Murray Coetzee played an outstanding innings of 119 runs off 122 balls to lead the University of Pretoria (Tuks) to a 183-run drubbing of Stellenbosch University (Maties) in the final of the Universities Sports South Africa (USSA) A Week in Johannesburg last week.

Coetzee’s innings included 12 fours and a six, at a strike rate of 97.54 to help his side to 266/8 in their 50 overs, after winning the toss and electing to bat first. Sean Dickson added a brilliant 58 from 57 balls to cement the match-winning total.

Maties bowlers had a difficult time taking wickets. Dewald Botha was the side’s leading wicket-taker, with 3/48, while André Odendaal, James Groom and Niel Botha could only get one each.

A complete batting collapse followed when Maties took to the crease. Gerhard Linde and Sean Nowak annihilated the top and middle orders, sending everyone in the top six back to the hut for eight runs or less. Jean Marais was the only batsman who put up a bit of fight, top scoring with 34 runs, but five ducks and Groom and Ryelan Hartnick’s respective 18 and 16 runs were not good enough for the final of the tournament.

Linde and Nowak returned impressive figures of 4/29 and 3/8 respectively, while David Mogotlane chipped in with a notable 2/2 to claim a thoroughly deserved championship final.

Coetzee was named the deserved Player of the tournament, while Jack Newby and Martin van Wyk were named the respective Batsman and Bowler of the Week.