Muir, Pearson too potent for rivals

Uitenhage college boys thrash Union Jacobs spites Dan Pienaar with bat, ball

MUIR College took the honours against hosts Union High in their schools cricket encounter at the weekend, winning by 90 runs.

Batting first in good conditions after winning the toss, The Uitenhage boys’ school did well to navigate the new ball, despite losing an early wicket in the third over.

Sine Tsotsa showed great patience in his knock of 37 for Muir to lay a foundation for those who followed.

Batting became easier then as the ball got older and the Muir players were able to gain good momentum.

Fine knocks from Siyamthanda Gqibitole (47) and Yomi Keswa (28) in the middle-order ensured that Muir College were able to reach a decent total of 180.

Graaff-Reinet’s Union High went into bat after the lunch break and were immediately put on the back foot.

An excellent opening spell from Keswa and Fionn Hand for Muir ensured that the home side could not settle down in their chase for runs.

The support bowlers also played their part, bowling with discipline to keep the pressure on Union, eventually dismissing them for 90 runs. TWO of Nelson Mandela Bay’s in-form cricket teams went head-to-head at the weekend when Daniel Pienaar hosted Pearson at Uitenhage.

Daniel Pienaar won the toss and elected to make use of their maximum of 65 overs in a declaration format match by batting first.

Pearson, however, needed only 40.4 overs to dismiss their Uitenhage opponents on a spin-friendly pitch.

For Pearson, the spin combination of Kyle Jacobs and Keeran Forbes were again a thorn in the opponents’ flesh as they picked up eight wickets between them.

Jacobs was superb with his legspin, returning figures of 6/33 in 16.4 overs, while Forbes picked up 2/37 in his 10 overs.

For Daniel Pienaar, Denver Klue top-scored with 30 and Shevaan Hendricks added 26 as they were dismissed for 143.

After lunch, Daniel Pienaar fought hard and had the Pearson batsman under pressure at 46/4.

Once again it was the class of Jacobs – this time with the bat – as he showed great maturity at the crease. He kept the Pearson innings stable in a knock of 56 not out.

Jacobs shared a 59-run partnership with Daniel Doyle, who hit 24, to see their team home in the 39th over, with five wickets in hand.

Hendricks was the pick of the Daniel Pienaar bowlers with figures of 2/25 in 10.4 overs. Donovan Jones chipped in with 2/38 in 11 overs.