POTCH GIM TURN TABLES ON RUSTENBURG TO CLAIM NORTH WEST BOYS TITLE

What a difference a year makes as Potchefstroom Gimnasium and Hoërskool Rustenburg discovered in the Switch Schools SA20 North West boys’ final on Thursday afternoon.

It may have been a repeat of the Volume 1 decider, but with a different result as Gimmies emerged winners – by 8 wickets - this time around. Both teams, though, will still progress to the regional Phase 2 of the competition in January 2026.

The fact that Gimmies had played earlier in the day, beating Hoër Volkskool Potchefstroom by 57 runs to qualify for the final, and were playing on their home turf seemed to show from the moment Christivan Coetzer won the toss and put Rusties in to bat.

Apart from their captain and opener Thian Labuschagne (45 off 39 balls, 6x4, 2x6), none of the Rustenburg batters imposed themselves on the Gimmies bowlers.

| DID YOU KNOW? Proteas star and reigning SA20 Player of the Season Marco Jansen is a Potchefstroom Gimnasium alumnus. Hoërskool Rustenburg can count on ex-Proteas allrounder Dwaine Pretorius as an old boy.

Rusties made solid enough, though cautious, start by ending the Powerplay on 26/1 and then progressing to 51/2 after 10 overs. However, any attempt to kick-on in the second-half of their innings was thwarted by Henre Cronje (3/20 off 4) and Damian Kruger (4/15 off 4). Bennet Keet (2/9 off 2.1) also played his part in reducing Rustenburg to 84 all out with 5 balls remaining in their allotted 20 overs.

Gimmies, for their part, saw Coetzer depart of the first ball of their innings off Labuschagne’s bowling but Ulrich Botha (25 not out off 30 balls, 3x4) and Lukas Kotze (23 off 21, 2x4, 1x6) set the foundation for what would be a comfortable chase.

Even when Kotze was run out, to leave the score 35/2 in the sixth over, Cronje walked in a confidently stroked the ball around. The all-rounder helped himself for three 4s and two 6s on the way to top-scoring with 37 (off 31 balls) to guide Gimmies home and earn them provincial bragging rights.

AT A GLANCE | NORTH WEST BOYS’ FINAL

Thursday, 25 September 2025 @ Potchefstroom Gimnasium

Hoërskool Rustenburg 84 all out – 19.1 overs (Thian Labuschagne 45; Damian Kruger 4/15)

Potchefstroom Gimnasium 87/2 – 13.5 overs

Potchefstroom Gimnasium won by 8 wickets. View the full scorecard, stats and facts on the Cricket South Africa scoring app.

KNOCKED OUT IN THE EARLIER ROUNDS

Bergsig Akademie (Rustenburg), Hoërskool Brits, Hoërskool Ferdinand Postma (Potchefstroom), Fields College (Rustenburg), Hoërskool Hartbeespoort, Ikageng Hub (Potchefstroom), Impala Hub (Rustenburg), Klerksdorp Hoërskool, Hoërskool Lichtenburg, Lichtenburg Hub, Matlosana Hub (Klerksdorp), Potchefstroom High School for Boys, Hoër Volkskool Potchefstroom, Hoërskool Schoonspruit (Klerksdorp), Hoërskool Vryburg, Hoërskool Wesvalia (Klerksdorp), Hoërskool Wolmaransstad, Zinniaville Secondary School (Rustenburg)