Clifton cruises into Dolphins' Schools SA20 semis

After surviving a hard-fought Schools SA20 battle with Durban High School (DHS) the previous week, Clifton College breezed through their next match in the competition, thumping Grantleigh High School by 137 runs in a quarterfinal clash at the Riverside Sports Club on Wednesday.

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The home team elected to bat first after winning the toss and their openers, Byron Ward and Hayden Drieselmann turned that into a very good decision by sharing an opening stand of 92 runs. It ended when Drieselmann was caught by Luca Olivier off the bowling of Dillen Pieterse for 37 from 36 balls, which had included five fours.

Ward continued on his merry way, advancing the total to 137 with Tim Saulez before the opener's cracking innings was halted by a run out. He had faced only 39 balls for 64 runs, smashing two sixes and eight fours.

Saulez was out with the total on 151 after a quickfire 35 from 17 deliveries, three of which he deposited over the boundary, with another two sent to the boundary.

Muhammed Malek weighed in with an unbeaten 25 off 17 as Clifton finished on 196/5, setting their visitors from Richards Bay a steep required run rate of 9.85 to win.

Grantleigh's bowlers claimed only three of the five wickets to fall - the other two were from run outs - with Dillen Pieterse's 1/8 from two overs their best return. Tristan van Rooyen did a tidy job, picking up 1/27 in four.

DECENT START FOR THE VISITORS

The visitors made a decent start to their reply, with Van Rooyen and Yadav Davarm putting on 16 for the first wicket but, once Tim Saulez had bowled Van Rooyen for eight, the wickets began to tumble.

That opening stand proved to be the best of Grantleigh's innings, but they had few answers for Saulez. He ripped through their batting, capturing a scintillating 5/13 from his four overs.

Shiraz Perumal saw the first ball he bowled struck for four but retaliated with two quick wickets to snap up 2/10 in 1.5 overs. Gabriel Vermeulen, also, played his part by claiming 2/22 as Grantleigh folded for 59 in only 10.5 overs.

It was a decisive performance from the Clifton attack, but 12 wides and 16 extras will be a slight cause for concern.

Kian Topham led Grantleigh's batsmen with nine runs.

Summarised Scorecard:

Clifton College 196/5 (Byron Ward 64, Hayden Drieselmann 37, Tim Saulez 35, Muhammad Malek 25*, Dillen Pieterse 1/8); Grantleigh High School 59/10 (Tim Saulez 5/13, Shiraz Perumal 2/10, Gabriel Vermeulen 2/22). Clifton College won by 137 runs.