22 February 2024
Northwood welcomed high-flying Durban High School (DHS) to the Robin Smith Oval on Wednesday for a W100 showdown. The visitors were coming off an impressive run to the title in the Clifton T20 Tournament over the weekend, but the Knights found a way to slow the DHS train.
At times this season, Northwood’s batting has been an Achilles heel, while their bowling and fielding has been their strength. On Wednesday, though, they put both together to record a 14-run win.
Having won the toss, Northwood chose to bat first, but they soon found themselves on the back foot at 14/2, which included the dismissal of the in-form Thayin Kuppan. DHS would have rightfully considered themselves to be on top, but the next man in, Nqobani Mokoena had other ideas.
He faced only 13 deliveries, but during that time he delivered the most decisive innings of the match, smashing three sixes and three fours as he boosted the Northwood total with 32 runs.
At the other end, Mfana Shange provided superb support. He was, however, out a ball after Mokoena had been removed for 26 from 17 balls, with five fours. Together the pair had added 50 in just 24 deliveries.
Later, just when it was needed, Kyle White and Connor Leclezio steadied the innings with a stand of 35 for the seventh wicket before White was caught by Sfundo Mthembu off the leg-spin of Jared Havemann for a crucial 23 from 30 balls. Without any addition to the total, which had climbed to 121, Leclezio followed for 16.
The Knights finished on 127/9, which was, on the Robin Smith Oval, a useful total.
Ethan Cooper enjoyed an excellent outing with the ball for DHS, removing four batsmen at a cost of 20 runs from his 15 balls. DHS captain Semal Pillay shone, too, snapping up 2/13 in 15.
Then, the Knights put DHS under early pressure with some tight bowling up front. Eight balls into the innings, Jordan Matthews removed Omar Ismaeel, who had been a strong performer for DHS in the Clifton T20, with no runs yet on the board.
Semal Pillay and Sibusiso Msibi shared a 25-run partnership, but Kyle White then caught Pillay off the bowling of Mason Storm for 11. Storm struck again to remove Msibi for 21 from 14, with DHS falling to 42/3 after 42 balls with his dismissal.
School staged a mini recovery, adding another 21 runs before Sfundo Mthembu was bowled by Connor Leclezio. Within the space of seven runs, they also lost Ethan Cooper and Josh van Biljon. After 69 balls, DHS were in trouble on 70/6.
Jared Havemann and Dalan Naraidu put on 20 together but it took them 15 balls and the visitors needed a bigger boost by then. Naraidu departed with the total on 90, with only 15 balls remaining, and DHS still needed another 38 runs to win. That looked unlikely as they had found the going tough all day.
Bayanda Majola gave them some hope, however, sending a delivery flying over the boundary and weighing in with an undefeated 18 off nine, but it was too little too late. Havemann managed 17, but he was out with the total on 99, and DHS were eventually restricted to 113/8.
Connor Leclezio led the Knights’ bowling attack with 3/23 from 20 balls, while Mason Storm claimed 2/20 from 20, and Jordan Matthews finished with 2/27 from his 20.
Scores
Northwood 127/9 (Nqobani Mokoena 32, Mfana Shange 26, Kyle White 23; Ethan Cooper 4/20, Semal Pillay 2/13); DHS 113/8 (Sibusiso Msibi 21, Bayanda Majola 18*; Connor Leclezio 3/23, Mason Storm 2/20, Jordan Matthews 2/27) Northwood won by 14 runs.
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