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Tuesday: Match 1: SP vs Grassy Park
Grassy Park batted first in the opening match of the tournament and were restricted to 87/6, with Nathan Pitts, Abduragmaan Price and La’eeq Paulsen taking 2 wickets each.
In their reply SP charged to victory, needing just 7,2 overs to score the required runs, with the loss of 3 wickets. Blaster in chief was Abduragmaan, who capped a fine all round display by blazing his way to 56 not out. A feature of this innings was one huge straight 6, which sent the GP fielders charging after the ball before it completely disappeared from sight in the long grass.
Match 2: SP vs Fairmount
SP batted first this time, racing to 151/4. Top scorers were La’eeq, with a classy 33 not out, which included three 6’s and a 4, Robin Gow-Kleinschmidt, (21 not out - two 6’2 and two 4’s) and captain Ridah Isaacs (21 - one 6 and three 4’s).
Fairmount, in their innings, could muster only 40/7 in their 15 overs, with Abduragmaan taking 2 for 4 in his only over. SP thus won by 111 runs.
Wednesday: Match 3: SP vs Lotus River
SP took the field against Lotus River knowing that, barring some major upsets, they were virtually assured of a place in the semi-finals. They took nothing for granted, however, and again gave a sterling performance in the field. Lotus River could go only one run better than Fairmount had in the previous game, scoring 41 all out in 13 overs. The main bowlers were Nathan (3/8), Robin (3/7) and Santino Orso (2/4). One of the highlights was a diving one-handed stop and direct hit by George Gabriels, which led to a run-out.
Once again SP wasted no time in reaching the low target, losing only 2 wickets and taking only 8,2 overs. Carl Gapad enjoyed opening the innings, scoring 24 (two 6’s and 2 4’s).
Match 4: SP vs Grassdale
SP again batted first, and again the batsmen pounded the opposition bowlers into submission. This time it was Ridah who led the way with a wonderful display of clean, forceful power hitting. Ridah hit 64, which included four 6’s and six 4’s. La’eeq again impressed as an opener with a well played 34 not out (six 4’s), and Robin scored 21 not out (one 6 and two 4’s). SP totaled 132/2 in their 15 overs.
Grassdale monaged to score only 50 runs, with excellent bowling by regular opener Santino and first-timer Lesego Modise. It was particularly heart-warming to see Lesego, having been plagued by kidney problems throughout his school career, finally, in his matric year, able to play the game he loves so much. With an outstanding display of leg spin, he took 4 for 10, while Santino took an even more impressive 4 for 6.
And so, with the end of the round-robin having been reached and with SP having dispatched with disdain all who had come before them, all eyes were on the semi-final. The team had impressed all the neutral observers, both on the field of play with its skill levels and commitment, never relaxing even when the game was virtually won. and off the field with its punctuality and professional approach to the pre-match warm-ups; the front-line bowlers were doing what was required in 20/20 games - bowling full and straight and limiting the number of wides (2 runs each in this tournament); and all the top order batsmen having made substantial scores. The organisers were joking about engraving SP’s name on the handsome trophy already. The only thing, it would seem, that could prevent SP from winning the trophy was complacency. Below are the impressive trophies on offer. 
Thursday:
The final day of the tournament dawned, chilly and grey. It was the first day of the school holiday and for the first time not all the boys were at the ground at 8 (perhaps envious of their school mates who were still tucked up in bed?). There had been some bad news right at the end of the previous day as Abduragmaan Price informed us that he would not be available for the last day owing to club golf commitments. This was quite a blow as he had been impressive with both bat and ball. Joel Thomas was a no-show - his hard-hitting ability would be missed, and he had shown his agility in taking a fine diving catch in one of the round-robin matches. Nevertheless, SP had depth and they had shown that they did not rely on one or two players.
Match 5: The semi-final - SP vs Fairmount
Up till this point Coach Barry Saunders had employed squad rotation in his selections, promising all the boys at least two games. Leading up to this game, the only players not to have sat out a game were Ridah and the Orso twins. Having already, in consultation with Ridah, decided upon a team for the final, the question was whether to play this team in the semi-final as well, or give the boys who would probably sit out the final their last game. In the end the latter option prevailed. After all, Fairmount had hardly troubled the team on the Tuesday. There was some consternation among the boys when they saw in the Fairmount team a player who had not played on the two previous days. This was, after all, a player who was on the fringes of provincial selection. Some felt that this was against the spirit of the competition as, according to the rules of the tournament, the same players should have been involved on all three days. (This was cleared up later, however, as it was pointed out by the organisers that Fairmount had not had a full squad of 15 on either of the two previous days.) And so to the match itself.
SP went in to bat and were soon in a spot of bother when Carl was caught in the 2nd over with the score on 4. One over and one run later La’eeq was also caught, and matters started looking even more worrying when, 7 runs later, Robin was bowled for a duck. Ridah, meanwhile, was looking in fine form at the other end, hitting a 6 in the 4th over and a 4 and a 6 in consecutive balls in the next. However, Wasfie Price was run out off the last ball of that over, leaving the team at 25 for 4. For the first time, it seemed, the depth of our batting order would be tested.
