3 March 2026
On the Theobald Oval on Saturday, momentum swung briefly, then Durban High School (DHS) seized the initiative through Josh van Biljon and Ismaeel Omar, and Westville Boys’ High never came close to taking it back.
A towering 198-run third-wicket partnership between the pair carried School to a commanding 73-run limited-overs victory, transforming an even contest into a long, punishing stint in the field for the visitors.
Westville’s decision to bowl first appeared justified early on. Suliman Jadwat and Aktar Basha were both removed before reaching double figures, and at 46/2 in the 11th over, DHS was hardly flying. That soon changed.
Ismaeel Omar and captain Josh van Biljon came together and methodically dismantled the visitors’ plans. For 35.4 overs, Westville searched for answers. They tried nine different bowlers. In the 47th over, they finally prised the pair apart, but the damage had been done.
Van Biljon, in particular, had been waiting for a statement innings. By his lofty standards, 2026 had been quieter than usual. The runs had come, but not the defining score. On Saturday in Durban, that changed emphatically.
He was the aggressor, dictating terms, while Omar provided the calm, unshakeable foundation. Together, they turned promise into dominance.
When Misbah Nair finally broke the stand by bowling Omar, the opener had crafted a fine century. His 100 came from 137 balls and featured eight fours – an innings of patience and poise that laid the platform.
At the other end, Van Biljon pressed on relentlessly. By the close of the 50 overs, he stood unbeaten on a magnificent 162 from just 132 deliveries. Thirteen fours and seven sixes flowed from his blade in an innings that blended timing, power, and authority.
DHS closed on an imposing 294/3 – a formidable total on the Theobald Oval.
Lwandle Bulose, with 1/20 from four overs, emerged with the most economical figures for Westville, but it had been a tough outing for the Westville bowlers.
Chasing 295 required belief and a brisk start, but Westville found neither.
Aiden Baudach, their most reliable run-scorer this season, was trapped in front by Taine Havermann for six. Josh Morley removed Ewan du Toit cheaply, and Seth Edwards effected the run out of Ashton Kidgell, which left the visitors under early pressure on 44/3 in the 10th over.
Tristin Delvin and captain Kyle McGough steadied the ship, adding 49 for the fourth wicket, before Delvin was adjudged LBW to Tristan Quail for 20. Aarin Rasmussen‘s stay was fleeting, but McGough found support from Jamie Hasselbach.
Their 65-run stand kept Westville in the hunt. McGough, resolute and composed, struck nine fours and a six in a determined 73 from 95 balls before Havermann returned to bowl him. It was a pivotal moment in the run chase.
Hasselbach shifted gears. His 67 from 52 deliveries, decorated with five fours and four sixes, briefly threatened to tilt the momentum. Alongside Nair, he added 45 runs and injected urgency into the pursuit.
But just as Westville appeared to be mounting a late surge, Edwards intervened decisively.
He removed Hasselbach and then tore through the lower order with remarkable efficiency. In a devastating burst, he claimed 4/13 in just 2.5 overs, snuffing out any lingering resistance. Westville’s innings folded for 221, lasting a mere 2.4 overs beyond Hasselbach’s dismissal.
Havermann’s 2/47 from eight overs included the key wickets of Baudach and McGough, but it was Edwards’ electric spell that slammed the door shut.
In truth, though, the contest had been defined much earlier, during that immense third-wicket partnership. Omar’s measured century and Van Biljon’s commanding 162 not out ensured that DHS dictated proceedings from early in the contest.
On the Theobald Oval, they were clinical, composed, and, when it mattered most, they were dominant.
Scores
Durban High School 294/3 (Josh van Biljon 162*, Ismaeel Omar 101; Lwandle Bulose 1/20); Westville Boys’ High 221/10 (Kyle McGough 73, Jamie Hasselbach 67, Tristin Delvin 20; Seth Edwards 4/13, Taine Havermann 2/47). Durban High School won by 73 runs.
RESULTS
1st XI
DHS 294/3; Westville 221/10
DHS won by 73 runs
2nd XI
Westville 243/8; DHS 105/10
Westville won by 138 runs
3rd XI
DHS 67/10; Westville 71/4
Westville won by 6 wickets
4th XI
DHS 102/8; Westville WB 103/2
Westville won by 8 wickets
5th XI
DHS 141/9; Westville 103/10
DHS won by 38 runs
u16A
Westville 141/10; DHS 142/5
DHS won by 5 wickets
u15A
Westville 357/9 (Osman 201); DHS 31/10
Westville won by 326 runs
u15C
DHS 54/10; Westville 58/5
Westville won by 5 wickets
u15D
Westville WBHS 300/6; DHS 30/10
Westville won by 279 runs
u15E
Westville 148/4; Maritzburg College 150/3
Maritzburg College won by 7 wickets
u15G
Westville 100/8; Maritzburg College 101/2
Maritzburg College won by 8 wickets
u14A
Westville 199/9; DHS 114/10
Westville won by 85 runs
u14C
DHS 157/6; Westville 159/3
Westville won by 7 wickets
BASKETBALL
KZN Top 10
Overall, Westville placed fifth and DHS sixth in the KZN Top 10 Competition.
