10 February 2026
Michaelhouse continued to build an impressive body of work this season with a polished eight-wicket victory over St Charles College on the Roy Gathorne Oval on Saturday, where the visitors’ decision to bat first proved costly as the hosts’ bowlers seized control early and never let go.
Saints were immediately under pressure when Thandanani Zuma struck twice inside the opening four overs, removing both Keegan Vermaak and Caleb Sharp to leave St Charles wobbling at the top.
Matters worsened when Ryan Clarke, coming off a century against Maritzburg College the previous weekend, fell to Rendani Nonge in the sixth over, reducing the visitors to a precarious 19/3 and firmly handing the initiative to Michaelhouse.
Captain Thando Zama and Owen Widdows briefly steadied the innings, showing some resistance as they added 36 for the fourth wicket. Zama, in particular, played an assured innings and went on to top-score jointly for Saints, but his dismissal proved to be another turning point.
He was caught by Jack Campbell off Preston Greene for 34, a blow from which St Charles struggled to recover. Connor Simpson matched Zama’s tally, while Widdows’ 18 was the only other score of note in an innings that never truly found momentum.
Michaelhouse’s bowling performance was marked by discipline and depth, with contributions coming from across the attack.
Zuma set the tone with a probing spell of 2/13 from eight overs, while Liam O’Dwyer applied sustained pressure through the middle overs, finishing with 2/23 from 10. Greene was sharp and effective, claiming 2/18 in just 5.1 overs, and the supporting cast ensured there was no respite.
Rendani Nonge, Rex Wardlaw and Ben Heuer each chipped in with a wicket as St Charles was dismissed for 120.
In reply, Michaelhouse approached the chase with calm assurance. Wardlaw, fresh from his efforts with the ball, took responsibility at the top of the order alongside captain Graydon Leslie. While Leslie departed for a measured 14, Wardlaw was just getting started.
He found an ideal partner in Riley Muir, and together they all but settled the contest with a commanding 76-run stand for the second wicket. Muir played a composed supporting role, contributing a patient 25 before departing with the hosts already well on course at 107/2.
Wardlaw, though, was the driving force behind the run chase. Unbeaten on a superb 76, he anchored the innings with maturity and intent, facing 94 deliveries and striking seven boundaries, along with a six.
After 30.1 overs, the hosts 123/2 to wrap up a convincing win, which further underlined their credentials as one of the form teams of the season.
It was Michaelhouse’s day on the cricket fields, but it didn’t quite go all their way, with the Saints’ u16B team breaking up a ‘House clean sweep.
Results
1st XI
St Charles 119/10; Michaelhouse 123/2
Michaelhouse won by eight wickets
2nd XI
St Charles 175/10; Michaelhouse 178/5
Michaelhouse won by five wickets
3rd XI
St Charles 157/6; Michaelhouse 160/5
Michaelhouse won by five wickets
4th XI
Michaelhouse 136/8: St Charles 108/9
Michaelhouse won by 28 runs
u16A
Michaelhouse 262/8: St Charles 171/10
Michaelhouse won by 91 runs
u16B
Michaelhouse 210/9: St Charles 214/6
St Charles won by four wickets
u16C
St Charles 186/6: Michaelhouse 190/7
Michaelhouse won by three wickets
u15A
St Charles 118/10; Michaelhouse 119/3
Michaelhouse won by seven wickets
u15B
St Charles 209/9; Michaelhouse 213/8
Michaelhouse won by two wickets
u15C
Michaelhouse 150/6; St Charles 138/8
Michaelhouse won by 12 runs
u14A
St Charles 48/10: Michaelhouse 49/4
Michaelhouse won by six wickets
u14B
St Charles 163/9; Michaelhouse 165/6
Michaelhouse won by four wickets
u14D
Michaelhouse 169/4; St Charles 69/10
Michaelhouse won by 100 runs
BASKETBALL
Competition in the open age group was tight, with little to separate the sides in most of the matches, but Michaelhouse won all seven despite outscoring Saints only 218 to 167.
‘House emphatically ruled the u16 age group, but the u15 matches went the way of St Charles. At u14 level, results fell Michaelhouse’s way.
Results
1st: Michaelhouse 54-51 St Charles
2nd: Michaelhouse 29-22 St Charles
3rd: Michaelhouse 27-24 St Charles
4th: Michaelhouse 29-16 St Charles
5th: Michaelhouse 29-27 St Charles
6th: Michaelhouse 26-14 St Charles
7th: Michaelhouse 24-11 St Charles
16A: Michaelhouse 56-13 St Charles
16B: Michaelhouse 44-17 St Charles
16C: Michaelhouse 27-3 St Charles
16D: Michaelhouse 35-13 St Charles
16E: Michaelhouse 40-9 St Charles
15A: Michaelhouse 24-41 St Charles
15B: Michaelhouse 23-24 St Charles
15C: Michaelhouse 20-22 St Charles
15D: Michaelhouse 14-22 St Charles
15E: Michaelhouse 14-30 St Charles
14A: Michaelhouse 32-8 St Charles
14B: Michaelhouse 34-17 St Charles
14C: Michaelhouse 29-5 St Charles
14D: Michaelhouse 29-6 St Charles
WATER POLO
Michaelhouse’s ascending water polo programme delivered wins against another ascending programme, that of St Charles, the difference being that ‘House has a big head start, so they’re some levels ahead at present.
Results
1st: Michaelhouse 16-1 St Charles
2nd: Michaelhouse 5-4 St Charles 1st
2nd: Michaelhouse 14-3 St Charles
3rd: Michaelhouse 16-4 St Charles 2nd
3rd: Michaelhouse 7-4 St Charles
4th: Michaelhouse 15-3 St Charles 3rd
15A: Michaelhouse u15B 5-2 St Charles
15A: Michaelhouse u15C 3-9 St Charles
14A: Michaelhouse 12-4 St Charles
14A: Michaelhouse u14B 8-3 St Charles
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