THE first of the Sunfoil Schools Night League matches took place on Thursday between Michaelhouse and Glenwood.
The scheduled match on Wednesday between Maritzburg College and Westville was cancelled due to rain, so the two schools share the points.
Contrary to an earlier statement and different to the day/night league of the past, the game is now a 40-over game, similar to the MTN40, but with two batting power plays after the normal first 10 overs.
The one power play is with a maximum of three fielders outside the circle and the other with a maximum of four. They may be taken in either order but the first must be taken by the 26th over and the second by the 33rd over. It cannot be taken in the last five overs.
Glenwood, batting first, struggled to get going and lost wickets so that at the halfway stage they were 83 for five. A sixth-wicket partnership of 65 between Mishkal Ramsaroop (56) and Shahil Bissoon put them back on the front foot.
With Prenalen Subrayen making 40 in 32 balls and Bissoon 34 in 24 balls, the rate was increased and Glenwood were dismissed with two balls to spare for 209. Jimmy Hitchcock and James Taylor each took three wickets.
Michaelhouse also started relatively slowly, but were unlucky to lose the first two wickets to runouts due to direct throws. Unlike Glenwood they were unable to pick up the rate and, with nine overs remaining, they needed nine runs to the over. Wickets fell rapidly in the last push for runs and Michaelhouse were all out in the 34th over for 141.
It was the Glenwood spinners who slowed the rate and it was Bissoon who ended with the figures of six for 37 in his eight overs, taking three wickets in his last over. Thus Glenwood take the three points for their 68-run win.
SCORES IN BRIEF
Glenwood 209 (Ramsaroop 56, Bissoon 34, Subrayen 40, Hitchcock 3/28, Taylor 3/54)
Michaelhouse 141 (Hulbert 32, Bissoon 6/37)
Glenwood won by 68 runs
