Sayanvala’s brilliance turns NCC’s fortunes around at Diamond Oval
NORTHERN Cape Cricket’s storming performance against Boland in both their CSA Three-Day Provincial Cup fixture as well as the CSA Provincial One-Day Challenge at the Diamond Oval this weekend has boosted the team’s morale and will stand them in good stead as they prepare to hit the road to face SWD in fortnight according to NCC coach Loots Bosman.
The hosts won the three-day game by an innings and 68 runs and followed that up with an impressive six wicket victory in the one dayer yesterday.
Electing to bat first yesterday, the visitors scored a useful 217/8 in their allotted 50 overs, with the main contributions coming from Murray Commins 91 not and 24 from Nkululeko Serame. The pick of the NCC bowlers was Desmond de Koker with 4/46 from his 10 overs.
In reply NCC got to the winning score of 221 losing only four wickets with 29 balls to spare. The top batsmen were skipper, Farhaan Sayanvala, who led from the front ending on a solid 81 off 115 balls, and Keegan Petersen chipped in with a useful 51. For Boland Nkuleleko Serame was their most successful bowler taking 2/36.
Bosman was full of praise for the NCC skipper who shone massively in both formats in this the team’s first home game. In addition to yesterday’s heroics Siyanvala had notched up his maiden first-class half-century, hammering 64 off just 68 balls in an entertaining 79 minutes at the crease.
Batting first on Thursday, Boland were bowled out for 238, with batsmen getting starts but not kicking on. Daniel Sincuba top scored with 44. For NCC Kagisho Mohale was the chief destroyer claiming 5/47 runs, while Zac Qwabe 2/57 and Mbulelo Budaza 2/45 supported him very well.
Thanks to a brilliant 136 from Aubrey Swanepoel, 97 from Zac Qwabe, 64 from skipper Sayanvala and 22 not out from new boy Tristan Traugott, NCC posted a huge total of 481/7 declared in their knock. For Boland the pick of their bowlers was Nkululeko Serame with his 4/117.
In their second innings Boland wilted and were skittled for 175 in just 43.1 overs, with Cebo Tshiki scoring 59, while other contributions came from Curtley Louw 42 and Hanno Kotze 32. NCC spinner Aubrey Swanepoel followed up his magnificent innings of 136 by taking 5/44 runs, thus sealing a great victory for his side.
Led by example
But it was the skipper that caught the coach’s eye. “He led by example,” said Bosman about the NCC captain. “It’s good to win after having been on the receiving end,” added the coach, obviously referring to the two disastrous outings against Western Province and Northern who had trounced NCC 10 wickets and an innings and 14 runs respectively in the three-day competition.
The coach was impressed with the turnaround.
“The guys played as a unit. It was good to see them occupy the crease, spending time in the middle and enjoying their game. We even got a few CBs (career best) performances as well,” he said.
“It was good to see our franchise guys who were very good as well. In terms of us as a team it was spot on. We need to maintain this momentum going to SWD,” Bosman added.