3 February 2026
A masterclass in patience and control at the top of the order laid the platform for a dominant Westville Boys’ High performance as the Griffins powered to a thumping 170-run victory over Clifton College in their limited-overs match on Bowden’s Field on Saturday.
After Clifton skipper Shiraz Perumal lost the toss, Westville captain Kyle McGough had no hesitation in batting first in oppressive, humid conditions. What followed was the defining phase of the match, as Aidan Baudach and Ewan du Toit produced a textbook opening partnership, absorbing pressure, rotating strike, and steadily wearing down the visiting attack.
Their 118-run stand, compiled in just over 30 overs, sucked the energy out of Clifton and left the visitors chasing the game long before the halfway mark.
The breakthrough eventually came via off-spinner Muhammed Malek, the seventh bowler used by Perumal, who delivered a tidy and disciplined spell. He bowled du Toit for a watchful 38 from 83 balls, an innings built around restraint rather than flair, featuring just two boundaries.
Five balls later, Clifton struck again when Perumal removed Baudach for a polished 68. Baudach had faced 100 deliveries and struck nine fours. His continued evolution as an opener has been one of Westville’s biggest positives this season. A lower-order batsman last year, the wicketkeeper has embraced his new role, providing consistent and composed starts across formats.
Although none of the middle-order batsmen were able to push on to significant scores, they all contributed meaningfully. Misbah Nair injected some late momentum with an enterprising 32 from 24 balls, clearing the ropes twice and finding the boundary once more. McGough chipped in with 20, while Jamie Hasselbach added a brisk 23 not out as Westville closed on a formidable 256/7 from their 50 overs.
Perumal was the standout with the ball for Clifton, using his leg-spin cleverly to claim 1/34 from 10 overs, while Malek’s 1/23 from seven helped to keep the total from climbing even higher.
After a long and draining stint in the field, Clifton required their openers to produce a similar foundation, but those hopes were dashed early. Daniyaal Klinck and Malek both fell inside the first six overs, and when the visitors slumped to 40/5, the contest was effectively over.
Hasselbach did the damage, removing the key men, Hayden Drieselmann and Perumal, cheaply.
Daniel Rea offered brief resistance with 19 from 26 balls, including a cleanly struck six, but wickets continued to tumble. Clifton was bundled out for just 86 in 26.3 overs.
Du Toit capped a fine all-round display with 3/14, while Hasselbach (2/12) and Nair (2/19) ensured Westville’s grip never loosened.
It was a comprehensive performance from the Griffins, while Clifton will look to regroup quickly ahead of the forthcoming Clifton T20 Tournament.
Westville Boys’ High 256/7 (Aidan Baudach 68, Ewan du Toit 38, Misbah Nair 32, Jamie Hasselbach 23*, Kyle McGough 20; Muhammed Malek 1/23); Clifton College 86/10 (Daniel Rea 19; Ewan du Toit 3/14, Jamie Hasslebach 2/12, Misbah Nair 2/19). Westville Boys’ High won by 170 runs.
The results trended Westville’s way, with the best contests coming in the u16 age group, where Westville scored a tight win in the u16A match and Clifton won narrowly in the u16B clash.
Results
2nd XI
Clifton 102/10; Westville 103/4
Westville won by six wickets
3rd XI
Clifton 98/8; Westville 99/2
Westville won by eight wickets
u16A
Clifton 142/10; Westville 143/7
Westville won by three wickets
u16B
Clifton 100/10; Westville 88/10
Clifton won by 12 runs
u15A
Westville 293/10; Clifton 70/10
Westville won by 223 runs
u15B
Clifton 62/10; Westville 64/2
Westville won by eight wickets
u14A
Clifton 159/10; Westville 160/7
Westville won by three wickets
u14B
Clifton 191/9; Westville 102/1
Westville won by nine wickets
u14C
Westville 180/1; Clifton 47/10
Westville won by 133 runs
Other results
3rd XI
Westville 166/6; Curro Hillcrest 2nd XI 39/10
Westville won by 127 runs
u16B
Hillcrest High 1st 112/10; Westville 113/6
Westville won by four wickets
u16F
Westville 38/10; Hillcrest High u14A/B 31/10
Westville won by seven runs
u15E
Northwood 12/10; Westville 13/0
Westville won by 10 wickets
u14C
Northwood 138/8; Westville 141/4
Westville won by six wickets
WATER POLO
In the pool, Westville gave Clifton a hard time. The visitors opened up a comfortable 4-1 lead by halftime, but the Griffins owned the third chukka, pulling to within a goal at 4-5.