1st Team
Westville 56-55 Northwood
Westville 64-52 Hilton
Westville 42=52 St Charles
Westville 81-30 Clifton
Westville 45-56 Maritzburg College
Westville 60-39 St Charles
Westville finished 3rd
DHS 73-32 Glenwood
DHS 64-63 Kearsney
DHS 45-39 Michaelhouse
DHS 32-74 Maritzburg College
DHS 50-52 Hilton
DHS 60-43 Northwood
DHS finished 7th
u16A
Westville 28-32 Northwood
Westville 27-44 Hilton
Westville 46-26 St Charles
Westville 38-33 Clifton
Westville 19-35 DHS
Westville 35-34 St Charles
Westville finished 7th
DHS 23-29 Kearsney
DHS 36-28 Glenwood
DHS 29-30 Michaelhouse
DHS 39-44 Maritzburg College
DHS 35-19 Westville
DHS 26-38 Kearsney
DHS finished 6th
u15A
Westville 40-35 Northwood
Westville 33-35 Hilton
Westville 29-30 St Charles
Westville 55-32 Clifton
Westville 54-25 DHS
Westville 42-40 Kearsney
Westville finished 5th
DHS 29-45 Kearsney
DHS 25-40 Michaelhouse
DHS 15-50 Maritzburg College
DHS 31-34 Westville
DHS 21-32 Clifton
DHS finished 8th
u14A
Westville 24-25 Northwood
Westville 20-34 Hilton
Westville 24-27 St Charles
Westville 24-20 Clifton
Westville 17-34 Kearsney
Westville 10-24 Clifton
Westville finished 8th
DHS 26-14 Glenwood
DHS 37-18 Kearsney
DHS 24-27 Michaelhouse
DHS 33-40 Maritzburg College
DHS 53-36 Northwood
DHS finished 3rd
While the 1st, u16A, u15A, and u14A teams were all in action in the KZN Top 10 Competition, 14 games were played between other sides, with DHS claiming eight wins to Westville’s six.
Results
2nd: Westville 20-24 DHS
3rd: Westville 32-15 DHS
4th: Westville 12-22 DHS
16B: Westville 24-25 DHS
16C: Westville 20-31 DHS
16D: Westville 21-6 DHS
15B: Westville 26-14 DHS
15C: Westville 9-14 DHS
15D: Westville 20-9 DHS
15E: Westville 10-6 DHS
14B: Westville 8-19 DHS
14C: Westville 13-24 DHS
14D: Westville 21-4 DHS
14E: Westville 5-25 DHS
WATER POLO
Westville owned the water against DHS, winning all six water polo matches, although they scraped through by only one goal in the u15A showdown.
It was a busy weekend for Westville, with many of their teams travelling to Gauteng to participate in top tournaments. An eighth-place finish at the KES Water Polo Tournament for the 1st team was a good effort. The event brings together the toughest competition of the year.
Results
1st: Westville 12-7 DHS
2nd: Westville 8-6 DHS
3rd: Westville 10-3 DHS
15A: Westville 7-6 DHS
14A: Westville 11-1 DHS
14B: Westville 18-0 DHS
KES Water Polo Tournament
Westville 6-5 KES
Westville (1) 4-4 (3) Selborne
Westville 8-11 SACS
Westville 8-12 Kearsney (QF)
Westville 4-12 Rondebosch (Playoff)
Westville 1-4 St Stithians (7/8)
St Charles 2nd Team Tournament
Westville 3-6 Hilton Youth
Westville 8-6 Maritzburg College
Westville 7-8 St Charles 1st
Westville 16-2 Invitational Team
Westville 4-3 Michaelhouse
Westville 2-7 Kearsney (QF)
Westville 5-3 Woodridge u16
Westville 5-6 St Charles 1st
Westville finished 6th.
U15 Indigo Tournament
Westville 9-0 St Alban’s
Westville 4-4 Affies
Westville 4-6 Michaelhouse
Westville 3-7 SACS
Westville 11-1 Maritzburg College
Westville 3-4 St David’s Marist Inanda
Westville 5-2 Jeppe
Westville 5-3 Grey College
Westville finished 13th out of 20.
Ken Short Festival at Jeppe
Westville 2-4 Affies
Westville 9-0 Parktown Boys’ High
Westville 11-2 St Benedict’s College
Westville 8-1 Pretoria Boys High
Westville 6-1 Grey College
Westville 1-7 St David’s Marist Inanda
Westville 2-9 KES
Westville 2-6 St John’s College
Westville 2-1 Jeppe
SWIMMING
Another gala, another Westville Boys’ High victory. What’s new? The sustained excellence of the Griffins’ swimming programme should not be underestimated, however. Their achievements are astonishing. DHS has clearly established itself as the second-best programme in KwaZulu-Natal, and they took second place by a comfortable margin over Northwood at the Durban and Districts Gala.
Durban and Districts Gala
1st Westville 180
2nd DHS 147
3rd Northwood 110
4th Clifton 104
5th Kearsney 86
6th Curro Hillcrest 66
7th Glenwood 28
Westville also added the KZN Top 10 title to their long list of swimming achievements, winning it for a 19th successive year, with DHS in second place.
KZN Top 10 Gala
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