On 3 January the DHS XI Cricket Team accompanied by myself, Andrew Shedlock (Director of Cricket), and assisting coach for the tour, Sparks Takodza, travelled to Grey High PE to participate in their 2019 Cricket Festival. We knew we were up for some tough competition but the boys embraced the opportunities that came their way and showed, above all else, magnificent team spirit and pride in their School. They completely overwhelmed both themselves and those of us supporting them with their courage, tenacity and skill. We returned home on 8 January having won 3 out of the 4 games we played against schools currently sitting in the top 10 cricket schools in the country. We as coaches couldn’t be prouder of the boys and hope to carry this spirit forward into our coming season. Wins aside, the XI Team has certainly set the spirit for lower teams to follow … you can never achieve unless you start to believe you can do it! There is lots of work to still be done, but DHS Cricket has got off to a positive and promising 2019 start!
Below are details of the games.
Friday 4 January vs Muir College (Declaration):
Captain Taine Owen won the toss and had no hesitation in sending Muir College into bat. Our bowlers were really disciplined up front and soon had Muir College in trouble at 9 runs for 3 wickets. Joshua Stride’s opening spell was 6 overs, 5 maidens, 2 wickets for 1 run. Our spinners built on the good start and Muhammad Moosa and Nivashan Naicker picked up wickets at regular intervals and DHS bowled Muir College out for 55.
DHS went into bat and after the early loss of our opening batters, Brayden Sambhu and Sanolin Pather batted really sensibly and put on a 100 run partnership, with Brayden Sambhu scoring a well played 103 and Sanolin Pather 63. This allowed DHS to declare on 231 for 8.
Muir College were sent in to bat with DHS needing to get 5 wickets for an outright win. Again, Josh Stride bowled really well up front getting the early break through and then Ross Shedlock picked up 2 wickets in his 8 over spell and Muir College made 69 for 5 thus giving DHS a convincing win by an innings and 107 runs.
Muir College – 55 all out
M Moosa – 4 for 14(8.2 overs)
N Naicker – 3 for 24(8 overs)
J Stride – 2 for 1(6 overs)
DHS – 231 for 8
B Sambhu – 103
S Pather – 63
Muir College – 69 for 5
R Shedlock – 2 for 22(8 overs)
DHS win by an innings and 107 runs
Saturday 5 January vs Grey High School, PE (Declaration):
The Grey captain won the toss and elected to bat first. Again our opening bowlers, Josh Stride and Jordan Bryan, bowled great disciplines up front and had Grey High on the back foot restricting them to 31 runs for 4 wickets. A small partnership developed but the team stayed focused and disciplined with their bowling and fielding and we eventually broke the partnership and bowled Grey High School for 103.
DHS openers got off to a solid and positive start putting on 61 for the 1st wicket. Taine Owen batted really well for his 84 which allowed DHS to declare on 186 for 5, leaving Grey High School 16 overs to survive and for DHS to take 5 wickets for an outright win. Unfortunately, rain had the last say and between both coaches and captains we called the game with DHS claiming a 1st innings win.
Grey High – 103 all out
J Bryan – 3 for 32 (12 overs)
J Stride – 2 for 19 (12 overs)
M Moosa – 2 for 25 (14 overs)
DHS – 186 for 5
T Owen – 84
J Manicum – 31
DHS won on the 1st innings
Sunday 6 January vs Grey College, Bloemfontein (50 overs):
Taine Owen won the toss and sent Grey College in to bat and Grey College got off to a flying start and were 16 for 0 after 2.5 overs. Josh Stride picked up a wicket off his last ball of his 2nd over. Between Josh Winnaar (3 wickets) and Josh Stride (2) they bowled 4 overs, took 4 wickets, without conceding a run, and suddenly had Grey College reeling at 16 for 5. Again, a small partnership developed but the boys stuck to their disciplines, with Sanolin Pather bowling 6 tight overs whilst picking up 2 wickets.
Grey College went to tea at 68 for 8. After tea, Ross Shedlock pick up the last 2 wickets and Grey College were bowled out for 72.
What looked an easy total eventually became a monumental task. As was expected, Grey College bowlers were really disciplined and never bowled a bad ball. After a good start at 50 for 4, DHS suddenly found themselves 57 for 8 still needing 22 to win. Quickly it was 61 for 9 when Usama Ghuman joined Sanolin Pather. It turned out to be a nail biting end and these two batsmen held their nerve and saw DHS to a very exciting and memorable victory in the 50th over.
I have been involved in cricket coaching for a long time and have been involved in some memorable games but this will definitely go down as one of them. As I said to the boys after the game, they will remember this game for the rest of their lives.
Grey College – 72 all out
J Winnaar – 3 for 20
S Pather – 2 for 7
R Shedlock – 2 for 8
J Stride – 2 for 11
DHS – 73 for 9
DHS won by 1 wicket
Monday 7 January vs Selborne College (T20):
Taine Owen again won the toss and elected to bowl. DHS had Selborne College 53 for 4 after 11 overs but some lapses in the field, a crucial miss stumping, DHS let it slip in the last few overs allowing Selborne to score 144, probably 30 runs too many.
DHS approached the run chase positively but we kept losing wickets at regular intervals and we ended our 20 overs on 99 for 9.
Selborne – 144 for 7
J Bryan – 3 for 24
DHS – 99 for 9
DHS lost by 43 runs
Andrew Shedlock
Director of Cricket
1st XI Cricket Coach
