119 118 Back row: Brock Miles, Mark van der Merwe, Yusuf Badat, Jonty Wiggett Middle row: Luke Grobbelaar, Kai McCormick, Liam de Villiers, Connor van Heerden Front row: James Bishop, Mr Jonathan Beaumont (Coach), Keegan de Jager, Mr Jody Saayman (Assistant Coach), Litha Gonya CRICKET U15A TEAM It was with great enthusiasm that the U15 cricketers took to the field for their first fixture of the year, bolstered by the fact that the away fixture to Michaelhouse meant no Saturday morning cycle test. Winning the toss and batting first, Kearsney managed to post 236/8 in their allotted 50 overs. Top scoring with 66 was Keegan de Jager, who was ably assisted by Hayden Swart, who scored 35, and James Bishop, with 33*. Michaelhouse managed 212 all out in their reply, with Swart claiming 3/30 and Yusuf Badat 3/19, ensuring that Kearsney got off to a great start to their season. The next fixture against Glenwood proved to be a low-scoring affair. Setting a target of 138, with Bishop again in the runs with 36, Kearsney managed to bowl Glenwood out for 117. Liam DeVilliers was the destroyerin-chief, taking 4/12, to help Kearsney to a 20-run victory. Our third fixture saw DHS making the journey to the Kearsney College microclimate, and for once the weather chose to play along. In a dominant performance with the ball, Kearsney had DHS back in the shed for 110. Bonga Maphanga starred, taking 5/21. Kearsney got over the line with 6 wickets down, recording a good 4-wicket victory. Keegan de Jager again top scored, with 29 not out. Next was Hilton College’s turn to brave the extensive roadworks on the N3 and to make their way up to our beautiful Osler Field. Kearsney made heavy weather of their innings, batting with the confidence of a onelegged Egyptian Goose. They eventually posted 130 all out. Hilton, however, would have been misguided to think it would be plain sailing, and Kearsney’s vaunted attack made short work of the visitors, bowling them out for 62. On this occasion Hayden Swart was the destroyer in chief, taking 5/19 in Kearsney’s 68-run victory. The regular season was infiltrated by a number of 100-Ball games. The less said about these carnival-type affairs the better, with the team losing every single match. We are purists if nothing else. No result was possible against traditional rivals Westville, but it could be argued that, when the conditions had deteriorated to such an extent that they looked like a typical English summer, Kearsney were in the driving seat. Needing only 15 runs to win with 3 wickets in hand and Bonga Maphanga dominating the slippery crease with 56*, it would have taken a foolhardy man to bet against Kearsney. Sadly the covers went on and stayed on, and a ‘no result’ was the result. Under 15A Cricket Next up was Clifton, who were probably not expecting the onslaught they were about to experience at the hands of a clean-hitting Hayden Swart. Winning the toss and batting first, Kearsney posted 293/5. The abovementioned Swart was in swashbuckling form, scoring 100 off balls. He was ably assisted by Jonty Wiggett, who reached 50, and Mark van de Merwe, who got 40. In reply, Clifton managed 217/4 in their 50 overs, resulting in Kearsney winning by 76 runs. The second half of the season began with an abandoned game against Maritzburg College, where Litha Gonya picked up 3/34. This was followed by the Grey High U15 Cricket Festival. Fixtures were challenging but we still managed a victory against Grey College at Victoria Park. In the return fixture against Michaelhouse, Kearsney posted a competitive 193 all out, with Keegan de Jager scoring 53. In reply Michaelhouse were skittled for 128, handing Kearsney a 65-run victory. On this occasion it was Yusuf Badat’s turn to dominate with the ball, taking the incredible figures of 5/13. The return fixture against DHS saw Kearsney excel with ball in hand, knocking DHS over for 66. Litha Gonya was at his terrifyingly aggressive best, picking up 4/17. Making heavy weather of the chase, Kearsney passed the score with 7 wickets down, thus winning by three wickets. The penultimate match of the season was against a fired-up Northwood team. Kearsney were well and truly put to the sword and lost by 161 runs. The season's final game was played at home against St Charles College. Sadly, lightning prevented a result. Regular players: Yusuf Badat, Daniel Berlyn, James Bishop, Keegan de Jager, Liam de Villers, Litha Gonya, Luke Grobbelaar, Brock Miles, Hayden Swart, Mark van de Merwe, Connor van Heerden, Jonty Wiggett Results: Played 22, Won 8, Lost 9, Abandoned 5 Mr Jonathan Beaumont Mr Jody Saayman Coaches U16A Cricket
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