Enthusiastic 1 st X1 cricketers from around the country enjoyed great weather, good pitches and healthy competition in this year’s Grahamstown Schools Cricket Festival which was sponsored by Pam Golding.
Enthusiastic 1 st X1 cricketers from around the country enjoyed great weather, good pitches and healthy competition in this year’s Grahamstown Schools Cricket Festival which was sponsored by Pam Golding.
The participating teams, St Andrew’s College, Graeme College, Kingswood College, Grahamstown Rural, Wynberg Boys High School, St Dominic’s Priory, Cambridge High School, Dale College, Hudson Park High School, St Andrew’s School (Bloemfontein), St Alban’s College, and Trinityhouse High School all gained valuable pre-season practice in the longer version of the game.
The declaration matches involved more than 120 overs in a day and enabled coaches and players to experience the game of cricket at its best. Carl Bradfield, director of cricket at St Andrew’s and festival organiser said the festival "went off well with some good cricket played throughout".
There were some low scoring matches as well as encounters involving astute declarations that went the full distance. During the opening day on Thursday, Kingswood pulled off a superb win against St Alban’s chasing down 258, with Steven Hansel making a superb 135, and Kingswood winning by five wickets.
St Andrew’s (Grahamstown) faced St Andrew’s School (Bloemfontein) in their first match. The local side bowled St Andrew’s Bloem out for 133 runs after 54 overs. Damon Weeks picked up 3 wickets for 22 runs.
A good second wicket partnership between Sasha Gunn and Philip de la Farge took College to 100/1, but losing 3 quick wickets put the home side under a little pressure. Sasha Gunn struck the ball well and he made 60 runs.
The hosts managed to hold their composure and won by 6 wickets. Graeme were involved in an intense battle with Dale in their opening match of the festival. Graeme dismissed Dale for 173. Graeme responded well and fought all the way with Lee Mapaling leading from the front and scoring 54.
However, the total of 173 was out of Graeme’s reach and Dale won by 33 runs. On Saturday, the final day of the festival, St Andrew’s and St Alban’s enjoyed an interesting encounter. St Andrew’s declared on 289/6 leaving St Alban’s 60 overs to take up the tough challenge.
James Price top scored with 84 and Richard O’Mahony finished off the innings with a solid 51 not out. St Alban’s batted positively and finished on 223/7. Ryan Dugmore made his presence felt throughout the afternoon claiming five wickets. A Grahamstown Rural team, made up of pupils from Grahamstown and Port Alfred also took part in the festival.
The Grahamstown Rural team was made up of Duane Brown (captain), Valentino Fillis, Ruwayne Brooks, Deveron Gysman, Calferno de Lange, Christopher Abrahams (all from Mary Waters Secondary School), Luvuyo Frans, Mandilake Mkolo, Xolisani Booi, Xoliswa Booi (all from Nombulelo Secondary School), Matthew Bowdler, Darren Elliott and Sino Bakaqana (all from Port Alfred High School).
Bradfield thanked Pam Golding, Graeme, Kingswood and St Andrew’s “for your efforts and for continually contributing towards the longevity of cricket in the Eastern Cape”. Results from the final days play: Kingswood vs St Andrew’s School Bloemfontein: Kingswood 189 all out (Neil Hornbuckle 98), St Andrew’s School (Bloemfontein) 193/8.
St Andrew’s School (Bloemfontein) won by two wickets. St Andrew’s (Grahamstown) vs St Alban’s: St Andrew’s won the toss and chose to bat.291/6 declared (James Price 81, Richard O’Mahony 51 not out), St Alban’s 218/7 (Ryan Dugmore 5 for 71 in 23 overs). Match drawn.
Hudson Park vs Trinityhouse: Hudson Park 214/7. Trinityhouse 216/6. Trinityhouse High School won by four wickets. Dale vs Wynberg: Dale 118 all out.
Wynberg 120/5. Wynberg won by 5 wickets St Dominic’s Priory vs Grahamstown Rural Grahamstown Rural 137 all out (Luvuyo Frans 52), St Dominic’s 138/4. St Dominic’s won by six wickets. Graeme vs Cambridge: Graeme 191/5 (Thandi Nqowana 59 not out), Cambridge 192/6 (Nqowana 3/24). Cambridge won by four wickets with two balls to spare.