Ridah was joined by Nathan and things started looking up again. Ridah’s fluid, attacking style was reaping dividends and Nathan was providing solid support. The partnership lasted until the 9th over, when the game took another turn for the worst. Ridah was caught of the first ball of the over after another attractive innings. He had scored 39, which included four 6’s and two 4’s. Off the very next ball Nathan went for a big hit when consolidation would have been the wiser option. He was caught for 11. 59 for 6. Faiez Adams was joined by Stuart Minnies but this partnership did not last long. Stuart was caught for duck in the next over. Faiez, batting with technique and application, and Tashwin restored some measure of respectability to the score but had to exercise caution under the circumstances. Their partnership ended when Faiez was bowled for 13 (two 4’s) with the total on 82 in the 13th over, and the innings ended with Lesego being bowled off the last ball. Tashwin finished on 11 not out (one 6). The score was 102, by far the lowest SP had scored batting first, but still defendable.
The situation started looking more ominous when Wasfie, bowling the 2nd over, conceded 10, and then 9 in the 4th. The score at this stage was 22 without loss. The breakthrough came in only the 7th over when, with the total on 45, Ridah effected a brilliant stumping, the first of 3 in the innings, off Robin. The next wicket fell in the next over with the total on 46. It would not be until the 12th over, with the total on 72, that the next wicket fell. By this time the tightness that had marked the fielding performances in the previous games had faded. With one or two exceptions, the bowlers were bowling too wide and too short, there were overthrows and fumbles, even from the most reliable of fielders. With 11 wides and 2 no-balls having been bowled, SP simply gave away too many runs.Everything seemed to be going against SP when Fairmount’s star batsman was given out LBW by the official umpire, only to be called back when he was more than halfway off the field already. It appeared as if the square leg umpire had had a word with the standing umpire. This of course would have been against the laws of the game if the square leg umpire had influenced the decision - this umpire has no jurisdiction over an LBW decision. However, on being questioned about this, the umpire said he had realised that he had made a mistake and had changed his mind, which he was quite entitled to do. He had heard a sound but initially had thought it was bat against pitch, but on reflection felt it had been bat against ball. (Our boys were convinced the bat had not touched the ball.) The 4th wicket fell in the 14th over, with the total on 89, and the last over started with Fairmount needing 9 to win, or was it 11? Once again controversy reigned. With SP believing that Fairmount needed 3 off the last ball, the field was spread. A single was scored and Fairmount celebrated. The scorebooks differed. The umpires ordered all except the scorers away from the table. After some delay, the umpires and the overall organiser ruled that Fairmount had won. To say that our boys were disappointed would be a massive understatement. Perhaps a fairer decision would have been to declare the match a tie and to play a decisive ‘super over’. As it turned out, the final would be between the two teams not expected to reach the final, Fairmount and Lotus River, who were the eventual winners. SP had to be content with playing Grassy Park for 3rd place.
The Play-off: SP vs Grassy Park
At this point the boys must be commended once again. After the bitter disappointment of the semi-final loss, the boys had to wait the rest of the day to play the last match. Initially it was scheduled to be played before the final but the umpires were concerned about the light and stated that the final should be played first. The play-off, for them, was not that important. Somehow the boys had to motivate themselves one last time. And how they did it!
SP won the toss at just after 5pm with dark clouds covering the mountains in the north-west, and decided to bat. Ridah and La’eeq opened. Both of them set off full throttle and, after 2 overs the score was already 20. La’eeq was first to go, in the 3rd over, with the score on 30. He had scored 15, with a 6 and two 4’s. Romano Orso was next, but was out two overs later, having scored 7, with the score on 45. Robin joined Ridah, and this was when the Ridah show really took off. Spectators took cover, mothers scrambled to rescue their children from the barrage and drivers reversed hastily, hopefully out of harm’s way as the ball was sent flying in all directions, like missiles from an out-of-control launcher. One windscreen felt the effects of the onslaught. No wickets fell, and by the end of the 15 overs SP had amassed the incredible score of 164, with Ridah contributing an amazing 100 not out! This innings was not a slog but a concentrated blitz of solid, powerful cricket shots. The innings included seven 6’s and eleven 4’s. Simply outstanding.
Garssy Park must be congratulated for their part in making this match memorable. With light already failing they went in to bat and tried their best to get near the target. They could easily have appealed against the light after half the overs had been bowled. How they or the fielders could still see the ball is anyone’s guess - the scorers had enough trouble trying to identify the bowlers! And still the SP fielders threw themselves after every ball, and the bowlers bowled as they should have in the previous match. Eventually the 15 overs were completed in almost total darkness at 7.10 pm. Grassy Park scored 90 for 2, with one player, Bradley, scoring a well played 52.
All that was left now was the presentation, and here Ridah (pictured below with Gary Pinto of the Safe Schools Project) predictably won the batting award. He was also awarded the accolade of all-rounder of the tournament, having executed 5 excellent stumpings. All the players received bronze medals for their 3rd place finish.
In conclusion, beside the disappointment of the one match they did not win (and even the Proteas lose matches they were expected to have won!), the school can be proud of these players who gave of their best for the three days. As a team, their behaviour, commitment and professionalism impressed many, and there were many outstanding individual performances. This was possibly the last time the matrics would play, and so we wish Ridah, Abduragmaan, Santino, Romano, Carl and Tashwin everything of the best in their future careers. However, there were enough excellent performances by the younger players, most noticeably La’eeq, who is still under 15, to suggest that SP should go all the way in next year’s tournament.
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