Rain decided most of the matches that were played on Day Four of the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola U19 Cricket week, with several teams settling for a draw.
However, the day perhaps belonged to Kearsney’s Hayden Bishop who, having scored over 1200 runs for this first XI in 2023, has enjoyed a very productive Khaya Majola week. Playing in the top of the table clash between KZN Dolphins and KZN Inland, Captain Bishop played to his strengths and accumulated runs at a steady rate finishing unbeaten on 108 off 106 balls in a chanceless innings. Bishop’s steady innings helped the KZN Dolphins post a competitive score of 204/8 in match that saw the overs reduced to 37. However, rain stifled any chance of a win which stopped the match when Inland were having to consolidate at 53/3. Hayden Bishop has scored 251 runs during the week and with an average of 84 runs has underlined his superlative form as an opening bat and a player who should be seen more of in the future.
The Central Gauteng Lions vs Titans match also was drawn thanks to rain but not after Richard Seletswane (56) and Luke Francis (48*) steered their team to a respectable 208/5. Francis clubbed his 48 runs off a mere 29 balls which include three 6’s in an explosive innings.
Bishops’ run machine Kashief Joseph played well at the top on the innings for Western Province amassing 72 runs in the best knock of the match but was one of Connor Nels three victims taking 3/37 for Free State. Rain however had the final say ending the match with Free State on 18/1.
Eastern Province repeatedly shot themselves in the foot when they took on Boland and although reaching a solid total of 226/9 some reckless batting saw four of their batsman runout. Matthew Beamish was the pick of the EP batsmen with a good 42 runs and also snatched two wickets. Boland however looked up for the run chase and at 82/3 with Cormey vd Walt (43*) and Riley Norton (21*) well set a win was on the cards if the weather had not intervened.
Kei continued to provide the opposition with some confidence boosting bowling and this time it was Easterns openers Sabelo Mabanga (142) and Aidre Huyzer (164) who notched up a coveted Khaya Majola Week century. Firing at over 11 per over Easterns finished on 412/2 after 37 overs and had Kei in tatters at 39/4 with Ndaba Nhlakanipo taking all four wickets for just 12 runs.
Results:
Mpumalanga 184/9 (Luke Poisson 42 & Jesse Lewis 3/31) beat Garden Route Badgers 177 AO (Zane Greyling 69 & Davico Kruger 3/28) by 7 runs
KZN Coastals 208/4 (Hayden Bishop 108*) & KZN Inland 53/3 – Match Drawn (Rain)
Eastern Cape 185/8 (Tre’ Gilbert 59) beat Limpopo 89 AO (Hlumelo Ntola 3/8, Adam Rodgers 3/18) by 96 runs
North West 198/5 (Muhammed Bulbulia 84, Marneau Dreyer 82) beat Northern Cape 124 AO (Simon Liverage 59 & Kai Trumpleman 4/12) by 74 runs
Easterns 412/2 (Sabelo Mabanga 142, Aidre Huyzer 164, Tristan van Schalkwyk 51*) & Kei 39/4 (Ndaba Nhlakanipo 4/12) – Match Drawn (Rain)
Lions 208/5 (Richard Seletswane 56, Luke Francis 48*) & Titans 19/0 – Match Drawn (Rain)
Western Province 201/7 (Kashief Joseph 72 & Connor Nel 3/37) vs Free State 18/1 – Match Drawn (Rain)
Eastern Province 226/9 [4 run outs] (Matthew Beamish 42) & Boland 82/3 – Match Drawn (Rain)
