1st X1 Cricket Tour to Cape Town - February 2011

Match 1:     W.C.C.C.  v  Pinelands High School

Pinelands 187 for 9 ( 50 overs ) ( Leith : 10-5-16-4 )

WCCC 188 for 5  ( 47.2 overs ) ( Leith 88* )

A warm and windy day saw WCCC visit Pinelands High School, Cape Town. Winning the toss, PInelands decided to bat and looked comfortable at 45 without loss off 15 overs, with Membrey struggling against the wind and Boobbyer bowling economically. A rather odd first change had seen Hopcroft try his own style of seam bowling, but sense soon prevailed when the captain, Leith, brought himself on to bowl his slow left arm. A false stroke by the promising looking opener ( a family friend of the Boobbyers ) brought about a simple catch at square leg and Leith had opened his wicket-taking account in South Africa. Then followed some roller-coaster cricket; three run outs, eight dropped catches and a tiring period when Pinelands, excited at the thought of scoring beyond a hundred, took their score to 150. When Wood came on for a second spell, the tail did its best and the total to chase ended up on 187 for 9 off 50 overs - a total that was, perhaps, 50 more than it should really have been.

It did, of course, provide a decent total for us to chase. After lunch, we set about the task with enthusiasm and anticipation. When Lowe fell, bowled, in the first over, it was the captain, Leith, who had to step up to the plate and impose his authority on the game. And so he did. Leith and Wood, who had opened and looked comfortable with the variety of the PInelands attack, put on 59 before Wood was beautifully caught and bowled by the fourth change slow left armer ( who had yet to score a run in the whole season, we were informed by a very excited team when he had kicked a single leg bye at the end of their innings! ) with a surname that was to prove unpronouncable for those of us without a formal training in Afrikans. When Boobbyer played a similar loose stroke to be caught at square leg off a pie, in came the dangerous-looking Brooks. Brooks and Leith then put on 69 in easy time, but when Brooks was out squirting one to short extra cover it was left to Leith to finish off the game with Hopcroft at the other end. What looked, in the book ( a rare thing these days ) at least to be a comfortable win had led Boobbyer senior on a fairground ride of emotion and concern for three hours, whilst the managers ( on and off field ) had enjoyed the "seen it all before" entertainment - exceedingly aided by the timely arrival of the maestro himself, Chris Potter, who, all at Wellington have become accustomed to expecting at sporting tours abroad, had flown in that day to lend his incomperable support to the tour party.

It was a good day and an excellent start to the tour. With a really big game against Bishop's tomorrow, the team left Pinelands to be wonderfully received by staff and parents at Bishop's in Rondebosch. More to follow after tomorrow's game.

Match 2:      Diocesian College ( Bishop's ) CC   v   Wellington College  CC

Bishop's    191 for 5 ( 45 overs ) ( Golding 89*, Leith 9-1-29-1, Dewes 9-2-24-2 )

WCCC        142  ( 41.3 overs )  ( Collins 9-2-14-4, Baikoff 9-1-18-0 )

After a morning tour of Newlands rugby and cricket grounds, followed by lunch at Cavendish Square, the touring team made its way back to Bishop's for a day-night match starting at 4pm. Bishop's won the toss and their experience in the pyjama game led them to bat first on a pictuesque ground dominated, of course, by Table Mountain - and its table cloth of white cloud spilling over the top driven by the ever-present Cape Doctor. A bit of a flying start saw Bishop's move to 21 off the first 3 overs before Brooks took a regular catch behind the stumps to dismiss Plimsoll off the bowling of Wood. Collins came in and assisted the Bishop's capatin, Golding, for a short while until he fell to a catch by Miller of Membrey. All looked very competitive and the fielding was of an excellent standard, full of enthusiasm and discipline. When Leith and Dewes came on as a complementary pair of slow left-armers, Bishop's struggled against a turning ball and managed to put on only a further 50 runs in the next 18 overs, with Dewes taking two wickets and Leith one. After 33 overs the score was 112 for 5 and the WCCC management felt that we were in charge of the game. The rush for the tape began with 5 overs to go and a competent and highly capable pair of batsmen then put on 46 in 5 overs to take the total to an impressive 191 for 5. Local knowledge suggested that this was a total that would be difficult to chase.

