SuperSport Schools Plus | Rustenburg crowned North West Schools SA20 champions

Hoërskool Rustenburg dethroned Potchefstroom Gimnasium as the North West’s T20 champions and became the first winners of the new Schools SA20 challenge in the region after a sustained high level of performance over two days.

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The Rusties’ run to the title started with a comprehensive 116-run victory over Hoërskool Lichtenburg in the semi-finals on Saturday.

Batting first, the Rustenburgers made their way to a big total of 198/7 in their 20 overs, thanks to almost the entire top order chipping in with solid contributions.

Tristan van der Linde, who was excellent over the two days, top-scored with 42, while Manfred Wenhold scored one less, finishing with an unbeaten 41.

Christivan Coetzer and Thian Labuschagne, known for their power-hitting, added further valuable contributions, with Coetzer smashing a quickfire 33 and Labuschagne weighing in with 29. The bowling department, then, did their part, restricting the Liggies to only 82/8 from their 20 overs.

Keany Janse van Vuuren shone with the ball, boasting a return of 3/6, and, with support from Manfred Wenhold, who snagged 2/14, he ensured that the Rusties cruised into Sunday’s final.

Potchefstroom Gimnasium was equally impressive as they, too, went past the 190-run mark in their Saturday semi-final against Hoërskool Wolmaransstad. Lukas Kotze was the batting standout, notching 52 runs. Ulrich Botha, also, played his part, contributing an unbeaten 51. Divan van Eldik tacked on another 42 runs to see the Potch boys to a formidable 195/4.

The Wollies didn’t bat as freely as their opponents, but they also didn’t surrender their wickets easily to the Gimmies. Thlalefo Thobedi shone for Wolmaranstad, scoring an unbeaten 46, while Gimmies’ Thlone Thabata did the most damage with the ball, claiming 2/9.

Although they struggled to take wickets, Gimmies bowled economically to restrict Wollies to 114/4, which left Potch Gimnasium the winners by a handsome 81-run margin.

On Sunday, in the final, it was the turn of Rustenburg’s Thian Labuschagne to set alight the JB Marks Oval, in Potchefstroom. Opening the batting, he kept the pedal to the metal, even after losing his opening partner Callie Fryer, to the first ball of the game.

Labuschagne smashed a vital 74 runs from only 60 balls, sending four balls to the boundary and four over it. Tristan van der Linde and Manfred Wenhold were in the runs again, with each adding 27, which helped Rustenburg to a challenging 172/6.

Caden Seleka, Gimmies’ leading all-rounder, delivered a performance to remember. He claimed his side’s best bowling figures of 2/25 and then put up a proper fight with the bat, top-scoring with 54. With Jahndré Coetzee scoring 32, Gimnasium was on top for a brief moment, before Tristan van der Linde stole the show again.

Van der Linde’s 2/6, together with Callie Fryer’s 2/23, and 2/31 from Thian Labuschagne, slowed the Potch side’s momentum, and they were eventually dismissed for 149, leaving Rustenburg the winners by 23 runs.

Summarised scorecards 

Final

Hoërskool Rustenburg 172/6 (Thian Labuschagne 74, Tristan van der Linde 27, Manfred Wenhold 27, Extras 27; Caden Seleka 2/25); Potchefstroom Gimnasium 149 (Caden Seleka 54, Jahndré Coetzee 32, Lukas Kotze 27; Tristan van der Linde 2/6, Callie Fryer 2/23, Thian Labuschagne 2/31). Hoërskool Rustenburg won by 23 runs.

Semi-finals

Potchefstroom Gimnasium 195/4 (Lukas Kotze 52, Ulrich Botha 51*, Divan van Eldik 42; Handro Conradie 2/43); Hoërskool Wolmaransstad 114/4 (Thlalefo Thobedi 46*, Abrie Oosthuizen 27; Thlone Thabata 2/9). Potchefstroom Gimnasium won by 81 runs.

Hoërskool Rustenburg 198/7 (Tristan van der Linde 42, Manfred Wenhold 41*, Christivan Coetzer 33, Thian Labuschagne 29, Extras 23; Johan Coetzee 3/30, Douw Jacobs 2/35); Hoërskool Lichtenburg 82/8 (Douw Jacobs 26, Lithman Jacobs 24*; Keany Janse van vuuren 3/6, Manfred Wenhold 2/14). Hoërskool Rustenburg won by 116 runs.

Franco is a sports fanatic from Tzaneen, a small town in Limpopo. Obsessed with both cricket and rugby, he still does the sport at club level when given the chance. Combining the rush of sports with his other passion, writing, gives him the fix any sport-crazy fan needs. In his spare time, he spends quality time with family and friends, preferably around a braaivleis fire.

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