The University of Johannesburg sent out a clear warning to their Varsity Cricket competitors as they brushed aside hosts NWU by 33 runs.
It was all down to a quick fire half-century from Joshua Richards (57 off 39) and superb team bowling performance from UJ (162/7) that chocked the NWU (129 all out) to defeat.
Once UJ applied the stranglehold, they never let go as they took their first win of the competition by a canter. Chad Claasen (2/12) impressed with his pace whilst the diminutive Tumelo Thlokwe (2/13) in 4 overs that had NWU in a spin.
UJ started like a house on fire with the dangerous Delano Potgieter (29 off 13) and Joshua Richards (57 off 39) smashing NWU pacers, AJ Jacobs and Nico Loubser, to all corners of the ground.
Spin got the breakthrough for the home side when Ruan Haasbroek got Potgieter to sky one to captain, Lesego Senokwane, who took a fine catch under pressure.
Richards though continued to fire on all cylinders hitting the first 50 of the tournament with a well compiled 57 (39) before Haasbroek bowled him in the power play with score on 98. UJ soon found themselves on 113/4 when Henro Janse van Rensburg picked up the scalp of Juan Landsberg. NWU further exerted their pressure and restricted UJ to a score of 157/7 in their allotted 20 overs when they looked likely to reach 200 after the first 5 overs.
NWU started their innings in the worst way possible when opener Lourén Steenkamp lost his middle stump for only 5 with Chad “Giggs” Classen doing the damage. It was soon 32/3 when Eben Botha was fooled by Tumelo Thlokwe’s off-spin. Things got worse when Ruan Haasbroek was needlessly run out to leave NWU at 60/5 at the strat-break.
It was only Janse van Rensburg who showed defiance with a speedy 42 (24) that included 2 fours and 2 sixes.
UJ kept their foot on the pedal as they constantly took wickets to take the victory as NWU ran out of batsmen in the end.
