Zimbabwe Schools: Eaglesvale High School, First Team Report

Record: Played 12, Won 7, Drawn 1, Lost 4.

This was a good season for the Eaglesvale first team, which comprised mainly players of average talent.

Under the captaincy of Dirk Bezuidenhout, the player interaction and spirit on and off the field has been superb. It is often difficult to motivate your players as captain when you are struggling with your own game. However, with this scenario Dirk Bezuidenhout proved to be a true captain as he encouraged and supported his players to perform their best.

The team fared well against other top cricketing schools in the country this season. Against Peterhouse, Eaglesvale won by four wickets. M Conradie batted brilliantly, smashing twelve boundaries in the run chase before he departed for 72, having put his school in a winning position. Convincing victories were also registered against CBC and St George's. Eaglesvale was the only Zimbabwean school to beat Ixopo from Natal (South Africa). Eaglesvale won by eight wickets.

Dylan de Beer has been the mainstay in the batting department. Dylan is a solid opening batsman with excellent shot selection. He finished the season with a good average of 73. The highlight of his season was his match-winning 113 not out against Ixopo.

In the bowling department, Eaglesvale was spearheaded by workhorses Piet Rinke and Andries Smith, who relied on good length to force batsmen to make mistakes.

M Conradie, D Bezuidenhout and P Rinke were selected for Mashonaland, while D Bezuidenhout was a trialist for the Zimbabwe Schools Under-19 team.

Team list: D Bezuidenhout (captain), M Conradie, C Irvine, D de Beer, C Wheeler, A Smith, P Rinke, R Deane, B Kuhn, H Taylor and G de Beer.

MATCH RESULTS

EAGLESVALE 156/5 (P Rinke 22, D de Beer 53, D Bezuidenhout 39) v CHURCHILL. Match drawn due to rain.

JAMESON 96 (D Bezuidenhout 2/18, A Smith 3/11, P Rinke 3/13). EAGLESVALE 100/1 (A Smith 34, D de Beer 52). Eaglesvale won by nine wickets.

PLUMTREE 197/7 (C Irvine 2/33, P Rinke 2/34). EAGLESVALE 176 (M Conradie 82, C Irvine 37). Plumtree won by 21 runs.

PETERHOUSE 220/6 dec (P Rinke 3/22, D Bezuidenhout 2/33). EAGLESVALE 221/6 (P Rinke 20, M Conradie 72, C Irvine 39). Eaglesvale won by four wickets.

CBC 205 (P Rinke 2/34, D Bezuidenhout 2/32). EAGLESVALE 207/6 (D de Beer 76, P Rinke 41, C Irvine 22). Eaglesvale won by four wickets.

EAGLESVALE 226/8 (D de Beer 59, M Conradie 30, P Rinke 34). HILLCREST 183. Eaglesvale won by 42 runs.

LOMAGUNDI 271/7. EAGLESVALE 135 (A Smith 47, D Bezuidenhout 43). Lomagundi won by 136 runs.

EAGLESVALE 332/7 (D de Beer 78, C Wheeler 36, P Rinke 59, A Smith 28). JAMESON 150 (C Irvine 3/16). Eaglesvale won by 182 runs.

IXOPO 167 (D de Beer 3/33). EAGLESVALE 168/2 (D de Beer 113*, A Smith 33). Eaglesvale won by eight wickets.

ST GEORGE'S 153 (A Smith 3/29). EAGLESVALE 156/2 (D de Beer 90, A Smith 56). Eaglesvale won by eight wickets.