Three of iLembe’s young cricketers performed admirably on both sides of the ball to win the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) U16 regional league tournament.

The players combined efforts with KwaMashu, as a result of limited resources in both catchment areas, to form the INK/iLembe team which won two out of their three league games at Northwood and Durban North College.

Games were played earlier this month as part of the KZN Department of Sport’s U16 Hubs tournament, drawing cricketers from across the province in six combined teams for a 50-over competition.

iLembe’s representatives on the team were Olwethu Ntuli, Owami Nzuza and Esihle Hlaluka.

Day one jitters saw the boys lose out to the KZN Invitational XI by five wickets, but they went unbeaten for the remainder of their matches.

The team dominated Reservoir Hills/Outer West in their second match to claim victory by 117 runs.

In an even more clinical performance, INK/iLembe blew past King Cetshwayo/uMkhanyakude on day three, winning by 146 runs to claim the league trophy.

The last day saw the best performing players from each district selected to play a showcase match, with INK/iLembe eligible for the HUB Elite Team.

Ntuli, a fast bowler, was the only North Coast player to be selected after claiming eight wickets in the tournament, with best figures of five for 17.

His HUB Elite Team would lose out in the showcase match to the KZN Scholarship XI, who won by 47 runs.

“Tournaments like these are crucial for us at KZN Cricket as they continue to help strengthen the pipeline of players coming through and the success stories that follow these tournaments are a testament to their importance,” said CEO of KZN Cricket, Heinrich Strydom.

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