Rovers no match for clinical Crusaders

Toti, Clares and Chatsworth Sporting enjoy a good start to the Premier League

THE KZNCU Castle Premier League got under way last weekend.

Defending champions Crusaders, who were pushed all the way to the second-last match of the season by Chatsworth Sporting, made a clinical start against Berea Rovers. There were also big wins for Clares and Amanzimtoti.

Newly promoted Toti bowled Pinetown out for just 102. Teagen Naidoo was the pick of the bowlers as he finished with 3-10 from seven overs.

In response, Thys van Lingen picked up a five-wicket haul, but Naidoo then backed up his performance with the ball to score a match-winning 32.

Sporting, who are determined to kick-on from their runners-up finish last season, beat African Warriors.

Tawanda Mawire scored a classy 41 but Yves Kamanzi and Brandon Mcmullen picked up three wickets apiece to reduce Warriors to 117.

Skipper Jesse Smit’s unbeaten 49 propelled Sporting to a four-wicket victory.

Elsewhere, Rovers could not have got their season off to a worse start.

They were blown away by Tyron Koen and Kyle Buckthorper, who took seven wickets between them, to register a lowly total of 84. Riaan Minnie (41*) set a solid foundation for Crusaders’ batsmen as they romped to victory with seven wickets to spare.

Meanwhile, Clares beat Delta by 79 runs.

In the closest game of the weekend, King Cetshwayo edged out UKZN by three wickets. Batting first, the university outfit were bundled out for 145 with only Jason Krafft offering the bowlers in any resistance. King Cetshwayo lost wickets at regular intervals as they chased the paltry target, but in the end, Simon Savides (34) guided them over the line with three wickets in hand.