Windhoek Gymnasium won the Momentum Cricket Festival for the second year in a row after beating Windhoek Afrikaanse Privaatskool by 18 runs in the final on Sunday.
Windhoek Gymnasium had remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, beating WAP by eight wickets earlier in the tournament, and although WAP put up a better display in the final, Gymnasium once again cruised to victory.
Windhoek Gymnasium’s victory was built around a solid batting display led by Lohan Louwrens, as they reached 174 for six wickets off their 20 overs.
In their run-chase, WAP put up a brave attempt, but they never really got close to the asking run rate and eventually reached 156 for five wickets off their 20 overs.
Gymnasium batted first and got off to a shaky start as both their openers Nico Davin and Charl Britz were dismissed for only 10 runs each.
Davin, who had been their star batsman throughout the tournament, was dismissed off Reinhardt van Zyl’s bowling while Britz was dismissed off Michael Thom’s bowling as they reached 34 for two wickets off six overs.
A 60-run partnership between Lohan Louwrens and captain SJ Loftie Eaton however put Gymnasium in charge.
Loftie Eaton hit two sixes before he was out LBW to Ludwig Wilders for 30 off 26 balls, while Louwrens was in great form, hitting two sixes and five fours before he was stumped off Keanu Engelbrecht’s bowling for 66 off only 38 balls.
Chrischen Olivier added 18 off 16 balls and Eben van Wyk 28 off 16 balls as Windhoek Gymnasium reached 174 for six wickets off their 20 overs.
Reinhardt van Zyl was WAP’s best bowler, taking three wickets for 27 runs, while Michael Thom, Ludwig Wilders and Keanu Engelbrecht took one wicket each.
WAP’s run chase got off to a good start as Joshua Julies and Marnus Steenkamp put on 48 runs off only five overs before Steenkamp was unfortunate to be run out for seven runs.
Julies kept up the tempo with some lusty shots but was stumped off the bowling of Charl Britz for 47 off 29 balls, which included five fours and two sixes.
Tiaan Heunis and Keanu Engelbrecht kept up WAP’s run-chase and when they reached 81 at the halfway stage they were still well on track to reach the target.
Heunis was however caught off Bester Ferreira’s bowling for 22 and although Engelbrecht and WAP captain Johan van der Walt did their best to stay in touch, the total was a bridge too far.
Van der Walt was dismissed for 28 off 19 balls while Engelbrecht scored 41 not out off 40 balls as they reached 156 for five wickets off their 20 overs.
For Windhoek Gymnasium, Frederik van Zyl, SJ Loftie Eaton, Charl Britz and Bester Ferreira each took one wicket.
WHS came third after beating Pro-Ed in the third place play-off, while the Junior Coastal Cricket School (JCCS) beat the Country Districts team in the fifth place play-off.
WHS’s all rounder Tiaan Steenkamp won the Player of the Tournament award after scoring 315 runs at an average of 45,00 and taking nine wickets at an economy rate of 4,8.
Nico Davin of Windhoek Gymnasium won the Best Batsman award, scoring 265 runs at an average of 53,00, while Charl Britz won the Best Bowler award, taking 10 wickets at an economy rate of 2,6.
The Momentum Schools Cricket League gets underway next week, with schools participating in various leagues from U-11 to U-19 level in the central, coastal and northern regions.
