St Charles College Sports Report (by 1st XI Head Coach, Divan van Wyk)
This past Saturday, St Charles College played host to the KZN Inland Switch SA20 Final—a fitting stage for one of the most anticipated schoolboy cricket clashes of the season. With Hilton College as the opposition, the scene was set for a blockbuster encounter. Though the morning conditions were overcast, the clouds soon cleared, revealing glorious cricketing conditions. The St Charles ground staff once again went above and beyond, preparing a surface and outfield worthy of a final, adding to the electric atmosphere building around the ground.
St Charles College won the toss, and in a bold and confident move, skipper Thando Zama chose to bowl first—an unusual choice in schoolboy cricket, but one that reflected his absolute belief in the strength of his batting lineup.
The hosts could not have scripted a better start. Caleb Sharp opened the bowling and delivered s solid first over, but it was the very next over that set the tone for the morning. Ryan Clarke, with the score still on 12, struck a major early blow by removing Berman for 10. The Hilton opener looked threatening and seemed ready to settle in before an attacking stroke brought his downfall. From there, the Hilton top order collapsed under relentless pressure. St Charles College tore through the lineup, reducing Hilton to 38–7 after just 10 overs. The star of the bowling was undoubtedly Kaiyuran Naidoo, who delivered a spell of pure precision and aggression. He finished with a sensational 4 wickets for just 11 runs in his allotted 4 overs, crippling Hilton’s hopes of posting a competitive total. Sharp backed up his early work with two wickets of his own, while Clarke and Connor Vogt each chipped in. The innings was capped by a brilliant run-out orchestrated by the captain himself—an inspirational moment from the leader on the big stage.
Chasing a modest target, Thando Zama walked out to open the batting alongside Matthew Weightman. The pair wasted no time asserting dominance. In keeping with the team’s positive philosophy, they played with fluency and intent, racing to a 76-run opening partnership in just 7 overs. Zama, who was closing in on a remarkable milestone of 1,000 runs for the year, looked in sublime touch before falling on the boundary for a blistering 46 off 23 deliveries.
Weightman remained composed throughout, carrying his bat with a beautifully crafted 28 off 23 balls, ensuring there were no late nerves. Ryan Clarke added the finishing touch, striking a boundary off his second ball to seal an emphatic victory.
With this commanding performance, St Charles College were crowned the Switch SA20 Inland Champions – a fully deserved reward for a clinical and united team effort on both sides of the game. The team now looks ahead with excitement and focus as they progress to the next phase of the competition.
