Jeppe High school for Boys are emerging as one of the sides to watch in Joburg schools cricket this season after winning their fifth game in a row last Saturday, writes THEO GARRUN.
Jeppe were dominant in beating St David’s Marist Inanda by eight wickets, following up on a 10-wicket win over Pretoria Boys’ High the previous weekend as well as a first-ever victory over Pretoria Affies the week before that.
They also came through their pool games in the Johnny Waite Knockout series unbeaten (the tournament that doubles up as the Gauteng provincial championship in the Coca-Cola Schools T20 competition) and will play in the quarterfinals on 17 February, although that date is likely to change as their traditional fixture against St John’s is scheduled for that day.
Jeppe had two players in the Central Gauteng Lions team that won the unofficial final of the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Week in Cape Town in December: Linda Ndlovu, the 2019 team captain, and Kgaudise Molefe. Molefe made the SA School team and is in the SA U19 team that leaves for Sri Lanka next week.
WATCH: Molefe, 7-39, Gauteng vs Border
Molefe will certainly be missed in the Johnny Waite playoffs, and in the side’s remaining three matches – they play St John’s, Helpmekaar and St Alban’s – but the side has a balanced attack, with seamer Jared Laughton and spinners Cian Robertson and Joshua Taylor all getting wickets.
In the batting department, they have been well served by Levert Manje, who top-scored on Saturday, while Brayden Hicks and Breidyn Schaper have both made several big scores.
Jeppe bowled St David’s out for just 94 on Saturday. The wickets were evenly shared, Joshua Taylor (2-10) and Kgaudise Molefe (2-17) returning the best figures, and in reply they reached the total in 20 overs, with Levert Manje (32 not out) top scoring.
In other action over the weekend, St Stithians caused something of an upset by beating high-flying King Edward by 36 runs.
Saints batted first and got 252-6 in the 50 overs, with Jody de Sousa (58) and Liam Mostert (67) getting half-centuries. KES were then bowled out for 216. Keegan Janse van Rensburg (66) and Kian Schwartz (68) were their best batsmen. The damage with the ball was done by Sebastian de Oliviera, who took 4-41.
Scores
St David’s 94 (Imaad Moosa 23; Joshua Taylor 2-10, Kgaudise Molefe 2-17)
Jeppe 195-2 (Dylan Nicholas 18, Breidyn Schaper 28 not out, Levert Manje 32 not out)
Jeppe won by 8 wickets
St Stithians 252-6 (Jody De Sousa 58, Clinton Rowe 47, Liam Mostert 67, Liam McCarthy 38; Keegan Janse van Rensburg 3-47)
King Edward 216 (Keegan Janse van Rensburg 66, Kian Schwartz 68; Matthew Lieberman 3-35, Sebastian De Oliviera 4-41)
St Stithians won by 36 runs
Photo: Theo Garrun
