19 September 2025
The South African sides made an emphatic statement on Friday, the opening day of the St John’s Rams T20, in Harare.
The Johannesburg Invitational XI – a combined outfit of players from King Edward VII (KES), Jeppe High School for Boys, and St John’s College – went unbeaten in their two outings, while Clifton College and Kearsney College also flexed their muscles with commanding victories.
For Clifton, it was a day of ruthless efficiency. They swept aside Churchill in just 10.4 overs, swiftly chasing down 132/6 for an eight-wicket triumph, before rolling Wise Owl for 90 and cruising to a nine-wicket win with nearly eight overs to spare.
Kearsney, meanwhile, had no trouble in their two contests either, downing St George’s College by seven wickets, with four overs in hand, before putting 187/6 on the board and then holding off Hellenic Academy for a 30-run success.
Churchill vs Clifton College
Brandon Sam anchored Churchill’s effort of 132/6 against Clifton with a steady 43 (43 balls, 3×4, 1×6) and was well supported by Takunda Rakabopwa, who struck 32 (38 balls, 4×4, 1×6), while Zvikomborero Masango injected some late energy with 31 from only 22 deliveries, also striking three boundaries and a maximum.
For Clifton, Caleb Naicker struck early, returning 2/17 in three overs, while left-arm spinner Blake Johnson was tidy, snaring 2/18 in his four.
The chase was one-way traffic. Cohen Naidoo and Hayden Drieselmann launched an aggressive assault on the Churchill bowlers, blasting 104 runs in just 7.3 overs for the opening wicket.
Naidoo was devastating, clubbing 79 off 30 balls, including eight sixes and five fours, before falling with Clifton on 104. Drieselmann weighed in with 33 off 22.
Although Sam picked up both wickets in a tidy 2/8 from two overs, the outcome was never in doubt, and Clifton wrapped up the win in the 11th over.
St George’s College vs Kearsney College
St George’s struggled to 117/9, with only Tyshawn Zuze (25) managing to make it past the teens. Kearsney’s attack was sharp and disciplined. Michael Groom, in particular, was outstanding, taking 3/3 in three overs, while Rivan Moodley (2/15) and Matthew Gorrie (2/20) added further pressure.
Kearsney’s run chase wobbled early at 46/3 in the fifth over, but Keegan de Jager and Asher Hollister steadied the ship. De Jager played fluently for an unbeaten 51 (44 balls, 6×4, 1×6), while Hollister anchored the innings from the other end with a run a ball 30 not out.
Their unbroken stand of 72 guided the Botha’s Hill team to a comfortable seven-wicket win with 24 balls still unused.
Wise Owl vs Clifton College
In the afternoon, Clifton again proved far too strong for their Zimbabwean opposition.
Their bowlers tore through Wise Owl, who stumbled to 90 all out. Only Simbarashe Mudzengerere (40 off 42) offered any resistance.
The standout was captain Tim Saulez (feature photo, shown receiving the Player of the Match cap), who ripped through the batting order with 5/16 in four overs. Regan Radley (2/9) and Johnson (2/16) added to the pressure.
Clifton’s reply was once more built on a bright start from Naidoo, who smashed 33 off 19 (7×4) before departing with the score on 49. From there, Byron Ward (29 not out) and Saulez (24 not out) calmly completed a nine-wicket win in the 13th over.
Hellenic Academy vs Kearsney College
Batting first against Harare’s Hellenic Academy, Kearsney’s batting line-up produced fireworks.
Cole Young lit up the innings with a blistering 58 off 30 balls, remarkably without a single four, but with seven sixes. Hollister contributed again, with 35, while captain Jason De Gryse (31) and Aaron Blackburn (21) put on 43 for the first wicket in five overs. A late cameo from Jonty Wiggett (26* off 13) pushed the total to 187/6.
Hellenic’s reply was spirited, led by the Blignaut brothers. Michael struck 42 from 21 (6×4, 2×6), while Kian compiled a well-crafted 58 (48 balls, 8×4) and together they added 58 for the third wicket to give their side some hope.
However, once Michael fell to Moodley (1/36), and Kian followed in the 17th over, the innings lost momentum. Groom was again excellent with the ball, returning 3/14, as Hellenic ended on 157/5, 30 runs short.
With both Clifton and Kearsney firing, alongside the Johannesburg Invitational XI’s perfect start, the South Africans sent a clear message on day one in Harare: they’ve come to dominate.
SCORES
Churchill 132/6 (Brandon Sam 43, Takunda Rakabopwa 32, Zvikomborero Masango 31; Caleb Naicker 2/17, Blake Johnson 2/18); Clifton College 136/2 (Cohen Naidoo 79, Hayden Drieselmann 33; Brandon Sam 2/8).
Clifton College won by eight wickets.
St George’s College 117/9 (Tyshawn Zuze 25; Michael Groom 3/3, Rivan Moodley 2/15, Matthew Gorrie 2/20); Kearsney College 118/3 (Keegan de Jager 51*, Asher Hollister 30*).
Kearsney College won by seven wickets.
Wise Owl 90/10 (Simbarashe Mudzengerere 40; Tim Saulez 5/16, Regan Radley 2/9, Blake Johnson 2/16); Clifton College 91/1 (Cohen Naidoo 33, Byron Ward 29*, Tim Saulez 24*).
Clifton College won by nine wickets.
Kearsney College 187/6 (Cole Young 58, Asher Hollister 35, Jason De Gryse 31, Jonty Wiggett 26*, Aaron Blackburn 21; Kirby Madaramete 2/38); Hellenic Academy 157/5 (Kian Blignaut 58, Michael Blignaut 42; Michael Groom 3/14).
Kearsney College won by 30 runs.
Johannesburg Schools Invitational XI 193/3 (Troy Gordon 84, Lincoln Casais 70*; Shane Garwe 2/25, Junaid Nyawasha 1/41). Prince Edward 65/10 (Mike Takodza 9*, Keith Mabhena 9; Shreshth Kumar 2/4, Keegan Hendey 2/7).
Johannesburg Schools Invitational XI won by 128 runs.
Johannesburg Schools Invitational XI 185/6 (Joshua Hall 39, Tiago Dias 36; Rowyn Konson 3/22, Dylan Saudan 2/18). Christian Brothers College 130/10 (Joshua Armstrong 34, Lee Ellerman 29; Lebone Ramedupe 4/25, Luke Clarke 3/23).
Johannesburg Schools Invitational XI won by 55 runs.
St George’s College 127/8 (Jayden Petersen 24; Dmitry Fatch 2/17, Reed Merick 2/23); Falcon College 130/1 (Alastair Carle 91*).
Falcon College won by nine wickets.
St John’s College 193/5 (James Manning 65, Riley Ettlin 37, Connor Lovatt 36, Luca Spagnuolo 34*); CBC Bulawayo 160/7 (Joshua Armstrong 76*, Kelebokile Moyo 45, Dylan Saudan 22*; Connor Lovatt 3/22, Tawana Nyandoro 2/25).
St John’s College won by 33 runs.
Peterhouse 147/8 (Luke Marillier 39, Cameron Rae 30, Panashe Fantiso 22; Zvikomborero Masango 2/19, Brandon Sam 2/22, Wessly Maramwidze 2/32); Churchill 111/10 (Praise Dube 38; Cameron Oosthuizen 4/10, Nicholas Orphanides 2/28).
Peterhouse won by 36 runs.
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