During the mid-term exeat, the Prep 1st XI cricket team played in the Independent Primary Schools’ Cricket Festival held at Beaulieu Prep and Dainfern College in Johannesburg.
In the first fixture of the weekend, the Saints boys took on Dainfern College. SCC lost the toss and were asked to bat first. After an initial hiccup, at 28/3, Matthew Urquhart and Ross Boast put on a 138 run partnership which helped the Prep team reach 244 for 8. Matthew Urquhart scored 84 runs while Ross Boast made 105 runs. The Saints boys then put in a fine bowling and fielding display to bowl their opponents out for 125 runs. Josh O’Connor, Jordan Bentley, Matthew Urquhart and Nathan Beaumont all took 2 wickets apiece. SCC won by 119 runs.
The next fixture saw the Prep 1st XI taking on Woodridge from the Eastern Cape. The SCC team, once again batted first and found themselves 22 for 3. This time, Brett Cutting and Connor Riley steadied the innings with a 107 run partnership. Brett Cutting eventually out for 62 runs and Connor Riley top scoring with 76 runs. Seyur Pillay chipped in with a quick fire 47 runs at the back end of the innings. In the field, the Saints boys hit their straps and bowled Woodridge out for 149. Jordan Bentley doing the majority of the damage with 5 wickets for 45 runs. Ross Boast and Nathan Beaumont chipped in with 2 wickets apiece. SCC won by 123 runs.
The final fixture of the tour was a T20 match against Beaulieu Prep. The Saints boys batted first and amassed 212 for 5 with Matthew Diemont making 48 runs, Matthew Urquhart chipping in with a quick fire 44 runs off just 17 deliveries and Ross Boast top scoring with 57 runs off 27 balls. The Prep team then restricted their opposition to 43 all out with Brett Cutting taking 5 wickets for 20 runs and Connor Riley and Seyur Pillay each picking up 2 wickets. SCC won by 169 runs.
Photo on top: The Prep 1st XI Cricket Team
Photo: Saysha Baker