18 October 2026
Maritzburg College overcame an early wobble to secure a six-wicket victory over Westville Boys’ High on Bowden’s on Saturday, chasing down a target of 167 in the 47th over.
Westville struggled for consistency with the bat, losing wickets at regular intervals after being sent in. At 100/8, the home side appeared in danger of falling well short of a competitive total, but a determined rearguard effort from number nine Kyle McDowell gave their innings some much-needed impetus.
He struck six fours in an unbeaten 40, lifting Westville from 100/8 to 146/9 before the innings closed on 166 all out. Kyle McGough contributed 29, while Aidan Baudach made 20. A further 25 extras helped boost the total, although the Griffins would have wanted more from their batting line-up.
Luke Venter led College’s attack, claiming 3/24 in 9.5 overs. Matt Bissett and Akhil Barath picked up two wickets apiece, returning 2/19 and 2/45 respectively, while Riley Palmer kept things tight with an economical 1/14 from seven overs.
College’s reply began poorly, with both openers, Barath and Kyle de Bruyn, dismissed with only 13 runs on the board.
However, Dax Jursa and Luca Puddu steadied the innings with a patient 62-run partnership from 107 deliveries. Puddu eventually fell for 26, caught by Jamie Hasselbach off Tristin Delvin, but Jursa continued to anchor the chase.
He reached 54 from 114 balls, striking nine fours, before Ewan du Toit found a way through his defences with left-arm spin, leaving Baudach to complete a stumping with College on 126.
Westville needed further breakthroughs to make a contest of it, but Luan van der Merwe and Reece Willson shut the door on any hopes of a comeback. Their unbroken 43-run partnership carried College to 169/4 in the 47th over.
Van der Merwe finished unbeaten on 27, with Willson 24 not out, as College completed a composed chase.
Du Toit was among Westville’s better performers with the ball, taking 1/27 from 10 overs, while Elijah Stoop returned an economical 1/13 from five. However, McDowell’s late resistance proved insufficient to prevent College from claiming the honours.
Scorecard
Westville Boys’ High 166/10 (Kyle McDowell 40*, Kyle McGough 29, Aidan Baudach 20; Luke Venter 3/24, Matt Bissett 2/19, Akhil Bharath 2/45); Maritzburg College 169/4 (Dax Jursa 54, Luan van der Merwe 27*, Luca Puddu 26, Reece Willson 24*; Tristin Delvin 1/11, Elijah Stoop 1/13, Ewan du Toit 1/27). Maritzburg College won by six wickets.
Results
2nd XI
Westville won by seven wickets
3rd XI
Westville won by 119 runs
4th XI
Maritzburg College won by six runs
5th XI
Maritzburg College won by 80 runs
U15A
Westville 271/7; Maritzburg College 255/7
Westville won by 16 runs
U15B
Maritzburg College 198/10; Westville 139/10
Maritzburg College won by 59 runs
U15C
Maritzburg College Westville
U15D
Westville won by 41 runs
U15E
Westville won by eight wickets
U14A
Maritzburg College 219/8; Westville 223/9
Westville won by one wicket
U14B
Maritzburg College 174/10; Westville 140/10
Maritzburg College won by 34 runs
U14C
Maritzburg College Westville
U14D
Westville 132/10; Maritzburg College 133/8
Maritzburg College won by two wickets
U14E
Westville 139/3; Maritzburg College 50/10
Westville won by 89 runs
U14F
Maritzburg College won by 13 runs
BASKETBALL
In one of the weekend’s biggest surprises, Westville pulled off a nail-biting two-point win over College in the clash of the 1st teams.
The Griffins dominated the open age groups, going five for five, while College won three of the four U16 games.
There was little to separate the schools in the U15 age group. Although College won four of the five matches, one was by only one point. Having said that, Westville’s lone win was by a point, too.
The Red, Black, and White scored a clean sweep in the U14 games.
Results
1st: Westville 55-53 Maritzburg College
2nd: Westville 51-42 Maritzburg College
3rd: Westville 34-16 Maritzburg College
4th: Westville 32-24 Maritzburg College
5th: Westville 50-13 Maritzburg College
16A: Westville 18-42 Maritzburg College
16B: Westville 28-41 Maritzburg College
16C: Westville 17-14 Maritzburg College
16D: Westville 18-22 Maritzburg College
15A: Westville 32-40 Maritzburg College
15B: Westville 15-27 Maritzburg College
15C: Westville 21-20 Maritzburg College
15D: Westville 22-30 Maritzburg College
15E: Westville 27-28 Maritzburg College
14A: Westville 11-28 Maritzburg College
14B: Westville 15-30 Maritzburg College
14C: Westville 21-28 Maritzburg College
14D: Westville 9-23 Maritzburg College
14E: Westville 9-23 Maritzburg College
14F: Westville 14-2 Maritzburg College
WATER POLO
At the Northwood Stayers Water Polo Tournament, Westville finished in fourth place, while Maritzburg College finished sixth.
For more on the Northwood Stayers tournament, please click this LINK.
Matches between the schools were incredibly tight in the open age group, with two of the three games ending in draws and the other in a one-goal win for Westville.
Results
2nd: Maritzburg College 9-9 Westville
3rd: Maritzburg College 6-6 Westville
4th: Maritzburg College 5-6 Westville
15B: Maritzburg College 1-11 Westville
Junior mix: Maritzburg College 9-4 Westville
14A: Maritzburg College 4-4 Westville
14B: Maritzburg College 5-9 Westville