Midrand side denied victory in the last over

The hosts navigated themselves to 236/9 in their allotted 35 overs which included 28 runs off one over. Midrand felt the total was certainly within their reach on a small ground.

Midrand’s opening pair put on 81 off eight overs before Anesh Muganpersad holed out for 57 off 36 deliveries. A few quick wickets saw the home team right back in the game with the score at 130-5. With Stuart Buy and Darren Moodley at the crease, the ship soon settled and the runs started to build again. Unfortunately the wickets also continued to fall. The pressure was starting to tell as the game went into the closing overs with the Midrand side still requiring 12 runs an over.

Buy let loose to pull the visitors back into the game before he was caught at third man for 69 off 73 deliveries. With two balls left and five runs to win, the tail stumbled at the last hurdle to fall only three runs shy of what would have been the sides biggest chase of the season.

The club’s SA8 side hosted Wits Lions at the Olifantsfontein oval. The visitors found the home side’s bowling attack in an unforgiving mood. After choosing to bowl, the Midrand attack strangled the Wits Lion’s top order keeping the scoring rate just below three runs an over. Then the off-spin of Lee Naidoo was introduced which saw the collapse of the visitors’ batting line-up. The spinner claimed 4/15 in five overs to bundle out the visitors for 79.

From there on it was a canter home for the Midrand side as they swept aside the visitors attack and reached the target in 20 overs.

Details: Nevish Rampersadh, 083 777 0070083 777 0070 or nevishr@gmail.com