11 November 2025
(Feature photo: Michaelhouse captain Ethan Muir, Justin Waldman Sports Photography)
In a tense Pink Day showdown in support of the Pink Drive, Michaelhouse edged past Hilton College in dramatic fashion on Saturday, securing a nail-biting two-run victory in a limited overs clash at the Roy Gathorne Oval in Balgowan.
After posting 190 all out, Michaelhouse found themselves under pressure as Hilton reached 94/2, seemingly well on course for victory. But with the visitors’ overs dwindling, the hosts held their nerve to pull off a memorable win, despite a superb 62 from Hilton’s Ben Hockly.
After the toss went his way, Michaelhouse captain Ethan Muir chose to bat first. His decision looked sound as he and Rex Wardlaw rebuilt after the early loss of William Russon, who was bowled by Sechaba Gude for four.
The pair combined well for a 75-run partnership from 108 deliveries, stabilising the innings after the early setback. Muir played positively, striking seven fours and a six in his 53 from 66 balls before he fell with the total on 95.
Wardlaw followed shortly afterwards for a patient 27 off 66, and when Benoit Rey dismissed both Graydon Leslie and Hayden Hewlett in quick succession, Michaelhouse suddenly found themselves teetering on 106/5.
Cody Sander and Ben Heuer defied Hilton, however, adding 32 valuable runs before both departed in quick succession, with Sander out for 19 and Heuer for 26, which included two boundaries and a six.
Late contributions from Nicholas Baker, who chipped in with 17, and Radhesh Jhilmeet, who made 14, alongside 20 extras, helped ‘House reach 190 before being bowled out in the 47th over.
Rey was the standout bowler for Hilton, applying pressure throughout with his accuracy and control. His 10-over spell yielded 3/23, while Luke Wilson, with 2/33, and Luke Campbell, with 2/40, also made useful contributions. Gude, despite being slightly expensive with figures of 2/58, also enjoyed success.
Hilton’s reply began steadily, if a touch cautiously. Openers Barack Munawa and Ben Wilson put together a 45-run stand, before Munawa fell to Wardlaw for 23. Four runs later, Wilson’s patient 69-ball vigil ended when Jhilmeet bowled him for 14.
The pressure applied by Jhilmeet and Heuer, who both conceded only 29 runs from their 10 overs, proved telling, stifling Hilton’s scoring, which led to mistakes.
Even the usually fluent Alex Pitman found runs hard to come by, scratching out 17 off 43 balls before being bowled by Liam O’Dwyer. When Luke Campbell and Simon Steyn followed soon after, Hilton slumped to 114/6 in the 39th over, still requiring 77 runs from the final 68 balls – a scoring rate they hadn’t yet managed.
Hockly, though, refused to back down. Mixing composure with aggression, he found the boundary eight times on his way to a fine 62 from 70 deliveries before being bowled by Rendani Nonge in the 44th over. Nonge struck again soon after, removing Cameron Hargroves for 22 from 21, which reduceed Hilton to 159/8.
Still, the visitors fought bravely. Sange Qangule‘s run out in the final over for 16 left Hilton needing seven runs with one wicket in hand.
With the game on the line, Jhilmeet held his nerve, conceding just four runs from the final four deliveries to seal a heart-stopping two-run victory for Michaelhouse, which was a fitting climax to a day of passion, rivalry, and purpose.
SCORES
Michaelhouse 190/10(Ethan Muir 53, Ben Heuer 32, Rex Wardlaw 27, Extras 20; Benoit Rey 3/23, Luke Wilson 2/33, Luke Campbell 2/39, Sechaba Gude 2/58); Hilton College 188/9(Ben Hockly 62, Cameron Hargroves 22, Barack Munawa 20; Rex Wardlaw 3/31, Rendani Nonge 2/7). Michaelhouse won by two runs.
Overall, Michaelhouse won five and Hilton was victorious in three of the eight matches. The u15A went Michaelhouse’s way, but the u14A result was in Hilton’s favour.
RESULTS
1st XI
Michaelhouse 190/10; Hilton 188/9
Michaelhouse won by two runs
2nd XI
Michaelhouse 214/10; Hilton 215/3
Hilton won by seven wickets
3rd XI
Hilton 137/10; Michaelhouse 139/2
Michaelhouse won by eight wickets
u15A
Michaelhouse 230/5; Hilton 188/9
Michaelhouse won by 42 runs
u15B
Hilton 26/10; Michaelhouse 27/0
Michaelhouse won by 10 wickets
u15C
Michaelhouse 172/6; Hilton 111/6
Michaelhouse won by 61 runs
u14A
Michaelhouse 94/10; Hilton 97/4
Hilton won by six wickets
u14B
Hilton 129/10; Michaelhouse 126/10
Hilton won by three runs
BASKETBALL
On the basketball court, Hilton, who’ve enjoyed a strong fourth term, edged out Michaelhouse by six points in the 1st team game. ‘House, though, won three of the five open age group games.
Hilton picked up wins in all four u16 matches, while Michaelhouse won three of five at u15 level, although the A-team win went Hiton’s way.
Competition in the u14 games was tight, with Hilton edging out Michaelhouse 34-32 in the meeting of the A-sides, which was the same result as in the u16A game, and winning three of the five clashes.
RESULTS
1st: Michaelhouse 46-52 Hilton
2nd: Michaelhouse 19-33 Hilton
3rd: Michaelhouse 33-22 Hilton
4th: Michaelhouse 28-21 Hilton
5th: Michaelhouse 24-6 Hilton
16A: Michaelhouse 32-34 Hilton
16B: Michaelhouse 19-30 Hilton
16C: Michaelhouse 16-19 Hilton
16D: Michaelhouse 13-25 Hilton
15A: Michaelhouse 19-30 Hilton
15B: Michaelhouse 36-20 Hilton
15C: Michaelhouse 15-24 Hilton
15D: Michaelhouse 13-11 Hilton
15E: Michaelhouse 33-28 Hilton
14A: Michaelhouse 32-34 Hilton
14B: Michaelhouse 27-24 Hilton
14C: Michaelhouse 11-23 Hilton
14D: Michaelhouse 11-21 Hilton
14E: Michaelhouse 18-12 Hilton
WATER POLO
In the pool, Michaelhouse grabbed a narrow one-goal win over Hilton for their first win in a number of seasons over their arch-rivals.
It was a sound showing from ‘House, who won five matches, four of them in the open age group, and it served as a warning to their other KZN rivals that Michaelhouse’s water polo is on the rise. Hilton, though, picked up one more win, eclipsing the Balgowan boys 6-5 overall.
RESULTS
1st: Michaelhouse 11-10 Hilton
2nd: Michaelhouse 6-12 Hilton
3rd: Michaelhouse 7-6 Hilton
4th: Michaelhouse 12-4 Hilton
5th: Michaelhouse 7-6 Hilton 4th
15A: Michaelhouse 2-6 Hilton
15B: Michaelhouse 5-9 Hilton
15C: Michaelhouse 6-8 Hilton
14A: Michaelhouse 5-6 Hilton
14B: Michaelhouse 8-5 Hilton
14C: Michaelhouse 3-9 Hilton
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