10 February 2026
(Feature photo: Kearsney College centurion Gary Verbaan, courtesy of Samir Reddy)
Kearsney College delivered a statement performance on the AH Smith Oval on Saturday, brushing aside Glenwood by 129 runs as a measured, disciplined batting effort was followed by a sharp and decisive showing with the ball.
After winning the toss, captain Keegan de Jager elected to bat, a call that was briefly tested when Rivaan Moodley was dismissed for six in the fourth over. It proved to be little more than a momentary interruption.
What followed was a long, controlled passage of play in which Kearsney built patiently, denying Glenwood the breakthroughs they desperately needed while steadily pushing the score along.
To Glenwood’s credit, their bowlers maintained good discipline and largely kept the run rate in check, but wickets were hard to come by. It took them another 278 deliveries and 194 runs to claim their second scalp, underlining both Kearsney’s application and the frustration felt by the visitors.
That second wicket came right at the end of the innings, with Aaron Blackburn departing three balls from the close after an outstanding knock of 87 from 137 balls, which included seven well-timed boundaries.
Esihle Gasa then struck with the final delivery of the innings to remove De Jager, completing a tidy return of 2/29 from nine overs, while Qhamani Sikutshwa also impressed with 1/29 from his full quota.
Yet even their combined efforts could not dislodge Gary Verbaan. Having consistently stood out across the age groups en route to earning his place in the Kearsney first XI, Verbaan showed that the step up held no fears. Batting with maturity and assurance, he compiled a superb unbeaten 104 from 155 deliveries, striking seven fours and two sixes to record his maiden century at first-team level.
At the end of their 50 overs, Kearsney had amassed a solid 211/3, a total that always looked likely to test Glenwood’s depth.
Any hope of a competitive chase quickly faded as Kearsney’s opening bowlers struck early, removing the Green Machine’s top three to leave them struggling on 23/3 in the eighth over.
A devastating spell then followed, effectively settling the contest. In the space of just 35 balls, Glenwood slumped from 36/3 to 48/7 with wickets falling at regular intervals.
The collapse was a collective effort rather than the work of a single bowler, with three Kearsney bowlers sharing wickets and Verbaan contributing a sharp run out of Sebastian Oertel to further compound Glenwood’s woes.
Charles Nkwanyana provided the lone note of resistance, playing with intent in a brisk 28 from 40 balls that featured two fours and two sixes, the top score of the innings.
However, the end came swiftly when Rivaan Moodley, who had earlier trapped the dangerous Mishael Gunawardana lbw, wrapped things up with two wickets in three balls and Glenwood was dismissed for 82 in 30.3 overs.
Moodley finished with impressive figures of 3/19 from 7.3 overs, James Bishop claimed 2/8 from four, and Michael Groom returned 2/18 from five as Kearsney completed a comprehensive all-round victory.
It was Kearsney’s day and they came away with a clean record from the cricket clashes, although Glenwood came within a whisker of a victory in the u14B match, which was a nail-biter, decided by less than a boundary.
Results
1st XI
Kearsney 211/3; Glenwood 82/10
Kearsney won by 129 runs
2nd XI
Glenwood 61/10; Kearsney 62/3
Kearsney won by seven wickets
u16A
Glenwood 147/10: Kearsney 152/2
Kearsney won by eight wickets
u16B
Kearsney 199/6; Glenwood 73/9
Kearsney won by 126 runs
u15A
Kearsney 309/9: Glenwood 119/10
Kearsney won by 190 runs
u14A
Glenwood 117/10: Kearsney 120/1
Kearsney won by nine wickets
u14B
Kearsney 108/10; Glenwood 106/10
Kearsney won by two runs
BASKETBALL
It has been a very good basketball season for Kearsney’s 1st team, and they delivered on expectations with a solid win over Glenwood.
Matters were far tougher against Kearsney College Old Boys (KCOB), but the school side came through on the right side of the result in the end, winning 61-57.
Kudos, too, to the Kearsney u14C team, which placed third in the Hoops Mania U14 Tournament, where they competed against u14 teams from Tier Two schools.
Results
1st: Kearsney 75-45 Glenwood
1st: Kearsney 61-57 KCOB
2nd: Kearsney 54-18 Glenwood
3rd: Kearsney 36-29 Howick High
4th: Kearsney 23-30 Thomas More College
4th: Kearsney 26-17 Reddam House Umhlanga
4th: Kearsney 25-26 Pinetown Boys’ High
5th: Kearsney 63-5 Glenwood 3rd
6th: Kearsney 18-28 Maritzburg College
16A: Kearsney 37-15 KCOB B
16B: Kearsney 51-13 Glenwood
16C: Kearsney 40-25 Glenwood
16D: Kearsney 19-30 Waterfall College
16E: Kearsney 20-28 Maritzburg College
15A: Kearsney 43-21 Glenwood
15B: Kearsney 18-14 Glenwood
15C: Kearsney 30-6 Glenwood
15D: Kearsney 13-27 Howick High
15E: Kearsney 18-29 Maritzburg College
14A: Kearsney 34-13 Glenwood
14B: Kearsney 28-18 Glenwood
14C: Kearsney 11-9 New Forest
14C: Kearsney 9-16 Crawford College North Coast
14C: Kearsney 14-7 Reddam House Umhlanga
14D: Kearsney 14-19 Howick High
14E: Kearsney vs 10-27 Glenwood u14C
WATER POLO
Kearsney Water Polo Night Series
Kearsney 14-7 Maritzburg College
Hilton 10-10 Northwood
Westville 13-5 DHS 13-5
Kearsney’s 1st team is working hard to peak for the King Edward VII (KES) Water Polo Tournament, which brings together the best teams in the country, and Glenwood found out that coach Nic Rodda and his players are on track to mount a challenge in Johannesburg.
Kearsney’s strength in depth was also on display as they handily won their clashes in the pool.
Results
1st: Kearsney 27-4 Glenwood
2nd: Kearsney 16-2 Glenwood
3rd: Kearsney 19-1 Glenwood
15B: Kearsney 18-5 Glenwood u15A
14B: Kearsney 19-0 Glenwood u14A
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