An epic battle between two top teams in this year’s Wohnen/Top Paints NW Premier Club Cricket League saw the NWU first team take down NWU Ibbies by 37 runs at the NWU Oval on Saturday, 26 February. NWU 1’s victory has resulted in Ibbies’ first defeat of the campaign and blown the title race wide open with four rounds to play.

The NWU first team’s victory was set up thanks to a determined batting effort from their star Dragons batsmen, Eben Botha (53 off 97) and Chris Britz (47 off 77) laying the platform for a total of 224/6 off 50 overs. Ibbies bowled consistently throughout and kept the hosts at bay with JP King (2/29) and Stefan Maree (1/33) being the standout bowlers.

NWU 1’s match winner with the ball was Hardus Coetzer who picked up 6/34 in 10 overs. Ibbies fought till the end with Franco Bester (52 off 80) and Corné Viljoen (47 off 83) providing resistance in their score of 187/9. In other fixtures on the weekend, there were wins for Potch Dorp 1, Potch Dorp 2 and NWU Taurus.

Potch Dorp 1 came out on top in a low scoring affair against Travelling Reefs in Klerksdorp. Reefs batted first and only managed 108 all out with JP de Villiers playing a lone hand with an unbeaten 41. It wasn’t plain sailing for Potch Dorp 1 who had to rely on an unbeaten 8th wicket partnership between Erlank Barnard (40 off 78) and Max Sereo (15 off 50) to take them to victory.

Potch Dorp 2 beat Ramblers by 68 runs and NWU Taurus beat Impala by 8 wickets in a one-sided affair at the Ibbies Oval. Impala batted first and were bowled out for 144 with Taurus’ Wilhelm Best (4/20) and Danfred Sefoor (3/25) chipping away at the Rustenburg-based side. Quinton Venter (62*) and Reinhardt Englar (52) took Taurus to the win.