The half time interval was a celebratory affair with OW's, parents and friends greeting each other with fond memories of Wellington, whilst generously being fed by parents of the Bishop's team - a traditional South African Braai. Spirits were high in the team camp and the newly- promoted Rogers anxiously looked forward to opening the innings with the increasingly impressive Wood - both fifth form pupils. The innings began well with both batsmen looking to hit the ball straight and hard. Nine overs in and the score was a healthy-looking 41 without loss - the "worm" ahead of that of the previous innings'. The good start ended when Rogers skied one off the captain's bowling and was caught at short extra cover for 26. Leith, fresh from his success at windy Pinelands, came in and continued the positive assault by launching a fine straight six that prompted Golding to remove himself from the attack. Leith and Wood had put on 28 in 5 overs, before Leith was caught at point with the score now on 69 for 2. It had been the first delivery from Collins, a leg spinner with a mesmerisingly good googly. Wood received the first of the "wrong-uns" and then Boobbyer fell cheaply - run out coming back for two - and Brooks was the next of Collins' victims, bowled for 2. Nurse, making his debut for the tour, came in and had to muster up all his concentration and discipline in refusing to fall to the combined spin attack of Golding and Collins. Hopcroft was beaten by another of Collins' googlies, which opened up the opportunity for Rendell to show what sort of attacking player he is. Rendell played impressively well in a partnership with Nurse, putting on 32 between them, and looking every bit a player with promise for the future. Alas, it was not to be a Roy of the Rovers drama and Rendell fell to a good catch off the bowling of Smith. Dewes and Miller both fell cheaply and Membrey went down fighting in true Wellington never say die spirit. The team total ended 49 runs short. Local knowledge, it would seem, had got it right.

There is a genuine and mutual respect and friendship between the boys and staff at Bishop's and at Wellington and both teams enjoyed the opportunity to express their own thanks and gratitudes after the match. With the promise of an equally competitive rugby fixture this summer and a return visit by the cricketers to Wellington in 2012, the day finished at 10.30 pm. WCCC had raised their game since yesterday and were reminded that sport at the top level in South African schools is truly world class.

Match 3:     W.C.C.C.  v  Rondebosch Boys High School

 WCCC   152 for 9 ( 50 overs )  ( Nurse 32, Petersen 9-0-33-3, de Abreu 10-2-22-2 )

Rondebosch BHS CC   153 for 4 ( 38.3 overs ) ( v de Berg 42, Chiektey 35*, Wood 9-3-12-2 )

Another beautiful Cape Town day saw the Wellington College tourists at another picturesque oval - this time Rondebosch Boys High School. After a slightly delayed start, WCCC won the toss and elected to bat on a wicket that the two seam bowlers in the management party felt might offer some help to the fielding side. Rogers, this time opening with Nurse, played a loose shot in the second over and was comprehensively bowled for just one. Ten more overs of very tight bowling by a highly disciplined and professional looking team, ably led by the Western Province captain, de Abreu, and the score had progressed to 26 for 1 with Leith and Nurse starved of bad balls from which to score. When Leith fell for 8 in the 12th over, Boobbyer came in and played as positively as he could, hitting one of the only 5 boundaries in the whole innings - a straight six. With Nurse, Boobbyer extended the partnership to 52 before he was bowled by the accurate and probing quick-off-spin of de Abreu. The score was 80 for 3. The slow scoring continued and the pressure from a varied attack took its toll. Nurse fell in the 30th over for 32 off 82 balls; Brooks, for a short time, looked dangerous, as did Wood and Rendell, but none of these were able to stay at the crease long enough to make a significant impact on the score. Brooks and Rendell had enjoyed a hard fought partnership of 48; in the end the only other significant contribution to the innings' total. Hopcroft, Lowe, Cowdrey and Dewes added a further 14 between them and the final total was 152 off 50 overs - a score that was, perhaps, 40 short of a competitive target.

