ST DAVID'S' MORTEZA MANACK STARS WITH BAT AND BALL IN ACTION-PACKED SCHOOLS SA20 FINALS DAY 1

St Andrew’s School, St David’s Marist Inanda and Hoërskool Garsfontein got their Schools SA20 Final Showdown campaigns on the road with victories during the opening round at the University of Pretoria (Tuks) on Wednesday.

Saints from Bloemfontein secured a 37-run victory over Northwood according Duckworth–Lewis–Stern (DLS) method. Their match was cut short due to lightning and rain with 21 deliveries to go on the Tuks Oval.

Saints won the toss and elected to bat first. They reached 162/7 in their 20 overs with opening batter Naudé Botha (45) making the biggest contribution. Jonathan Hickley (28) and Johan Liebenberg (25) also chipped in.

Northwood’s Jordan Matthews (3/20) caused the most problems for the Saints batsmen with his slow bowling.

Tuswa Phetha (31) tried his best to keep the team from Durban in the game. When they however also lost Connor Leclezio (13) due to an injury it left them in trouble.

St David’s won their opening encounter against Cricket South Africa’s Hub Invitational XI by 13 runs according to DLS.

The team from Johannesburg posted a total of 173/3 in their allotted 20 overs. The Manack brothers, Morteza (55*) and Armaan (45), making the biggest contributions.

Armaan shared a 65-run partnership for the second wicket with South Africa U19 Emerging player Kamogelo Phiri (26). Morteza and captain Samrat Basu (19*) shared an unbeaten 70-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

Morteza faced a mere 29 deliveries as he struck five fours and three sixes during his unbeaten half-century. Another SA U19 player Enathi Kitshini was the pick of the Invitational side’s bowling attack, picking up 2/33 with his spin bowling.

WATCH: Morteza Manack recalls his Day 1 heroics

The CSA Hub Invitational XI put up a valiant effort reaching 119/4 when lightning and later rain interrupted their innings after 16.1 overs. At that stage Tshepang Laka (48*) and Paul Matlala’s (33*) partnership for the fifth wicket was on a steady 77 runs.

Morteza Manack who picked up three wickets at the cost of only 15 runs was also the pick of his side’s bowling attack and his all-round efforts earned him the Player of the Day award.

Garsfontein secured a comfortable five-wicket victory over Graeme College as they surpassed the target of 142 with the first delivery of the 18th over.

It was their opening pair, Reuben van Zyl (37) and Charl van Staden (29), who laid the foundation with a 69-run partnership in the first six overs.

Graeme College’s Corbin Tidbury (52) also shined with a solid half-century. Garsies’ Echard Struwig bowled well to return figures of 2/27 in his four overs.

SUMMARISED SCHOOLS SA20 FINAL SHOWDOWN DAY 1 SCORECARDS - WEDNESDAY, 12 MARCH 2025

Tuks Oval

St Andrew's School Bloemfontein 162/7 - 20 overs (Naude Botha 45; Jordan Matthews 3/20)

Northwood School 93/6 - 16.3 overs (Tuswa Phetha 31; Heindre Serfontein 1/5, Nikhil Sukraj 1/12, FG Botha 1/20)

St Andrew's won by 37 on Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method

Tuks D Field

St David's Marist Inanda 173/3 - 20 overs (Morteza Manack 55*; Enathi Kitshini 2/33)

CSA Hub Invitational XI 119/4 - 16.1 overs (Tshepang Laka 48*; Morteza Manack 3/15)

St David's won by 13 runs on Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method

Tuks E Field

Graeme College 141/5 - 20 overs (Corbin Tidbury 52; Echard Struwig 2/27)

Hoërskool Garsfontein 144/5 - 17.1 overs (Reuben van Zyl 37; Ajay Jeggels 2/28)

Garsfontein won by 5 wickets