SACS, BISHOPS SEAL PHASE 2 PLACES AT RIVALS' EXPENSE

Four had to become two and it was South African College (SACS) High School and Bishops Diocesan College who claimed Western Province's two Phase 2 places on Saturday.

The pair and their eternal rivals, Wynberg Boys' High School and Rondebosch Boys' High School, converged on Bishops for the final three matches of the WP leg of Schools SA20.

In the first of the semifinals, played on the Oaks Field, SACS' bowlers made light work of a depleted (due to other shool commitments) Wynberg XI, bowling them out for just 62.

The SACS openers then wasted no time knocking off the required runs, sealing a 10-wicket win, a place in the Final and qualification for the next phase of Schools SA20 where the best from WP will face similar from Boland and South Western Cape.

Meanwhile, on the neighbouring showpiece Frank Reid Oval, a much more closely fought contest was unfolding between Bishops and Rondebosch who batted first.

'Bosch compiled 153/5, with Daniel Cooke top-scoring courtesy of 63 off 57 balls. Noah Heath made a quickfire 44 off 34 balls in support of Cooke. It looked a very competitive score when Bishops were 69/4 after 8.5 Overs - having just lost star man man Adnaan Lagadien (46 off 25). However, the 72-run partnership between Waco Bassick (52 off 41) and Litha Mbiko (30 off 20) broke the back of the run chase and Bishops earned a place in the afternoon's final with a four-wicket victory. James Kirsten, son of Proteas legend Gary, was the pick of 'Bosch's bowlers, claiming 3/27.

During the Final, watched by the likes of national Test coach Shukri Conrad, SA20 Commissioner Graeme Smith, former Proteas bowler Roger Telemachus as well as family and friends from all four of the competing schools, SACS batted first.

Luke Whitehead (34 off 32) and Aqeel Waggie (37 off 34) compiled a more-than-useful opening stand of 76 off 10.4 overs before Luke de Klerk (3/23) triggered a mini-collapse. That left the Newlanders on 86/4 after 12.4 overs before Jordan Berry (28 not out off 27) and Tim Hodkinson (23 off 17) guided them to a respectable 144/6 off their allotted 20 overs.

REWATCH THE MATCHES: SACS VS WYNBERG | BISHOPS VS RONDEBOSCH | BISHOPS VS SACS

Bishops would have felt confident of their chances of claiming the trophy and gold medals on offer, but SACS (who were runners-up in the last edition of the previous incarnation of this tournament in 2020) were not letting them have it their own way - claiming wickets at regular intervals.

Ultimately, the hosts' batters felt the pressure more and wilted to 99 all out after 16.1 overs (Bassick again top-scoring, with a lowly 26 off 22) with Kalan, Kraai and Benjamin Backburn claiming two wickets apiece - handing SACS a 45-run victory and the honours after an intriguing day's cricket.

AT A GLANCE: WESTERN PROVINCE BOYS PLAYOFF RESULTS

SEMIFINALS

Wynberg 62 all out - 15.2 overs (Abhay Kalan 3/15)

SACS 63/0 - 8.4 overs (Luke Whitehead 31*)

SACS won by 10 wickets

Rondebosch 153/5 - 20 overs (Daniel Cooke 63)

Bishops 157/6 - 18.1 overs (Waco Bassick 52; James Kirsten 3/27)

Bishops won by 4 wickets

FINAL

SACS 144/6 - 20 overs (Aqeel Waggie 37; Luke de Klerk 3/23)

Bishops 99 all out - 16.1 overs (Waco Bassick 26; Litha Kraai 2/6)

SACS won by 45 runs

*both finals advance to Phase 2 of Schools SA20 (to be played in January 2025)