Match Reports

Leslie and O’Dwyer power Michaelhouse to eight-wicket Midlands Derby win

6 Nov 20263 mins

Michaelhouse produced a complete performance to beat Hilton College by eight wickets with 17 balls to spare in Match 5 of the rain SA20 Derby Series at Roy Gathorne Oval on Friday.

Hilton won the toss of the rain bat and chose to make first use of their hosts' pitch, but lost captain Robert Burman in the opening over, bowled by Cameron McCleary for 1. His opening partner, Barack Munawa held the innings together with a composed 47 off 48 balls, including three fours and two sixes, and added 35 for the second wicket with wicketkeeper Ben Wilson (16 off 18, 1x4) - both will be in action at Khaya Majola Week for KwaZulu-Natal Inland.

REWATCH THE MIDLANDS DERBY...

Liam O’Dwyer was the difference, however. After bowling Wilson in the eighth over, the leg-spinner struck twice in three deliveries in the 12th, removing Obakeng Motsepa (and Under-18 'Tusker') and provincial Under-16 star Sange Qangule to reduce Hilton from 71/2 to 72/4. O'Dwyer returned to remove Munawa, caught by Ben Heuer, off the final ball of the 14th over, and finished with 4/21 from his four overs. Ross Hill’s late 16 not out off 10 balls, including a six in the final over, lifted Hilton to 132/7 - well short of the 150-plus their cricket consultant Dale Benkenstein suggested on commentary would be a competitive score.

Barack Munawa, Hilton College opening batter

Opening batter, Barack Munawa top-scored for Hilton College with 47 off 48 balls

As it happened, Michaelhouse’s openers made light of the target. Captain Graydon Leslie and Victor North put on 42 inside five overs before North (16 off 13, 3 x4) was caught by Burman off Sechaba Gude - in front of vociferous Michaelhouse supporters. Leslie then took control, striking eight fours in a fluent 55 off 41 balls and sharing a 77-run stand with Cody Sander before falling to Motsepa with the score on 119, thanks to another smart catch by Burman.

Sander remained unbeaten on 46 off 48 (6x4) to see the chase home, and Heuer sealed the win with a boundary early in the 18th over as Michaelhouse finished on 136/2.

Gude (1/21) and Motsepa (1/23) were Hilton’s wicket-takers. For Michaelhouse, McCleary, Rex Wardlaw and Preston Greene each took a wicket in support of O’Dwyer’s match-winning spell.