THE Southern KZN cricket team recorded its first win in the premier league against front-runners Topham. A well-earned victory as the boys stuck to their guns.
Batting first, SKZN struggled upfront with some really aggressive fast bowling from the Topham openers.
Posting a moderate 157 all out, Ashley Lombard and Garreth Bishop scored 35 each and Grant Small chipping in with 27 runs.
Defending a low score the team really put in a mammoth effort in the field, the bowlers really doing a brilliant job of containing the Topham top order batsmen and restricting the runs.
With the pressure mounting and run rate climbing, the wickets started tumbling.
Topham was bowled out for 124 runs. There were outstanding figures from Garreth Bishop, 5 /35 in 10 overs, and Raja Kazi, 3/17 in 10 overs, as well as Eugene Naude, 1/9 in 10 overs.
Matthew Denton-Cooke took two good catches, which was one of the catalysts in the visitors’ collapse.
Lombard wasn’t going to bowl as he had injured his ankle, but with the last pair proving to be somewhat stubborn, he was asked to run in.
It worked, and he had the last man out with an edge to the keeper on the first ball of his second over.
Batting: Morne Bishop 8, Junaid Khan 0, Ryan Hawke 1, Ashley Lombard 35, Matthew Denton-Cooke 11, Garreth Bishop 35, Raja Kazi 1, Grant Small 27, Jhean Ludick 18, Damien Dankworth 1*, Eugene Naude 0.
Bowling: Naude 1/9, J Ludick 0/21, Small 0/31, Kazi 3/17, G Bishop 5/35, M Bishop 0/6, Lombard 1/2.
In other news, Morne and Garreth have been selected for the Dolphins U23 provincial team. They are attending the South African U23 cricket festival in Potchefstroom at the moment.
There was only one local fixture completed this weekend. With the school exams in progress, most clubs battled to get teams together.
DMCC hosted the Eagles. DMCC batted first and posted 152 with Anton Potgieter top scoring with 49 of 21 balls.
The Eagles struggled along, managing to score 104 all out. DMCC won by 47 runs.
The 20/20 league is wide open with only two rounds left until semis and finals, only two points separate the four top teams.
Log: DMCC 10, Sezela 10, PSCC 8, Colts 8, Eagles 8, Merlewood 0.
