke Wilson (17*) at the crease. They needed 13 from the last over bowled by Heindré Serfontein (0/20).

The pick of Saints bowling attack was Nikhil Sukraj who removed three batters at the cost of only 27 runs. He also rearranged the stumps of the prized wicket of Robert Burman (27).

The side won their first game of the day against Cricket South Africa’s Hub Invitational with two wickets. Serfontein leading the charge with a superb allround performance. He picked up two wickets at the cost of only six runs, while also contributing 37 runs with the bat.

Jeppe would feel relieved as well as elated after securing a narrow victory of three runs over the Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool of Pretoria at Tuks Oval. The side from Johannesburg were bowled out for 108 runs in a reduced 19 overs.

Zian Labuschagne (3/15) and Nico Loggenberg (3/20) causing them all sorts of problems.

Jeppe’s Goolam Ahmed then stepped up for the second time during the day as he removed three batters from the crease for only 21 runs. He was well supported by Zizi Mkhize (2/20).

Affies needed 10 runs from the final six deliveries bowled by Ahmed. They managed six runs with Paul Bester (19*) in the middle.

Ahmed was the best bowler during the opening day as he also produced the remarkable figures of 3/7 as his side restricted Graeme College to 49/7 in a game that was reduced to 14 overs per side. Daniel Keating (3/8) also added to Graeme’s misery.

The leading run-scorer on the opening day was Paarl Boys’ High’s opening batter Abriam Jacobs with 79 runs in his side’s two matches which included the only half-century (56) of the day.

Boishaai however lost both their matches against Hilton College and CSA Hub Invitational despite Jacobs’ heroics.

Hilton College’s Obakeng Motsepa (2/19) showcased in the win against Boishaai that he is a player to look out for in future. Cameron Hargroves (42*) and Barack Munawa (25) was also in top form during the opening game.

Paul Bester (3/16) also starred in Affies’ victory of 69 runs over Selborne College. His captain Vihan Pretorius (2/11) and Nico Loggenberg (2/11) also producing noteworthy performances.

Summarised Scorecards

ROUND 1

Hilton College 130/7 (Cameron Hargroves 42*, Barack Munawa 25; Neil Louw 2/12), Abriam Jacobs 2/22); Paarl Boys’ High 125/8 (Abriam Jacobs 56, Neil Louw 17; Cameron Hargroves 2/14, Obakeng Motsepa 2/19). Hilton College won by five runs.

CSA Hub Invitational 104/7 (Bulumko Magatya 32; Heindré Serfontein 2/6, Berno Coetzee 2/16); St Andrew’s School 105/8 (Heindré Serfontein 37, Berno Coetzee 17; Enathi Kitshini 2/15). St Andrew’s School won by two wickets.

Affies 129/7 (Ethan Williams 34, Vihan Pretorius 29; Avetandwa Manyango 3/23); Selborne College 62 (Merick Collins 15; Paul Bester 3/6, Vihan Pretorius 2/11, Nico Loggenberg 2/11). Affies won by 69 runs (DLS-method).

Graeme College 49/7 (Zuko Pontshi 12; Goolam Ahmed 3/7, Daniel Keating 3/8); Jeppe High School for Boys 52/1 (Vegas Scott 22*, Aiden Reyneke 15*; Luphelo Mdyesha 1/14). Jeppe High School for Boys won by nine wickets.

ROUND 2

Paarl Boys’ High 96 (Abriam Jacobs 23, Ullrich Drotschie 21; Taywin Adams 3/8, Kamogelo Matlala 2/9); CSA Hub Invitational 97/5 (Bulumko Magatya 32, Deveric Petersen 21; Ra-ed Fredericks 2/13). CSA Hub Invitational won by five wickets.

St Andrew’s School 99/9 (Schalk van Rensburg 19, Berno Coetzee 15, Erhard Barends 15; Sange Qangule 3/15, Obakeng Motsepa 3/24); Hilton College 94/6 (Robert Burman 27, Cameron Hargroves 23*, Luke Wilson 17*; Nikhil Sukraj 3/27). St Andrew’s School won by five runs.

Jeppe High School for Boys 108 (Lincoln Casais 21, Aiden Reyneke 17; Zian Labuschagne 3/15, Nico Loggenberg 3/20); Affies 105/9 (AJ Morkel 30, Paul Bester 19*, Zian Labuschagne 17; Goolam Ahmed 3/21, Zizi Mkhize 2/20). Jeppe High School for Boys won by three runs.

Selborne College 121/6 (Dan Tarr 36*, Reid Drake 33*, Josh Edwards 15; Caleb Jattiem 2/18); Graeme College 109/9 (Enrique Strydom 31, Zuko Pontshi 17, Corbin Tidbury 17; Lwando Gwaza 4/20, Avetandwa Manyongo 2/11, Matthew Hendry 2/18). Selborne College won by 12 runs.