Weekend cricket action delivers as top teams smash the ball out of the park
With multiple matches over the weekend, local cricket fans were in for some exciting action on the pitch.
Saturday afternoon saw the Gladiators face Wicket Wasps in a match of the Zulu-Land T20 Challenge.
Gladiators batted first and put 111 runs on the board for the loss of five wickets, thanks to 29 runs from Johannes Kruger, who top scored for the Gladiators before being caught and bowled by Jaco Davel.
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Graham Haywood was bowled out by Thulani Zondo for 26 runs and Bonginkosi Mkhonza was the only other Gladiator to reach double figures, with 21 runs off 17 deliveries, not out.
One wicket apiece was taken by Andrew Brooks, John Bevan, Thulani Zondo and Jaco Davel, with a run out by Shane Pennington accounting for the fifth wicket.
The Wasps went in to bat next and opener, Rudolf Scholtz amassed 39 runs – including five fours and two sixes – before being caught and bowled by Bonginkosi Mkhonza, who took the wicket of Adriaan Kruger as well.
Kruger managed to score 25 runs, including five fours, before Mkhonza caught him leg before wicket (LBW).
Shane Pennington was unbeaten on 22 runs from 16 deliveries, while Waldo Nel lost his wicket, caught and bowled by Wessel Vorster, for a duck.
Top bowling figures came from Mkhonza, who claimed two scalps in his four overs, and Wessel Vorster, who claimed one wicket for seven runs in his two overs.
It took the Wicket Wasps less than 13 overs to rack up a 113-run total to claim victory over the Gladiators, with seven wickets in hand.
On Sunday, Pak CC travelled to Paulpietersburg for its T20 clash with Dumbe.
Dumbe went in to bat first and Ricus Bateman top scored for the hosts with 64 runs not out.
Leon Solms scored 35 off 20 deliveries and Estiaan Cilliers reached 20 runs off 12 deliveries.
Naeem Sadiq’s four overs were the most economical for Pak CC, as he took three wickets for 21.
Kashif Hussain conceded 30 runs in his four overs, taking one wicket for the visitors, while Munawar Mirza took two wickets for 34 runs.
This left Pak CC a total of 164 to chase down for the win.
Pandor Mohammad opened the batting for the visitors and played a cameo of 27 off 19 balls.
Naeem Sadiq came in fifth in the batting line-up and mustered 20 runs off 19.
Adnan Ilyas and Sarwar Muhammed Zeeshan were the only other Pak CC batsmen to reach double figures, with 15 and 11 runs respectively.
Top bowling figures for Dumbe came from Leon Solms, who took three wickets for 15 runs in three overs, Norman Niebuhr, who took three for 20 and Rupert Beneke, with two for 36.
In the end, Pak CC fell short of the target with a final total of 112 all out in 16 overs.
Back at Cecil Emmett Park, Mr X faced Mondlo in a limited overs match during the Zulu-Land 50 Over Challenge.
Mr X batted first and a massive 168 off 70 deliveries saw opening batsman, Jean Botha set the bar before he was stumped by Mondlo bowler, Vukile Zwane.
Botha’s innings was highlighted by 20 fours and 12 sixes.
Rossouw Greeff came in at fourth and set the second-highest total for Mr X of 57 runs unbeaten, off 24 balls and having smacked 11 balls to the boundary for four.
Clifford Dougherty’s 47 runs off 21 added to the almost unattainable score Mr X seemed destined to set, until he was caught and bowled by Zwane.
Zwane and Thokozani Zondo were the only wicket-takers for Mondlo, with Zwane claiming three wickets for 54 runs and Zondo taking a single wicket for 48. Mondlo then braced itself for a titanic run chase, sending Zondo in first to set the highest score of the innings with 16 runs, before being bowled out by Brandon Gryffenberg.
Mondlo’s wickets fell in quick succession and by the 19th over, was all out for just 109 runs.
Top bowlers for Mr X were Clifford Dougherty (two for 12), Jean Botha (two for 10), Brandon Gryffenberg (two for 21), Tertius Gubbels (two for 15) and Joshua Stoltenkamp (two for three).
The coming weekend sees Mondlo facing the Gladiators in a T20 match on Saturday. Two 50-over matches take place on Sunday: Mr X travels to Paulpietersburg to face Dumbe on October 6, and Wicket Wasps faces Pak CC at Cecil Emmett Park.
Also read: Wicket Wasps deliver the ‘sting’ in early season cricketing clash
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