Saints 1st XI cricket team
Saturday saw the return of the eagerly anticipated City Derby. St Charles College’ First XI cricket team went across town hunting their third successive victory over city rivals, Maritzburg College. Winning the toss and batting first, the Saints were under attack from star KZN Inland U19 bowler, Mondli Khumalo. However, at 19/3, the introduction of Jason Login and Wessly Madhevere swiftly turned defence into attack and the tide changed in favour of the visitors. Their 154-run partnership for the 4th wicket was one to behold; it was a virtuous batting performance by these two talented cricketers, and everyone present would have felt privileged to have been a part of it. Wessly Madhevere, 57, combined some genius strokeplay with bludgeoning attacking shots and set up this wonderful partnership scored at an alarming run rate. On the other end, Jason Login was in a league of his own. A more classy, mature innings you are unlikely to witness, and he cements his place as one of the leading schoolboy cricketers in the province, fully deserving of his KZN Inland U19 Coke Week selection. Login’s 102, under pressure in the City Derby on Goldstones, will go down in the annuals of St Charles College cricket as a high quality, controlled, most memorable century.
In reply College got off to a rollicking start, scoring 70 off the first 10 overs. It was the introduction of the spinners that turned the game around, and 4 quick wickets saw the game turn on its head. It was Login in on the action once more, showing great skill this time with the ball, leaving College captain van der Walt stranded, stumped, and the game on a knife-edge with College needing 67 runs to win off 16 overs. Unfortunately, rain and lightning curtailed what was heading towards a dramatic finish; it was a great game, befitting a rivalry that is rich in history.
- In other news, St Charles College have won all their pool games in the CSA Schools T20 challenge and move into the quarter finals which take place next year.