schoolsthatrock
1st X1 Michaelmas Festival. The festival took place at Richmond and Kearsney College, KwaZulu-Natal, from 4–7 October.
Day 1: Grit and Grace Against KES
Kearsney opened their Michaelmas campaign against a formidable KES side on a damp Richmond pitch. After winning a crucial toss, KES sent Kearsney in to bat under testing conditions. Their bowlers struck early and often—Lebanse Ramedupe (3/37) and Luke Clark (3/23) wreaked havoc. Amid the collapse, Cole Young stood tall, crafting a sublime 84 that defied the surface and gave Kearsney a fighting total of 168 in 47 overs.
With the ball, Kearsney struck early, reducing KES to 14/2. But Troy Gordon, later hailed as the standout batsman of the festival, anchored the innings with a masterful 87*—a knock of patience and poise. Despite a spirited spell from Rivan Moodley (3/42), Gordon guided KES to victory with three wickets in hand.
Day 2: Lessons in Ruthlessness from Waterkloof
Facing Waterkloof, Kearsney endured a tough outing. After electing to bat, Waterkloof’s aggressive approach and Kearsney’s missed chances—six dropped catches—proved costly. AJ De Villiers (61) and Darius Maritz (68*) powered their side to a daunting 314/7. Litha Gonya (3/56) and Michael Groom (3/46) were the pick of the bowlers.
Chasing over 300 was always going to be a mountain to climb. Despite resistance from Keegan de Jager (43) and Aaron Blackburn (25), wickets fell regularly. Wian Du Plessis (4/8) sealed the deal, and Kearsney were dismissed for 166.
Day 3: Collapse and Character Against Jeppe
Bowling first again, Kearsney impressed early against Jeppe, reducing them to 115/7. Mathew Gorrie led the charge with 4/47. However, the Jeppe tail wagged, with Ahmed Goolam (31) and Keegan Cockburn (33) lifting the total to 183.
Kearsney’s reply was nightmarish—reeling at 18/7. Aaron Blackburn showed immense character, carrying his bat for a valiant 54*, but the team folded for 85. Cockburn (4/4) and Reza Ayob (3/12) were clinical with the ball.
Day 4: Redemption and Resolve Against St Albans
In their final fixture, Kearsney hosted St Albans in a T20 clash. Liam Basch’s composed 76* helped the visitors post 129/7 on a pitch offering early movement. Kearsney’s chase began brightly—Aaron Blackburn (54) and Keegan de Jager (36) raced to 91/1 in 12 overs.
A flurry of wickets threatened to derail the chase, but Jonty Wiggett’s cool-headed 18* off 12 balls sealed a thrilling win with two balls to spare and five wickets in hand.
Read more school news here: https://schoolsthatrock.co.za/
https://www.kearsney.com/college/
Photo supplied
Become a Sponsor