Fish and chips featured on the lunchtime menu, which perked the players up and a short team talk later was followed by the start of the Rondebosch innings at 3.35pm. Some tight bowling at the beginning by Boobbyer and Wood held back the batsmen to only 17 off the first 10 overs, with Wood dismissing Smith for 2 in the sixth over. Dewes, struggling with his line somewhat, then had Norris nicely caught on the square leg boundary by Boobbyer and in walked the Rondesbosch captain, de Abreu. Along with the opener, van de Berg, he pushed the total on to 93 before van de Berg was caught by Dewes off the bowling of Leith. Chiektey came in at number five and never looked in trouble, dismissing a series of bad balls to the boundary and teaching a good lesson in how to punish poor bowling. Wood bowled the captain with a delivery that seemed to stay low, but this allowed the talented Hamza to enter the spotlight and finish off the game with Chiektey in only a further 8 overs. Wood's efforts with the ball had been outstanding and we sorely missed a third seamer to complement his hearty performance. It was a beating, from which the Wellington players learnt considerably. Bishop's had been a high quality side, but there was a touch of real class in the Rondebosch team. And so, on to Wynberg tomorrow.

Match 4 :  Wynberg Boys High School  v  Wellington College

Wynberg  224 for 9 ( 50 overs )  ( Zeeman 54, Bedingham 37 )

WCCC  207  ( 45 overs ) ( Leith 100*, Brooks 42, Bradley 8-0-39-3, Leeman 5-0-32-3 )

Another gloriously sunny day and the team arrived at Wynberg Boys High School, where the cricket ground was quite simply stunningly beautiful. Lush green grass in the outfield, white picket fence around, the now familiar mountain as a back drop and the promise of another top quality match meant that expectation was high and the team ready for the next challenge.

Wynberg won the toss and elected to bat on a flat track. Leith caught the opener, Samaai, at mid off from the bowling of Membrey in only the second over and Boulle, the other opener, fell in the tenth over missing a straight one from Membrey; the score was now 41 for 2. Two experienced and high quality batters now dominated the attack for 14 overs, putting on 69, until a rash decision to sneak a second run to the square leg boundary ended up with a fine run out. At drinks the score was 121 for 3. One over later and Dewes had removed both the dangerous looking Smith and Edwards. Bedingham and his partner at number 7, Kloppers, then put on 64 in quick time to take the score to 190 before Boobbyer had Bedingham caught by Nurse. The Wynberg boys put on only 20 more in the last 5 overs with the final total adding up to 224, Nurse cashing in on a pair of cheap wickets in a good spell of slow left arm bowling.

224 seemed like a good total at lunch and a well orchestrated chase would be required to overtake it. Rogers nicked a good one in the second over allowing Nurse to come in at number 3. Bradley continued with a hostile spell of nicely shaped deliveries, removing Lowe in the sixth over and then Nurse in the 12^th over. The score had progressed to 30. Leith started slowly and batted with Hopcroft for 13 more overs until Hopcroft was given out leg before on the last ball before tea. At 66 for  4, getting another 159 looked like a task requiring biblical miracles. In the over after tea Rendell chipped a simple catch to short extra cover and then Boobbyer fell leg before; two more ducks in the team scorecard. It looked very bleak at 68 for 6 and getting anywhere near 200 looked way beyond possibility. But Leith had other ideas. Joining him at the crease, Brooks commanded the bowling and the two put on 85, taking the score to 153. When Brooks fell to a catch on the mid wicket boundary it was left to Leith to pierce the field with a fine series of boundaries and twos. For a short while Membrey played some fine straight strokes and when the score reached 199, what had at one time seemed like a predictable and somewhat disappointing game had evolved into an exciting match with both sides stretching to win. Dewes, at number 11 and following the unnecessary run out of Membrey,  defended well whilst Leith took his score to 100 despite some premature celebration from the touring party. But when Dewes played an attacking shot off the last ball of the over and was caught at mid off, the game finished with a deep sigh from one team and a huge jump for joy from the other. Several  spectators couldn’t quite believe what they had seen on a strange afternoon of cricket when the sea fett arrived to screen off the mountain and, just for a short while it seemed the English conditions were favouring the touring side. A loss in the score book, but plenty to learn from.

