We were at St Stithians for the main clash of day four of the Khaya Majola Week, as two unbeaten sides, Gauteng and Boland, battled it out on the main oval.
Gauteng got off to a good start with three half-centuries via Joshua Richards (57), Jacob Miltz (63) and Emmanuel Motswiri (50 not out) which helped them post 255-6.
Boland fought hard for their wickets, Achille Cloete finishing with the most wickets for his side, his brace in the 50th over vital to ensuring that Gauteng hugged the 250-run mark.
Having conceded 34 runs in his first seven overs, the 16-year-old was electric in his final over, taking a brace by bowling out day three’s Hero of the Day, Curtis Campher for one, before trapping Mohammed Sarfaraaz Ahmad for a duck.
Boland’s chase was tentative. They done well to outlast Gauteng’s speedsters as they prodded along to 33, but spin got the breakthrough with the introduction of Kgaudisa Molefe in his first over and Ntokozo Mahlaba who followed with two quick wickets to pin Boland back at 38-3.
Molefe took another three while Richards and Emmanuel Motswiri took one apiece, Boland losing eight wickets for 91.
A ninth-wicket stand of 113 runs between Garreth Wolmarans (54) and Andries Janse van Rensburg (51) kept Boland’s innings alive, but the 256-run target was far from their reach.
SA U19 all-rounder, Molefe, finished with figures of 4-20 in his 20 overs winning the Man of the Match award, as Gauteng remained unbeaten with a 51-run win.
Photo: SACricketmag/Khalid Mohidin
