Partnerships of 117 then 56 then 35 propelled the seeded St Charles College first XI to 217/6 in their allotted 20 overs in quarter-final 2 of the CSA KZN Inland Coca-Cola Schools T20 Challenge against qualifiers Pongola Hub first XI on the Jack Hart-Davis Oval at Hilton College this morning. In reply, Pongola were bowled out for 63 to give the Saints victory by 154 runs.

Jason Muirhead (3 wickets for 2 runs) and Nathan Lunderstedt (2 for 16) were the primary wicket-takers for St Charles with Keegan Crawford, Tim Login and Jens Lutge getting one apiece to add to the run outs (Steven Scott).

In quarter-final 1 it was one-way traffic for the seeded Maritzburg College first XI against qualifiers Alexandra High School first XI(see below).

Defending KZN Inland champions, reigning Dolphins franchise champions and 2019 national title finalists St Charles College first XI lost a wicket without a run on the scoreboard (Pongola’s opening bowler Sbonelo Nkosi trapping the in-form Nathan Lunderstedt in front) before opening batsman Taygen Mollentze and first wicket Hayden Raw powered 117 for the second wicket, this after Pongola had won the toss and put the Saints in.

 

 

Mollentze was eventually run out by Mzwandile Ndlela for a a quick-fire 59 off 36 balls that included 4 fours and 2 sixes at a strike rate of 164.

Then it was Hayden Raw and number 4 Chaise Botha who put on 56 for the third wicket before Raw was run out by Nathia Phakathi for an 83 that came at a strike rate of 189 (44 balls, 7 fours and 3 sixes).

Jason Muirhead joined Chaise Botha and the pair scored 35 for the fourth wicket before Muirhead was run out for 26 off 15 balls (2 fours and a strike rate of 173).

Chaise Botha was eventually caught by Ntokozo Msibi off the bowling of Mzwandile Ndlela for 35 (21b 4×4 SR173) before Steven Scott was run out by Vumokwakhe Phakathi for 0 at the death.

 

 

* In the quarter-final 1 match between the seeded Maritzburg College first XI and qualifiers Alexandra High School first XI on the Weightman-Smith ground at Hilton, the Alex lads, who had won the toss and opted to bat, were dismissed for 33 in 13.2 overs after the total stood at 22/4 after 8.4 of the permitted 20.

Maritzburg College off-spinner Robert Akerman took 5 wickets for 7 runs in 3 overs with captain and off-spinner Kent Goedeke and leg-spinner Mark Lathwaite picking up a wicket apiece. Michael King, Goedeke and vice-captain Ross Klusener effected the remaining 3 wickets via run outs.

College openers Stefan Delport and Daniel Bruyns knocked off the 33-run target in 3.3 overs to end with the total on 34 without loss and a 10-wicket victory.

The Red Black and White will play in tomorrow’s 9am semi-final on the Jack Hart-Davis Oval against the winners of this afternoon’s 1pm match between Michaelhouse and St Dominic’s College of Newcastle.

 

 

The other semi-final at 9am tomorrow on Weightman-Smith ground will see St Charles up against the winners of this afternoon’s 1pm match between Hilton College and Treverton College.

The final tomorrow (Wednesday) is at 1pm on the Hart-Davis Oval.