By Johnathan Paoli
Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies) were crowned Titans rain Schools SA20 champions after defeating Hoërskool Garsfontein by 32 runs in Friday’s final at Cornwall Hill College in Tshwane.
Affies posted 152/8 in their 20 overs before restricting Garsfontein to 120/5, with Zian Labuschagne and Nico Loggenberg taking two wickets each to secure the title.
Labuschagne also made a vital contribution with the bat, top-scoring for Affies with 41 runs from 27 deliveries as his side recovered from a middle-order collapse to set a competitive target.
Opening batsman AJ Morkel and Ethan Williams gave Affies a strong start, racing to 37 in the first five overs before Morkel was caught by Arrie Verster off Katlego Lebelo for 15.
Williams and Dylan Stander added 24 runs in three overs to take the total to 61 before Stander fell for eight to JJ Thom.
Williams followed three runs later, also dismissed by Thom, having scored 28 from 22 balls, including three fours and a six.
Labuschagne then provided the innings with momentum, striking five fours to anchor the middle order.
However, Garsfontein fought back through Alex Potgieter and Franco van der Mescht, who helped reduce Affies to 117/7 after three wickets fell for nine runs.
Labuschagne’s dismissal at 126/8 early in the 18th over left Affies needing a strong finish.
Paul Bester and Nico Loggenberg delivered, adding an unbeaten 26 runs from 17 balls to lift Affies to 152/8.
Bester finished on 15 not out from 13 deliveries, while Loggenberg scored 12 not out from eight.
Thom, Potgieter and Van der Mescht claimed two wickets each for Garsfontein, returning figures of 2/16, 2/20 and 2/28 respectively.
Garsfontein began their chase positively, with Ruan Cuyler and Joshua de Villiers putting on 34 for the opening wicket.
Loggenberg changed the course of the innings by dismissing De Villiers for 16 and trapping Nathan Ferreira lbw with the very next delivery.
His double strike left Garsfontein under immediate pressure, and he finished with an economical 2/18 from four overs.
Bester then removed Cuyler, who had scored 23 from 22 balls, leaving Garsfontein struggling at 46/3 in the 10th over.
Arrie Verster and Potgieter attempted to revive the chase with a 71-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
Verster made 36 from 41 deliveries, while Potgieter remained unbeaten on 37 from 31 balls, including a four and a six.
Despite their resistance, Affies kept the scoring rate under control. Garsfontein scored 23 runs across the 18th and 19th overs but still needed 36 from the final six deliveries.
Labuschagne’s dot ball off the first delivery of the last over effectively sealed the result.
Verster was caught by Tristan Blunden from the next ball, ending the fourth-wicket partnership after nine overs and four balls.
Labuschagne claimed his second wicket off the final delivery, dismissing Daniel Janse van Rensburg to finish with 2/12 from three overs.
Carlo Venter also played a valuable supporting role for Affies, conceding only three runs in his two overs, including a maiden, while Bester returned 1/19 from four overs.
The victory capped a strong run through the competition for Affies, who had beaten Cornwall Hill College by 20 runs in their semifinal.
Tristan Blunden led that victory with 60 from 48 balls as Affies posted 132/8 before bowling Cornwall Hill out for 113/7.
Labuschagne and Dawie Barnard took three wickets each.
Garsfontein reached the final after edging Pretoria Boys’ High by one run in a dramatic semifinal.
They defended 109/9, restricting Boys’ High to 108/8 after JJ Thom held his nerve in the final over.
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