ST DAVID'S MARIST INANDA HEADED TO NATIONAL FINALS AS MORTEZA MANACK HOLDS HIS NERVE IN BOWL-OUT

St David’s Marist Inanda will represent the Central Gauteng Lions and Mpumalanga in the Schools SA20 National Finals after winning the Phase 2 tournament between the two provinces.

Over the two days of action at Wits University, St David’s were the dominant team but required an element of luck after inclement weather in the afternoon of Day 2 saw their Final against Hoërskool Noordheuwel decided by a bowl-out – held at nearby St John’s College’s indoor nets.

St David’s had earned their place in the regional final with Day 1 wins over Middelburg Hoërskool (7 wickets) and Hoërskool Secunda (158 runs) as well as an 8-run DLS win over Noordheuwel (the first part of revenge for their provincial final loss) on Saturday morning before the weather ended further play.

That loss aside, ‘Nories’ did just enough on Day 1 with a 45-run win over Secunda and dramatic last-ball tie against Middelburg (who couldn’t beat Secunda comprehensively enough to make net run-rate work in their favour) to sneak into the final.

When it came down to the bowl-out, rather than a possible coin toss otherwise, St David’s put their star spin bowling all-rounder Morteza Manack forward while Noordheuwel’s captain, Corne Botha took on the responsibility for his team.

Manack, ultimately, proved more accurate by hitting the stumps three times before Botha had managed it once – earning St David’s a shot at being national champions when the final phase takes place at University of Pretoria from 12-15 March.