News
BISHOPS EARN NATIONAL FINALS PLACE AS KINGS OF WESTERN CAPE
Bishops Diocesan College will represent Western Cape at the Schools SA20 National Finals in March, after winning the regional tournament in Oudtshoorn over the weekend.
The Capetonians beat Paarl Boys’ High School, Boland’s Phase 1 winners, by 9 wickets in Sunday morning’s Final which brought a close to three days’ intriguing action in the Klein Karoo town.
REWATCH THE FINAL, VIA THE SUPERSPORT SCHOOLS APP
Played at the Recreation Ground, Paarl Boys’ had first use of the pitch during the Final and reached 112/7 in their allotted 20 overs. Middle-order batter Bjorn Berry (36 off 42 balls, 2x4) was the best of the ‘Boishaai’ batters, with number three Ra-eez Isaacs (26 off 20, 4x4, 1x6) providing some rapid-fire impetus to their innings.
Bishops, meanwhile, largely had Waco Bassick (3/19) to thank for restricting the Bolanders, starting with their dangerous openers Abriam Jacobs (2) and Brent Goosen (1).
During their chase, Bishops opener Kyle Stirk (63 not out off 47 balls, 2x4, 4x6) was the mainstay and enforcer via the two 4s and four 6s he smashed. After his fellow opener, Samuel Stavely-Alexander departed for 26 (18 balls, 3x4, 1x6) with the score on 59, captain James Robb-Quinlan (24 not out, 1x6) joined Stirk and ably supported him to the win to cue the celebrations.
Bishops - minus SA Under-19 batter Adnaan Lagadien - had actually started the tournament by beating Paarl Boys by four wickets in a cross-pool match, before securing a semifinal place courtesy of wins over Paarl Gimnasium by 32 runs and South Western Districts’ runners-up, D’Almeida Hub by nine wickets.
In their semifinal against SACS, a rematch of the Western Province Phase 1 Final, Bishops earned revenge with a convincing 99-run win.
‘Boishaai’ had recovered from their opening loss, by beating Oudtshoorn locals Bridgton Hub (South Western Districts winners) by 7 wickets and SACS by 34 runs to go through with Bishops from Pool A. They then defeated Gimmies, their near-neighbours, also by 7 wickets in the semifinals.
Schools SA20 Project Lead, Vincent Barnes hands over the Western Cape winners trophy to Bishops Diocesan College captain, James Robb Quinlan.
WESTERN CAPE BOYS FINAL MATCH SUMMARY
Sunday, 26 January 2025 | Recreation Ground, Oudtshoorn
Paarl Boys’ HS 112/7 – 20 overs (Bjorn Berry 36; Waco Bassick 3/19)
Bishops 116/1 – 15 overs (Kyle Stirk 63*; Reese Petersen 1/20)
Bishops won by 9 wickets and qualify for the Schools SA20 National Finals
