In the big leagues

Henk Steenkamp

YOU cannot leave out the name of Framesby when you talk about the country's leading cricket schools these days. The boys' side did not stand back for anyone in the Bellingham & Smith Grey High First XI Festival and, in December, the girls notched up some fine victories in the national Twenty20 tournament in Pretoria where they represented the Warriors.

The Framesby girls ended third overall, beating teams from Western Cape, Free State, North West and Mpumalanga.

In the Grey Festival, the boys were unlucky not to beat Affies, from Pretoria, as well as Glenwood, of Durban.

Affies won by one run after it looked like Framesby were well on their way to victory.

Driaan Bruwer (115 not out) saved Affies with an excellent knock in their total of 214 for nine after Framesby leftarmer Stefan Tait (5/24 in 15 overs) destroyed their top order.

Framesby fell just one run short after the stylish Anru Emiljo (41) and Tiaan Potgieter (40) had given them a chance. Jacques du Preez (47), Tait (41) and Potgieter (37) were the top run-scorers in the total of 216 when Framesby beat Selborne by 142 runs in their next match. Juandre Roberts took 5/10 as Selborne only managed 74.

Ernst Stapelberg tried hard with 51 not out against Grey College, but Framesby lost by seven wickets.

It was another close affair in the T20 match against Glenwood, with Framesby going down by only three runs. Emiljo made 59 as Framesby just fell short of their target of 130, finishing on 126/7.

Last week, Framesby played Alexander Road in the national T20 competition and restricted their opponents to 85/5. Framesby were on track when rain had the last say with their total on 51/2 after seven overs.

Grey High also excelled in their festival, winning their first three matches against St Charles, Glenwood and DHS. The game against DHS was a thriller after they bowled the Durban side out for 156 to win by two runs.