PEARSON MAKE IT A DOUBLE AS BOYS JOIN GIRLS IN PHASE 2

Pearson High School have become the first school to have both their girls and boys team qualify for Phase 2 of Schools SA20.

Gqeberha-based Pearson's sealed their place in Phase 2 in early October, by beating Hoërskool Framesby by 80 runs, and now their male schoolmates have joined them following a busy of day at cricket at both their and Grey High School's campus.

ALSO READ: Pearson girls claim Eastern Province honours

As it happens, Grey also made home advantage count to claim Eastern Province's other place in Schools SA20 Phase 2.

In the morning's quarterfinals, Pearson came up against Gelvandale Hub at their Strydom Field (named after the late Springboks lock, Hannes Strydom, an alumnus). Provincial player, Cayden Wilson was the star of the show for Pearson as he scored 106 off 37 balls to guide them to 254/3 off their 20 overs. Further contributions came from Sulaymaan Gangat (53 not out of 41 balls) and Luke Hector (40 off 24).

The target was far too steep for Gelvandale Hub (the PE Northern Areas sub-region winners), who were dismissed for 48 with Jude Septoo claiming 3/6 in the 206-run victory.

That set up a clash with Graeme College (Makhanda sub-region winners), who had earlier beaten Union High, at Grey's Kolisi Field... named after the current Springboks captain.

This time, Pearson's batters found the going a little tougher, and only managed 134/8 in their allotted 20 overs. Wilson (22 off 9), again, and Matthew Burton (22 off 16) top-scored.

Graeme, a CSA Focus School, would have fancied themselves in the chase but the Pearson bowlers kept things tight. Gangat was the pick of the bowlers with 3/18 while Jayden Ward supported him with 2/22 as Graeme finished on 118/9, handing Pearson a 16-run victory and one of the two places for Eastern Province boys in Phase 2.

Grey, meanwhile secured their place in the next phase with victories over New Brighton Hub and HTS Daniel Pienaar - both at their showpiece Pollock Oval (named after legendary South African batter, Graeme Pollock).

Luke Tait top-scored with 81 and was ably supported by Connor Parry scoring 68 and Grey compiled 227/4 against New Brighton Hub. Thereafter, their bowlers made light work of New Brighton, not least Anfred Jansen and his remarkable 3/0, bowling them out for 40 to secure a 187-run win.

In the semifinal, with Grey again batting first, Parry top-scored again with 40 out of the total of 152/5. Daniel Pienaar struggled for significant partnerships and eventually fell short by 26 runs, ending on 116/7 off heir 20 overs - with Nathan Howell (2/22) and Drisden Pretorius (2/24) being the pick of Grey's bowlers.

Images: Pearson Facebook and Siya Ntsenyana/Grey Facebook