 

Match 5:   Somerset College  v  Wellington College

SCCC   139 for  7  ( 40 overs ) ( Danckwerts 64*, Boobbyer 6-2-6-2 )

WCCC   142 for 6   ( Rendell 52*, Brooks 38, Lansell 10-1-31-3 )

An early morning start and meet at Wynberg was kept jolly by the stories from a variety of billets enjoyed by the team last nght. Soon we were on our way heading out towards Stellenbosch, our friendly driver, Ian, doubling up, where necessary, as a tour guide and excursion advisor. After a  short and most pleasant stop at the Spier winery, we found ourselves at Somerset College, an eye-catchingly beautiful, fairly new, school amongst a fabulous backdrop – this time, not Table Mountain but the Hottentots, surrounded by the wonderfully rustic Avontur winery. This game was to be a 40 over affair starting after a light lunch at 1pm on a well-kept oval.

Somerset College won the toss and elected to bat on a scorchingly warm day, kept bearable for the umpires by a typical Cape Town wind. Boobbyer and Wood bowled with improved discipline with Boobbyer removing both openers in the first ten overs with the score on 23. Membrey bowled another tight spell and Leith’s slow left arm kept scoring down at a low rate. A sharp run out got rid of a dangerous looking Johnstone and it was left to Forbes Danckwerts, clearly a favourite of the inspiring pair of Teagan and Tayla, the Somerset College scorers, to push the score onwards towards a respectable total. Two more run outs ( all three run outs in fact occurred with batsmen coming back for a second run ) and the score edged its way towards 100. The foot seemed to come off the Wellington accelerator at this point, Dewes’s six overs were expensive ( 44 ) and Nurse’s two overs for 11 confounded the on field management, with Boobbyer, the pick of today’s bowlers ,left  with two overs in the bank. The score finished up on 139 – perhaps 30 more than it should have been after some good fielding early on – with Danckwerts 64 not out.

Wood, looking more and more the right man to open the innings, began confidently with Nurse playing a couple of very fine shots to pierce the field early on. Lami, a quickish-looking seamer, then had Nurse caught behind and Leith fell soon after to the same kind of delivery.  Boobbyer was also caught behind, this time off the bowling of Landsell ( who went on, strangely to bowl 10 overs in the match ) and so it was Brooks ( again ) and Rendell that held the reins and started to show the Somerset College players how to strike the ball cleanly. Brooks scored a quick 38 and when he was out to a very fine catch on the long off boundary Hopcroft came in to steady the ship, whilst Rendell continued to play with something of a  feline life expectancy. Hopcroft was eventually out for 6 off 32 balls and the ever enthusiastic Lowe, as eager for runs as he had been to strike up friendships with the locals, came in to finish off the game, playing a fine clip for four. Rendell finished impressively on 52 not out, cementing his place in the eleven with the authority he had promised some time previously.

It had been a good victory on the field and a nice way to end what has been a magnificent tour of one of the world’s great places.  A superb braai for players, parents, staff and friends was put on by the Somerset College staff and parents and everyone enjoyed the social pleasantries, with both Boobbyer senior and Dr. Seldon, fresh from his visit to Tigerkloof ( among other more oriental places ) both enjoying the opportunity to say a few words of thanks to everyone there.  Camps Bay beckoned and the team looked forward to a rare day off to relax and soak up some trans-equatorial sun.

Many thanks must go Craig Goodenough of Bundu Bashers, who had organised the tour for us and to the management staff, on and off the field, for their wise decision making. Thanks also to Chris Potter, who, as always, appeared on every ground to support the team and to Dr Seldon who added his own incomparable enthusiasm to a very happy tour party. Perhaps the biggest thanks ( and commiserations ) should go to Chris James, who had suffered injury to his shoulder on day one of the tour and was unable to play a match in this magnificent country. C.J. kept a rigorous tally of fielding activities as well as lending his own loyal support to the team. We all hope he will recover soon and that Wellington will soon see him running in from the old Art’s School end to put future batsmen in trouble.

      MF