Madibaz target higher scores in T20 tourney
MECER NMMU-Madibaz captain Matthew Christensen has called on his team to improve their run-scoring when they compete in the Varsity Cricket Twenty20 tournament in Potchefstroom next week.
The Port Elizabeth outfit will join seven other varsities in the hunt for the title of student T20 champions, with the incentive of qualifying for the Red Bull Campus Cricket World Finals looming large.
Reflecting on last year, the 20-yearold Christensen, who played for Eastern Province when they won the Africa Cup T20 early this season, said they would be looking for better performances at the crease.
“We didn’t score enough runs last year,” the former Rondebosch High and SA Schools captain said.
“We averaged 120-odd runs as a team per game and to compete we need to score 150 or more consistently in a tournament of this magnitude.”
The Madibaz skipper said they had a well-rounded team who often played their best cricket when their backs were against the wall.
They open their programme against University of Johannesburg on Monday. He said while they would be aiming for a good start, consistency in their cricket through the week would be the essential ingredient.
Christensen said their biggest challenge would be putting together the right combinations for the format.
“We have lost some players to franchise commitments and others have finished their studies, so we have to work on filling those gaps.”
He said players such as fast bowler Solo Nqweni, leg spinner Junaid Dawood and batsman Aubrey Ferreira had the potential to do well.
Much of their preparations had been done indoors,” Christensen said.
“We’ve been working on specifics as we need to adjust to up-country conditions.
“Our coastal pitches are very different from what we’ll be playing on at Varsity Cricket.”
The tournament runs from Monday to Saturday, with the final being played at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom on February 4.
NMMU’s fixtures:
January 30: v UJ; January 31: v Free State, v NWU-Pukke; February 1: v UWC; February 2: v UCT; February 3: v Maties, v Tuks; February 4: semifinals and final
ý THE NMB Premier League fixture for Sunday are (home teams first, 10am start):
ý THE latest standings, subject to ratification by the log-keeper, are (five matches unless stated): 1 Gelvandale 52 (9), 2 PECC 30 (8), 3 United 25 (5), 4 Old Grey 25 (7), 5 United Brothers 24 (8), 6 Union 23 (5), 7 Madibaz 1 21 (5), 8 Despatch 21 (7), 9 Uitenhage 15 (7), 10 Motherwell 12 (6), 11 Schauderville 11 (7), 12 Heatherbank 7 (7) 13 Madibaz 2 5 (3), 14 Northville 0 (6)
Sunday: Motherwell v Jendamark United, United Brothers v SA Home Loans Union, SuperSpar Despatch v Seaman’s Renault Old Grey, Schauderville v Buco Uitenhage