Clifton, eventually, pulled away to win 7-4, which included a long-range strike just before the final whistle after Westville had pulled their goalkeeper.
It’s a demanding challenge taking on Westville, Clifton coach Pierre le Roux said after the game: “You really have to prepare differently because if you always come with the same gameplan – the teams match up quite evenly – it puts us both under a lot of pressure. Today, we tried to adapt a little bit to their zone and play a more mobile game.
“In the first half, we struggled to get into our rhythm. Then, in the third quarter, we let them back in. We were back to our old ways, but, luckily, in the fourth quarter we calmed down a bit and found our groove again.
“It’s tricky when you play teams that know you well, but it’s a good test. The coaches test new things – what works, what doesn’t. We are all preparing for the KES Water Polo Tournament, so you have to try different things to see if it works.”
“I think that’s where you have to compliment Westville. They play as a team. This was a very good test for us, to see how we can break down a group of good players. Instead of four or five individuals you have to lock up, you’re dealing with 13 or 14 guys who are playing well together.
Westville gave as good as they got, Le Roux added, and they were, perhaps, deserved a little bit more than they got out of the game: “I think Westville was unlucky today. They’ve been unlucky in a few games, and credit has to go to Matt Stringer for the hard work he is putting in with this programme. I think they’ll be back, and I think they’ll be a strong side at KES, as well,” he said.
Besides the 1st team match, the u15A clash went down to the wire, with Westville overcoming – much like their 1st side – a 1-4 deficit and, in fact, they levelled at 5-5 late in the fourth chukka before Clifton snatched a hard-fought 6-5 victory.
Overall, Westville won five matches, Clifton two, and one was drawn.
Results
1st: Westville 4-7 Clifton
3rd: Westville 9-6 Clifton
4th: Westville 5-5 Clifton
5th: Westville 7-6 Clifton
15A: Westville 5-6 Clifton
15B: Westville 13-0 Clifton
14A: Westville 5-3 Clifton
14B: Westville 11-2 Clifton
Clifton 2nds at Pearson 2nd Team Festival
Clifton 3-4 Merrifield College
Clifton 4-8 Rondebosch
Clifton 3-0 Selborne
Clifton 7-8 St Andrew’s College 3rd
Clifton 7-0 Reddam House Constantia
Clifton 2-5 Wynberg
BASKETBALL
Westville ran out to a big home victory over Clifton in the meeting of the 1st teams.
While Clifton moved the ball down the court reasonably well, they were stonewalled near the Westville basket, leading to the visitors, whose mid- and long-range shooting let them down, trying to drive to the basket, where they were swamped by Westville defenders.
The home side’s offensive rebounding, along with fast breaks after forcing turnovers, gave Westville plenty of easy buckets.
While the day belonged to Westville, competition in the u14 age group’s A and B games was tight, with Clifton claiming a narrow victory in the A match, and Westville winning by one in the B match.
1st: Westville 85-29 Clifton
2nd: Westville 40-21 Clifton
3rd: Westville 58-11 Clifton
4th: Westville 63-12 Clifton
5th: Westville 26-14 Clifton
6th: Westville 59-5 Clifton
16A: Westville 52-22 Clifton
16B: Westville 33-5 Clifton
16C: Westville 29-26 Clifton
16D: Westville 55-5 Clifton
15A: Westville 34-21 Clifton
15B: Westville 65-8 Clifton
15C: Westville 68-5 Clifton
14A: Westville 9-13 Clifton
14B: Westville 16-15 Clifton
14C: Westville 36-4 Clifton
14D: Westville 29-0 Clifton
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