Hornbills Cricket Club claims victory

The 2015/16 cricket season came to an end on Sunday with the semi-finals and finals of the T20 Club Competition. Three matches were played at the Polokwane Cricket Club on the A and B fields respectively.
In the first semi-final central region winners, Mogol from Lephalale was sent in to bat against Aces Cricket Club. Mogol found life a bit tough and were bowled out for 82 in 18,1 overs. Aces made light work of the run chase ending on 83/1 in 14,2 overs and winning the match by 9 wickets. Aces’ batsman Gustav Botha top scored with 38.
In the other semi-final defending champions Eagles Cricket Club played Hornbill Cricket Club who had won the Letaba region. Eagles won the toss and sent Hornbills in to bat. Hornbills found themselves on 4/2 after the first over. In the end Hornbills posted a competitive 168/8 in their allotted 20 overs thanks to Richard Atherstone’s blistering 65 from 32 balls. Eagles were behind from the third over after scoring 25 in the first two overs. In the end they could only manage 129/7 in 20 overs.
Ruann Willemse top scored with 50 runs. Eagles lost 39 runs taking Hornbills to the finals.

In the final match Hornbills won the toss and decided to bat first. They posted a defendable total of 156/6 in their 20 overs. It was Atherstone and his brother Scot who stole the show. Scot top scored with a well-paced 74 from 57 balls and his big brother supporting him with a quick-fire 31 of 17 balls. Leon Zietsman was the pick of the Aces bowlers taking 3/24 in 4 overs. Aces went in and tried to chase the runs down to claim their first ever T20 title but came 11 runs short. Haccum Hough and Sarel Van Rooyen fought till the end but it was not to be. They ended on 41 of 21 and 33 of 32 respectively.
Sedibu Mohlaba, Club & Facilities Coordinator from Limpopo Impala Cricket in a press release said the games were played in a great spirit. He congratulated the Hornbills who claimed their second T20 title making them double winners this season after taking the premier league earlier in the year. “The events closed off what has been a very good season for Limpopo Impala Cricket. We would like to thank all the supporters, stakeholders and partners for a great year which will be officially closed on Friday at the awards function to be held at the Peter Mokaba Sports Complex,” the statement concluded.

LEANDRI VAN SCHALKWYK
>>leandri.observer@gmail.com