Rain dominates Switch Schools SA20

After a heavily rain-affected second day of the Switch Schools SA20 Final Showdown Volume 2, only St Andrew’s School of Bloemfontein is left unbeaten.

Saints’ final pool match against Paarl Boys’ High ended in a no result after rain interrupted play with the team from Bloemfontein struggling at 7/3. They will face Selborne College in one of the semi-finals tomorrow.

In the other semi-final Jeppe High School for Boys will take on Cricket South Africa’s Hub Invitational-side. Jeppe suffered their first defeat of the tournament against Selborne College in the only match that delivered a result in the Boys Section today.

When rain interrupted the game on the Tuks Oval the team from East London were five runs ahead according to the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern-method.

Jeppe reached 140/4 in their allotted 20 overs with Vegas Scott (58) scoring a half-century. Selborne’s Merrick Collins (22*) and Reid Drake (26) got their side over the line with an invaluable partnership of 38 runs over the seventh wicket.

Joshua Wilkie (36) and Dan Tarr (18) also made valuable contributions with the willow.

The game of cricket usually has a lot of heartbreak especially when Messrs Duckworth-Lewis-Stern enters the frame. If Jeppe won the game against Selborne, the Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool of Pretoria would’ve reached the play-offs.

The team from the Jacaranda City will without a doubt think of what could’ve been. Their match against Graeme College in the morning session is the only other match in the Boys Section where play was possible.

They had Graeme College against the ropes at 52/8 when rain stopped play. Armin Snyman leading the charge with three wickets at the cost of 11 runs.

In the Girls Section only one match was possible as Saints Christian School of Potchefstroom defeated Nkowankowa by 12 runs.

Diarabilwe Ngubeni (4/10) and Reabetswe Dithipe (3/4) leading the charge for Saints as they had Nkowankowa stumbling to 35/8 before rain interrupted the match.

HTS Drostdy and Nomandi will face each other Friday morning in the final pool match in the Girls Section. Both sides have not played a game yet due to the rain interruptions but could still both top their pools with a victory in this clash.

Summarised Scorecards

BOYS SECTION

ROUND 1

Graeme College 52/8 (Zuko Pontshi 19; Armin Snyman 3/11). Affies did not bat. No Result.

ROUND 2

Jeppe High School for Boys 140/4 (Vegas Scott 58, Lincoln Casais 23*; Rosh Els 2/20); Selborne College 127/7 (Joshua Wilkie 36, Reid Drake 26, Merick Collins 22*, Dan Tarr 18; Zizi Mkhize 3/21). Selborne College won by five runs (DLS-method).

GIRLS SECTION

Saints Christian School 60/6 (Jessica Joshua 14, Diarabilwe Ngubeni 14; Tshepiso Motswi 2/5, Motlalepule Sebele 2/7); Nkowankowa 35/8 (Diarabilwe Ngubeni 4/10, Reabetswe Dithipe 3/4). Saints Christian School won by 12 runs (DLS-method).