Hoërskool Kempton Park's batsmen dominated for the umpteenth time to lead their team to the Schools SA20 Easterns' regional title.
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On Friday, the Kempie batters showed their steel once again as they steered the side from the East Rand to a 29-run victory over St Benedict's College at the home of Eastern's Cricket, Willowmoore Park.
Bennies' opening bowler, Russel Jones (2/23) struck early, removing Ethan Kotze in the third over, but the cool, calm, and collected head of the experienced Wian Pieters kept St Benedict's at bay.
Pieters combined with the in-form Sheldon Kruger to steady the ship before he was sent back to the pavilion for a well-played 41 from 34 deliveries.
Kruger, on the other hand, kept going, even though he lost his captain, Marko Richter, soon after.
HEFTY LEFTY
This, however, brought the feisty left-hander, Stian de Villiers, to the crease. Kruger's positivity rubbed off on De Villiers and they combined well for a crucial 87-run partnership.
Kruger, eventually, became Jones's second victim in the penultimate over after top-scoring with a vital 78 runs, which came from only 49 balls and included six sixes and three fours. De Villiers, with a valuable 47 not out, saw the side from Kempton Park through to a healthy 194/4 from their 20 overs, which gave Kempton Park's bowlers a strong total to defend.
Bennies, unfortunately for them, didn't get off to a good start. They lost Cayden Thompson to the second ball of their innings when he chipped it straight back to Wian Pieters (2/20). Matt Feiertag launched a counter-attack with his innings of 43, while captain Clayton Horlick (40) and Marco Mendes (31) lent a helping hand.
Alex Johnston delivered the top score for St Benedict's, an unbeaten 44 runs from just 31 deliveries, to give Bedfordview boys a glimmer of hope, but the Kempies, led by Pieters and Ethan Kotze (1/17), restricted St Benedict's to 165/5 despite a valiant run chase.
Summarised Scorecard:
Hoërskool Kempton Park 194/4 (Sheldon Kruger 78, Stian de Villiers 47*, Wian Pieters 41; Matthew Elphick 2/17, Russel Jones 2/23)
St Benedict's College 165/5 (Alex Johnston 44*, Matt Feiertag 43, Claton Horlick 40, Marco Mendes 31; Wian Pieters 2/20). Hoërskool Kempton Park won by 29 runs.
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