Match Reports

Patience rewarded as Gimmies and Volkies produce a Potch Derby classic

14 Oct 20264 mins

Patience was a virtue at NWC Oval on Wednesday evening but it was rewarded as the rain SA20 Derby Series match-up between Potchefstroom Gimnasium and Hoër Volkskool Potchefstroom produced classic entertainment on and off the field.

With the sun out all day in Potchefstroom, the two schools' Under-15s and teachers took the opportunity to play curtain-raisers, but just when 1st XI captains Tlhoni Thabatha (Gimmies) and Andries Venter (Volkies) readied for the toss of the rain bat, inclement weather delayed matters.

It was a full 90 minutes later when Thabatha benefitted from Venter incorrectly calling 'mountains' to elect to bat first, allowing the action to get underway. By then, the two sets of boisterous supporters were already in fine voice... and remained so for the whole match.

The inclement weather did not dampen the spirits of the two sets of supporters in the NWC Oval stands.

Gimmies' openers, dangerman Ulrich Botha and Jahndre Coetzee made a steady if unspectacular start. Botha (9 off 9, 2x4) was first to go but Coetzee and Lukas Kotze built a solid platform to take the score to 65/2 when the aforementioned fell having compiled 37 off 32 (7x4) - with AW van der Merwe sneaking one past him. It was not the only time he would have a significant influence on the match.

Kotze meanwhile proved the mainstay of the Gimmies innings, scoring 51 off 37 balls.

Intriguingly, Volkies were relying heavily on their spinners ... not least their captain Venter. He went for 17 off his first over but, after a change of ends, prompted Gimmies going from 108/2 in the 15th over to finishing their innings on 150/8.

First Venter accounted for Christivan Coetzer (7 off 11) and Kotze in his second over. Bennet Keet (5 off 6 balls) came and went - to Johandre Jacobs - quickly, before Venter's third was also a double-wicket over: Bernard Judels (1 off 2) being run-out before Henre Cronje (17 off 11, 1x6) was caught behind.

Thabatha (6 off 4 balls, 1x4), was Venter's fourth wicket - and the final of the innings leaving the visiting captain with figures of 4/31.

REWATCH THE FULL MATCH... IT'S WORTH DOING!

During their turn to bat, Volkies got off to a quick start but also lost three wickets in the Powerplay, all claimed by fast bowler Adriaan van Niekerk.

First to go was Riekert Kruger (5 off 5), chopping on at the end of the opening over. Theunis Nel (6 off 5) then feathered a hook to wicketkeeper Botha in the third over, and captain Venter (16 off 11) miss-timed a pull to leave Volkies on 38/3 in the fifth.

Step forward AW van der Merwe. His 65 off 49 balls broke the back of the chase alongside Juan van Niekerk (31 off 29 balls) who he shared a 87-run partnership with.

The Volkies contingent in the grandstand could sense a third straight victory over their equally noisy neighbours in the offiing.

Despite both Van Niekerk (caught at short third off Henre Conje's spinners) and Van der Merwe (skying a leg-flick off Ruhann Steenkamp) falling in quick succession, Volkies held their nerve to seal a classic five-wicket win eagerly celebrated at the end by their on-rushing classmates.