School Cricket First XI Rankings: 19/02/2024

Last week proved to be a rollercoaster ride in the world of school cricket, with the school cricket rankings table witnessing a flurry of movement and surprising outcomes. As teams battled it out on the field, spectators were treated to a spectacle of upsets and unexpected victories.

At the summit of the rankings, Bishops managed to maintain their stranglehold on the No.1 position despite suffering a setback against Paul Roos Gymnasium. In a thrilling encounter, Paul Roos Gymnasium capitalized on favorable conditions to restrict Bishops to a modest total. South African U19 standout Riley Norton and Dian Winkel led the charge with four wickets apiece, severely denting Bishops’ total. Despite a valiant effort from Bishops, they fell agonizingly short, succumbing to a narrow two-wicket defeat.

With Bishops faltering, the door appeared wide open for Rondebosch to make significant strides up the table. However, Affies had other plans, pulling off a remarkable two-wicket victory against the perennial top contenders. Meanwhile, Wynberg managed to edge past Affies in a closely contested encounter, ensuring that the top five remained intact, with the inclusion of St Stithians who cruised to a comfortable win over St Albans.

In KwaZulu-Natal, the cricketing fraternity witnessed an electrifying showdown at the Clifton College Centenary T20 tournament. Durban High School emerged as the dark horse of the competition, enjoying one of their most productive weeks and ultimately clinching the title against the leading teams in the region. However, the tournament, plagued by intermittent wet conditions, also saw casualties, with Westville slipping down several positions on the table.

Gauteng also witnessed its fair share of shock school cricket results, with Queen’s High School stunning Jeppe  in what can only be described as seismic victory

Individual brilliance was on full display throughout the week, with standout performances including Warren Minnaar’s unbeaten 108 for Hans Moore against Cornwall Hill, and Kempton Park’s Wian Pieters’ blistering 124-run knock against Montana. Big hitters like Marcus Bakker (110) of Waterkloof and Marco Giaconi (132) from Grey High School also left their mark on the scoreboard with impressive centuries.

In the highly anticipated clash between SACS and Paarl Boys High, both sides showcased their batting prowess, with two top-class centuries scored. SACS wicket-keeper/batsman Keiron Bowers remained unbeaten on 108, while Johan Wege notched up an impressive century of his own with an unbeaten 100.

Perhaps one of the most destructive innings came from St Charles College opener, Cian Fortmann who thumped his way to 153 not out  in a T20 match against Hilton College. It was one for the ages as Fortmann scored this off just 76 balls which included 13 x4’s and 9 long range maximums.

As we enter the final few weeks of school cricket, the competition is heating up, with every match crucial in determining the final standings. We urge all teams to ensure that results are promptly submitted to keep the rankings up-to-date.

Photo by: Renate Monty Photo