Ngumbela final ends in thriller
Makhaphela scores ton in vain
IT LIVED up to its billing as the Champ of Champs final as Lamyeni Hard Catch snatched a thrilling two-run win over Five Great Powers in the 29th annual Ngumbela show piece finale in Healdtown yesterday afternoon.
A packed to capacity crowd was in attendance to witness the two sides throw up an incredible spectacle that swung one way and then the other, sending the match right down to the wire.
Lamyeni had batted first and scored a competitive 225 for 9 in their 50 overs. However, Five Great Powers would have been happy with their bowling effort and would have been confident of chasing down the target.
In the end it came down to the final over of the contest, with Lamyeni looking in charge as Five Great Powers needed 19 to win off only six deliveries.
Fittingly it was Five Great Powers’ best batman Vuyisa Makhaphela up against Lamyeni's top bowler Mongezi Nabe battling it out for the win.
Makhaphela had brilliantly carried his bat throughout the innings, giving them a slight chance to get the win, but he missed with a big swing at Nabe's first ball.
Makhaphela then slammed a four, with Nabe then bowling a wide, before he launched a massive six back over the bowler’s head.
This brought up a wonderful century for Makhaphela and meant Five Great Powers needed eight off three balls to win. But Nabe then replied with a superb delivery, beating Makhaphela for pace to bowl him for 102.
At 217/8 with the number nine and 10 batsmen in it was a tough ask for Five Great Powers’ lowerorder batsmen to get them over the line and so it proved as despite Nabe bowling another wide, a single and a boundary then followed, getting them to 223/8, only three short of the target.
This meant for the second year running the Ngumbela title would stay in Healdtown as the best of Healdtown triumphed over the best of Alice once again.
In the morning Lamyeni batted first and despite losing an early wicket got off to a steady start.
However, the rate slowed and although Athenkosi Magijima and Nabe each scored 31, Lamyeni were struggling at 104/5 in the 32nd over.
Another wicket then had them in trouble of being bowled out for less than 200 at 138/6, but this brought Lwazi Ndlazilwana to the crease to join Samkelo Nabe and they embarked on a positive 74run stand that boosted Lamyeni to 212.
Ndlazilwana then skied one to fall for an entertaining 68, while Samkelo Nabe followed soon after for 40 to allow them to reach 225.
Phumzile Yiba was the pick of the bowlers, claiming an impressive 4/29.
Makhaphela then did not receive enough support in Five Great Powers’ chase as only three batsmen, Wandile Nciweni (12), Honey Saliwa (26) and Morkel Ngebe (27) reached double figures while the opener cracked a sparkling century in vain.
Nabe claimed 3/41 to lead the bowling effort while Aviwe Mahlanyana, 2/30, and Magijima, 2/48, backed him up well.