11 November 2025
CRICKET
In a match in which runs were hard to come by and spin ruled the day, Clifton College battled their way to a gritty 19-run victory over Kearsney College at the Riverside Sports Club, in Durban, on Saturday.
After winning the toss, Clifton chose to bat first and began steadily, with openers Veer Ramouthar and Yusuf Ahmed putting together a 52-run partnership. Their stand laid a solid platform before Matthew Gorrie struck twice in successive balls, removing Ramouthar for 20 and bowling Muhammed Malek for a first-ball duck.
Ahmed, however, remained composed at the other end. He anchored the innings with determination, top-scoring with 38 from 70 deliveries, including five fours, before Gorrie claimed him as his third wicket. Hayden Drieselmann, with 17, and Shiraz Perumal, with 13, offered brief support, but Clifton’s innings stumbled once Rivan Moodley and Matthew Rice were introduced.
From a promising 119/6, Clifton lost their last four wickets for just nine runs. Lawson Dinsdale resisted defiantly, occupying 45 balls for his 16, but three of the final four batsmen fell without scoring, and the home team was dismissed for 128 in the 44th over.
Rice led the Kearsney bowling effort with an excellent 4/25 in 9.3 overs, while Moodley, with 3/29, and Gorrie, with 3/41, each bowled with control and turn on a helpful surface.
Chasing 129 for victory, Kearsney’s target appeared modest, but the slow pitch and sharp spin made batting no easier in their reply.
Clifton’s tall left-arm spinner Blake Johnson took the new ball and immediately put the visitors under pressure, removing both openers, Jason De Gryse and Cole Young, cheaply. When Caleb Naicker accounted for Aaron Blackburn, Kearsney was reeling at 18/3.
Rivan Moodley and Asher Hollister steadied the innings with a 43-run stand for the fourth wicket, displaying patience and solid shot selection. Moodley made 33 from 51 balls before falling to a catch by Johnson off the bowling of fellow spinner Perumal. Hollister carried on, striking six boundaries in his 34 from 55 balls, but his dismissal, stumped by Dinsdale off Perumal, triggered the final collapse.
From 94/5, Kearsney could muster only 15 more runs, tumbling to 109 all out in the 31st over. Perumal was superb, finishing with 4/26 from his 10 overs, while Johnson took 3/36 and Keegan Watson added 2/18 in support.
For Clifton, it was a satisfying victory built on discipline, teamwork, and spin bowling mastery – a performance that underscored their resilience on a difficult pitch and secured a hard-earned win against their rivals.
Scores
Clifton College 128/10 (Yusuf Ahmed 38, Veer Ramouthar 20; Matthew Rice 4/25, Rivan Moodley 3/29, Matthew Gorrie 3/41); Kearsney College 109/10 (Asher Hollister 34, Rivan Moodley 33; Shiraz Perumal 4/26, Blake Johnson 3/36, Keegan Watson 2/18). Clifton College won by 19 runs.
Dolphins’ Khaya Majola Week bowler, Litha Gonya, of Kearsney, sends down a delivery to Clifton’s Shiraz Perumal, who will also represent the Dolphins at the national week in Bloemfontein from 16-21 December. (Photo: Brad Morgan).
RESULTS
1st XI
Clifton 128/10; Kearsney 109/10
Clifton won by 19 runs
2nd XI
Clifton 141/9; Kearsney 144/8
Kearsney won by two wickets
3rd XI
Outer West Hub 52/10; Kearsney 53/1
Kearsney won by nine wickets
u15A
Clifton 165/10; Kearsney 161/10
Clifton won by four runs
u15B
Outer West Hub 128/9; Kearsney 73/10
Outer West Hub won by 55 runs
u14A
Kearsney 288/10; Clifton 127/10
Kearsney won by 161 runs
u14B
Kearsney 103/6; Outer West Hub 97/10
Kearsney won by six runs
BASKETBALL
A cold start from both the Kearsney and Clifton 1st teams, who missed numerous buckets by narrow margins, resulted in a low-scoring first quarter at the Riverside Sports Club on Saturday, with the visitors only 8-7 ahead at its conclusion.
They broke the game open in the second quarter, closing Clifton down while finding their shooting range. By halftime, Kearsney had vaulted into a 29-8 lead.
With Pabatso Sithole leading their scoring, they closed out the contest comfortably in the second half, going on to an emphatic 66-21 win.
Sithole led all scorers with 21 points, while Lubansi Mseleku and Daniel Prinsloo weighed in with 12 points each, and Lwandile Njapha scored eight.
RESULTS
1st: Clifton 21-66 Kearsney
16A: Clifton 33-42 Kearsney
15A: Clifton 10-51 Kearsney
14A: Clifton 22-61 Kearsney
WATER POLO
Competition in the pool at the Clifton Aquatic Centre could hardly have been closer. In three matches, two ended in draws, while Kearsney won the 1st team clash by a single goal. Overall, they outscored Clifton 30-29.
It was a morale-boosting win for the visitors, who were beaten in the semi-finals of the KZN Top 10 by Clifton, who went on to win the u19 title, Kearsney, meanwhile, won the overall title, despite not winning any of the age groups. Clifton, also, added the u15 title.
On Saturday, though, the u15A game ended 9-9. The u14A contest finished 7-7.
RESULTS
1st: Clifton 13-14 Kearsney
15A: Clifton 9-9 Kearsney
14A: Clifton 7-7 Kearsney
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