CRICKET: Mr X takes an easy win against the Wicket Wasps

“THERE’S always action when Mr X and Wicket Wasps meet up!” was the assurance on the Vryheid Cricket Club social media pages for last weekend’s fixtures and, as promised, they delivered.

The two prolific teams went head to head in a T20 match for the Zululand T20 Cup at Cecil Emmett Park on February 2 and, in the wake of some shocking revelations on the pitch, it was Mr X who came out on top. Wicket Wasps batted first and were all out for 76, with Rudo Scholtz top scoring for the Wasps with 47 runs off 32 deliveries.

Bowling for Mr X, captain, Matthew Stride and Bruce Tembo did the most damage to the Wasps squad with figures of 4-0-15-4 and 4-0-23-2 respectively. With an uncharacteristically low score for the Wicket Wasps on the board, it didn’t take long for Mr X to take the sting out of the opposition, with Neville Westcott top scoring for the X side with 35 runs off 28 balls and Joshua Stoltenkamp not out for 25 off 36 deliveries.

ALSO READ: Vryheid cricket legend, At Odendaal, laid to rest

The top bowling figures for the Wicket Wasps came from Shane Pennington with 4-0-24-2 and J Bevan with 3.5-0-1-19.

Mr X won by six wickets.

“They actually had the better team,” admits highly vocal Vice Captain for Mr X, Clifford Dougherty. “They had players in great form and we were playing with only ten on the field, not really fielding our strongest team. But somehow, we still won…”

ALSO READ: The heat is on at Vryheid Cricket Club – First fixtures played for 2019 

We asked Neville Westcott, who shone with bat in hand for the Mr X side, who his favourite bowler is to face on the pitch… “I don’t really know,” he smiles, a little shyly.

“I don’t really think about these things on the field. When I’m on the field, bat in hand, that’s where my focus is…”

Get regular news updates. Follow the Vryheid Herald on Facebook and Twitter.

Got news? Email estella@caxton.co.za or Whatsapp 0792567570.