After Wednesday’s underdone defeat to Rondebosch captain Michael Booth’s Hilton College first XI are looking for back-to-back victories in the Independent Schools Cricket Festival’s Thursday action.

Feature image: Michael Booth, Hilton College first XI captain, U17 National Week All-Rounder of the Tournament in action here for Dolphins U19 at Cubs Week a few days ago. Image courtesy of RenateMontyPhotos

It’s the 50-over vs St John’s Harare today and the T20 tonight vs fellow Zimbabweans Falcon College.

Hilton posted 224 in 47 of 50 vs St John’s Harare this Thursday morning after Boothie won the toss. St John’s beat Kearsney in a T20 this week.

 

At the time of this posting (14h49 Thursday) St John’s had just been bundled out for 93 with 16-year-old Dolphins U19 leg-spinner and promising batsman Colby Dyer (4), young fast bowler Matt Boast (2) the outstanding KZN Inland U17 left-arm spinner Mike Frost (3) and the excellent 2018 HC first XI opening bowler John Turner (1) among the HC wickets.

So Hilton 224 to St John’s Harare’s 93. Orando et Laborando by 131.

Of Hilton’s 224 all out vs St John’s on Oaks Field at Bishops the heavy-scoring age-group batsman Nick Hatton made his maiden HC first XI 50 (62 in the end) with the other notable scores coming from opener Joshua Watt 31 and Chris Meyer 29.

Hilton got off to a champion start at 55/1 after 7 then 105/2 in the 18^th and the momentum was still positive with the total 131/3 at the 25-over halfway stage, before the Goddess Cricket continued smiling on Orando et Laborando at 176/3 off 33, but the feisty Zimbabweans pulled it back.

 

In the 50-over WEDNESDAY home side Rondebosch (187/8) beat Hilton (105) by 82 runs.

Here’s Warwickshire County pro Tim Groenewald, the Maritzburg College Old Boy, on his Hilton team vs Rondebosch:

“We put ourselves in a decent position with the ball restricting them to around 80 for 5 before some very good partnerships from their lower middle order, which saw them get 187 off their 50 overs.

“We never really got going with the bat struggling to put any meaningful partnerships together; at 34 overs we were 98 for 4 and giving ourselves a chance, but we fell apart to some quality bowling.

 

“It was a tough first game but hopefully one that we can learn from and improve going forward.”

* Tim heads the HC first XI coaching role in the absence of Dale Benkenstein who as Proteas batting coach is presently fulfilling those duties.

# Hilton left out Colby Dyer and Nick Campbell for Wednesday’s Rondebosch match.

 

Rondebosch were on a precarious 68/5 after electing to bat on their picturesque Oval with outstanding HC seamer Tom Dixon (10-2-26-3) and first XI debutant the grade 10 paceman Matt Boast (5-2-10-2) knocking over the Bosch top 5.

It was a special moment for the Dixon and Boast families watching the two cousins bowling in tandem and with such success.

But cometh the hour… Keagan Mountjoy (58 80b 5×4 2×6) and player of the match Guy Sheena (36) adding 60 for the 6^th wicket which in turn enabled the Bosch tailenders to finish off the innings strongly.

 

Chasing 188 off 300 it was very much Hilton’s game for the taking – and at 93/4 after 16 it was still HC holding the baton… but finger spinner Sheena had other ideas – and 8 overs 5 maidens 5 wickets for 9 runs was the result.

Hilton all out for 105. Defeat by 82.

The great thing is that at the close of each and every day one page closes and a clean sheet emerges at the dawn of the next.

Go Boys of Hilton. It’s BIG THURSDAY.