Kimberley — St Patrick’s CBC emerged with two decisive wins in the Schools SA20 Northern Cape programme at Backfield on Friday, forcing a modest reply from Hoërskool Upington in a rain-affected contest before posting a commanding victory over Hoërskool Kalahari’s second XI later the same day.
Bowling first paid off for CBC
Choosing to bowl after the toss proved productive for CBC when Upington were restricted to 128/7. Upington’s innings was held together by a determined middle-order innings from CJ Botha, who struck 47 off 47 deliveries, including nine fours and a six. Botha and Vaylen Lombard put together the competition’s highest partnership for Upington — a 69-run stand for the third wicket — but opportunities were limited beyond that pair.
CBC’s attack produced regular breakthroughs. Kieran Adams was the most economical threat, finishing with figures of 3/17 from his four overs. Faizaan Kajee removed Botha and returned 1/22 from four overs, while Juan Bezuidenhout, opening the bowling for Upington, finished with 2/35 in reply.
Rapid reply and calm finish
In response CBC lost Daniel Feder early but recovered quickly. Kajee and Otlwile Diphokoja constructed a brisk partnership, adding 93 runs off 10.4 overs to shift the momentum. Kajee posted an aggressive 42 from 29 balls with seven fours before being trapped lbw by Bezuidenhout.
Diphokoja pressed on and helped level the scores before being dismissed, leaving CBC on 128/3 and needing a solitary run to win — which they secured the next ball. The number three batsman top-scored for the winners with 49 off 46, matching Kajee’s seven fours in the innings.
Second fixture: CBC dominate Kalahari 2nd XI
In the second fixture at Backfield, CBC piled up a competitive total of 175/6, led by a potent innings from Kieran Adams. Adams remained unbeaten on 78 off 53 balls, clearing the ropes three times and finding the boundary seven times. Otlwile Diphokoja made a valuable contribution of 37, and Shadrodean Benjamin added 22.
Kalahari’s response offered little resistance. Waldu Noeth top-scored for the visitors with 20 off 21 balls, hitting four fours, while Franco Louw reached 10. The remainder of Kalahari’s batting lineup struggled to convert starts into substantial scores.
| Match | Result | Top performer(s) |
|---|---|---|
| St Patrick’s CBC v Hoërskool Upington | CBC won by 7 wickets (chased 128) | CJ Botha (47), Kieran Adams (3/17), Faizaan Kajee (42) |
| St Patrick’s CBC v Hoërskool Kalahari 2nd XI | CBC won by 112 runs | Kieran Adams (78*), Otlwile Diphokoja (37) |
What this means for school cricket locally
Two wins in one day will be a boost to St Patrick’s CBC’s campaign in the Schools SA20 Northern Cape programme. The performances highlight depth in both batting and bowling — a quickfire 93-run partnership in the first match and a strong match-winning innings in the second give the side momentum.
- Bowling strength: Adams and Kajee’s spells kept opponents in check, showing the value of disciplined, wicket-taking bowling in T20 school cricket.
- Middle-order value: Botha’s innings for Upington demonstrated how a middle-order batter can rescue a chase; CBC countered with their own middle-order contributions.
- Player fitness and rotation: Winning two fixtures on the same ground in a single day suggests good squad depth and management.
The matches were played on a rain-affected day, which can affect pitch behaviour and scoring lines. Handling such conditions is part of the learning curve for school sides preparing for higher levels of competition.
Scorecards and further fixtures for the Schools SA20 Northern Cape programme were listed in the match reports. Coaches and selectors will take note of both individual performances and how teams coped with the stop-start nature of a wet day at Backfield.
For local supporters, the results provide a talking point: CBC’s combination of steady rebuilding by their middle order and incisive bowling spells carried them to comfortable victories in Kimberley.
