Junior cricket at an academy level on the South Coast is alive and thriving, with two matches being played last Saturday.
There was some exciting cricket played at a Snipers Academy inter-squad invitation match with RC Challengers at Port Shepstone Country Club.
Snipers coach Jaydon Scholtz split the group into two evenly matched teams – Stars and Renegades – and the result was that the match was close.
Stars, captained by Ruben van Reenen, batted first and made 118 all out in 19.3 overs. Ruben top-scored with 38 off 29 balls.
Yusuf Moosa smashed a rapid 21 not out off 12 balls, while earlier, Jayden Derksen made a patient 10 off 36 balls.
Pick of the bowlers was Karlo Jacobs with 3-6. Other wickets were taken by Daniel Rush (2-20), Stiaan Fritz (1-8), Christiaan Otto (1-10) and Ethan Budd (1-13).
There were two run outs, including a direct hit from Elijah Langton.
In response, the Renegades came close, making 110-5, but possibly left too much to do at the end.
Daniel top-scored with an urgent 30 off 39 balls before being retired. Opener YY Moolla was the only other batsman to get into double figures, with 19 off 51 before he was also retired.
Wickets were taken by Jaydon Koekemoer (1-6) and Thuso Mavundla (1-15), plus three run outs – exacted by Damion Bezuidenhout, Reuben Kunz and Jaydon.
All in all, it was a good day’s cricket and a chance for the youngsters to get in some game time.
* The second match saw the RC Challengers take on The Hub at Margate Primary. These teams are coached by André Ellapen and Ben Malamba, respectively.
The Challengers, captained by Bertu van Reenen, won the toss and batted first, making 119-4.
Bertu top-scored with 19, supported by Taiyn Naicker (11) and Shaden Ellapen (12). All three were retired after a certain number of balls faced to give others a chance.
The Challengers will be playing in the postponed U11 Kearsney Festival at the end of the month.
In response, The Hub struggled, making 74-5 in the 20 overs. Five bowlers took one wicket, namely Seth du Plessis, Imraan Khan, Dian Schoeman, Taiyn and Shaden.
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