The first day of the Fasken St David’s Time Cricket Festival was a bit of a runfest, with the batsmen taking advantage of the flat wickets and the fast, dry outfields.

Three of the six to day games saw the sides batting first declaring on scores greater that 300, and in two other the declarations came at 230 plus. Only one side – the CSA TAP XI – was bowled out in their first innings and even they did well to get to 195 after they were struggling on 96/7 at one stage.

In the process, there were four centuries scored on the day and no fewer than 12 half-centuries.

The top score of the day was 192 by Roche Rautenbach of Noordheuwel against Noordheuwel. He faced 163 balls and smashed 23 fours and six sixes in a swashbuckling knock that saw him offer several chances. He helped his side to 331/8 declared, the biggest total of the day

Liam Mostert of St Stithians contributed 124 not out to his side’s total of 308/4 declared. He faced 170 balls and struck 13 fours and one six. 

Jack Lees of St John’s was 102 not out as his side amassed 325/6 declared against St Andrew’s.

The only century of the afternoon session came from Heinrigh Pieterse of King Edward. He saw his side safely into the lead against the CSA TAP side, making 127. He faced 111 balls and hit 17 fours and four sixes.

The pick of the bowling was the 5/50 from Mickey Copeland for KES vs The TAP team, while Marco Botham took 4/35 against St Alban’s and TAP XI’s Odirile Modimokoane took 4/72 against KES.

With a full day’s play still to go, a number of teams appear to be in the driving seat and will be going for the win tomorrow. Noordheuwel bowled St Alban’s out for 148, 183 runs behind and have the option of putting them in again tomorrow morning.

Paul Roos Gimnasium led St David’s by 144 runs and did ask them to bat again. The home side were on 8/0 at the close of play.

King Edward lead the CSA TAP side by 87 runs with two wickets still standing and an early declaration is likely from them tomorrow. 

Summarised Scores

Noordheuwel 1^st inns 331/8 (Roche Rautenbach 192, Marco Bothma 57, Gerrard Coetzee 35; James Barnetson 3/49).
St Alban’s 1^st inns 148 (Jonathan Welch; Marco Bothma 4/35). 

Players of the day
Noordheuwel – Roche Rautenbach. St Alban’s – James Barnetson-

Jeppe 1^st inns 236/4 (Breidyn Schaper 54, Dylan Nicholas 57, Nhlanhla Mashigo 75 not out; Ronan Vardy 2/51).
Clifton 1^st inns 105/4 (Joshua Platford 63).

Players of the day
Jeppe – Nhlanlha Mashigo. Clifton – Joshua Platford.

St John’s 1^st inns 325/6 (JP King 60, Jonathan Miltz 36, Connor Edterhuizen 48, Jack Lees 102, Kyle Lion Cachet 38).
St Andrew’s 1^st inns 113/4 (Phko Moletsane 39 not out).

Players of the day
St John’s – Jack Lees. St Andrew’s – Pheko Moletsane

St Stithians 1^st inns 308/4 (Jody de Sousa 41, Cameron Rowe 37, Liam Mostert 124 not out, Muhammed Manack 71; Chad Fortmann 2/60).
Maritzburg College 1^st inns 138/2 (Tristan Elam 74 not out, Jacques Van der Walt 44 not out).

Players of the day
St Stithians – Liam Mostert. Maritzburg College – Tristan Elam

CSA TAP XI 1^st inns 195 (Taheer Isaacs 33, Khaya Nyamathe56 not out; Mickey Copeland 5/50).
KES 1^st inns 282/8 (Bryce Parson 62, Heinrigh Pieterse 127 (Odirile Modokoane 4/72).

Players of the day
CSA TAP Khaya Nyamathe – KES – Heinrigh Pieterse

Paul Roos Gim 1^st inns 261/7 (Jpsh Cox 61, Ruben Senekal 74, Sam Vhamaly 54; Imaad Moosa 3/57)
St David’s 1^st inns 117 (Thomas Taylor 40; Andrew Siebert 3/13, Erlank Pretorius 2/12).
St David’s 2^nd innings 8/0.

Players of the day
Paul Roos – Ruben Senekal. St David’s – Imaad Moosa

Written by: Theo Garrun

Photo: Supplied