ALMOST STUMPED
Weather proves tough challenge for U15
The national Momentum Boys U15 cricket week came to an end across East London on Monday afternoon, after the final round of matches went ahead despite morning rain threatening to wash out the last day. Cold weather persisted all day.
Overnight and early morning rain meant all the games had a delayed start, with most teams finally getting under way at 12.30pm and reduced to 39 overs a side.
In the main game of the tournament, Gauteng ended a perfect week by beating KwaZuluNatal Inland by 15 runs in a thrilling headlining game at Selborne College.
It was the second time the sides had met in the week, after they played their opening match, a timed game, which Gauteng won on first innings.
This time they took on each other in a 39-over a side encounter, with Gauteng batting first and managing 167/9 at the end of their overs.
Opening batsman Kaiyuran Pillay compiled a patient 89ball 57, batting through most of the overs supported by Armand Carstens (22) and Rueben du Toit (20).
Inland bowled nine bowlers, with Jake Carstens starring to pick up 4/35, while Luke Benkenstein, son of former Protea Dale Benkenstein, claimed 2/23.
Inland’s chase then got off to a slow start, but some quick batting in the middle and end overs from Caleb Thomas (32) and Matthew Urquhart (17) brought them within range. But they were eventually all out for 152 with eight balls remaining.
Thomas Johnson, 3/50, and Ryan Maritz, 2/39, picked up key wickets for Gauteng.
In the end Gauteng enjoyed a superb week overall, following up their opening win against Inland with another win on first innings against Free State, two T20 wins, by 24 runs against hosts Border and three wickets against Boland, while they absolutely thrashed Western Province by 169 runs in their 50-over encounter on the penultimate day.
In other matches on the final day Eastern Province claimed a thumping 131-run win over Northern Cape and Western Province fought back brilliantly to beat North West comfortably.
In EP’s match openers Connor Roff (52) and Ashley Ostling (51) struck half centuries to get their side off to a fantastic start, before they eventually reach 178/8 at the end of 39 overs, while Northern Cape’s Eldridge Jack, 3/47, impressed with the ball. Northern Cape were then never in with a shot as only one batsman reached double figures and they were bundled out for 47, with EP’s Daniel Ristow, 4/20, leading the charge, backed up by Lisa Numba, 2/6, John Lovemore, 2/8, and Aphiwe Mnyanda, 2/12.
For Western Province they were grateful for a lower order fightback that saw them recover from 15/5 and 36/6 to post 144/9 at the end of 37 overs, with MJ Mostert impressing for North West with 3/19.
Number eight batsman Nathier Sambo (58) and number six batsman Jacques Jooste (52no) combined for a brilliant 100-run seventh wicket stand, digging their side out of a hole and giving the bowlers something to defend.
They then took that momentum into the bowling effort and bundled North West out for 58, Liyema Waqu, 4/10, and Benjamin Levitt, 3/18, the pick of the bowlers.
Border beat Limpopo by six wickets in their last game.
Free State’s match against Namibia at Dale College in King William’s Town was eventually washed out, after it was the earliest game to get started on the day, with Free State reaching 19/1 in 4.3 overs, with the rain then coming down and the match abandoned.
In other national cricket week news, the Momentum Boys U13 week in Pretoria and CSA U19 girls week in Nelspruit were officially washed out without a ball being bowled.