Smashing start to cricket season

The cricket season is upon us once more and team Ilembe have got off to a flyer.

The lads went up against Chatsworth United recently, where they won the toss and decided to bat first. I Sher and C Pillay put on a solid partnership of 57 before Sher was bowled for 20 in the 8th over.

A Bageloo then joined Pillay and the pair took the score to 62 before Pillay was clean bowled by 38. S Logenathan then stepped up to the crease and took the tally to 80 before he was caught by off the bowling of spinner C Rydu.

Z Ali and K Ntuli did not last long at the crease with 0 and 1 respectively – both victims of Rydu’s spin.

At 88/5 in the 14th over, Aaron Pillay joined Bageloo and put on a steady partnership of 42 taking the total to 130/6 in the last over. Bageloo was run out off the last ball after a valiant 46 (3 fours and 2 sixes).

Ilembe posted a competitive 135/7.

In reply Chatsworth made the worst possible start after opener F Aktar was adjudged lbw of the first ball of the innings to Aaron Pillay. Two runs later K Moodley was sent packing after being caught by Bageloo off a ball bowled by R Mlongo in the 2nd over.

Another three runs later A Haq was castled by Aaron Pillay for two in the 5th over.

Wickets fell at will for Ilembe with Logenathan and Pillay removing the middle order for a mere 14 runs. At 19/7 in the 10th over, the writing seemed to be on the wall but cricket is a funny old game.

Chatsworth skipper M Ismail and P Saha put on 54 runs for the 8th wicket, clearing the small dimensions of the ground with ease.

In the end it took the golden arm of Z Ali to break the potential match changing partnership, bowling Saha for 16 in the 15th over. In the 17th over, Ali struck again removing big fish Ismail for a quickfire 47 (two fours and five sixes).

Chatsworth eventually succumbed 90/10 after 17 overs. The pick of Ilembe’s bowlers were Aaron Pillay (3/5 in 4 overs), S Logenathan (3/13 in 4) and Z Ali (2/13 in 2).

Ilembe won by 45 runs.

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