Cricket Mambas strike in Margate
Somehow the rain stayed away long enough for two games to be played.
It may be rugby, netball and hockey season, but there is still junior club cricket on the go.
The RC Challengers and RC Chargers teams played matches against two teams from Clinton Moodley Cricket Academy based in Scottburgh at Margate Primary recently.
The Chargers played against the CMCA Jaguars, a team comprised mainly of girls. Any notion of underestimating them was soon dismissed when the hosts were reeling at 10 runs for three wickets.
However, Saien Chetty (13*) and Riley Buys (26*) found form with the bat and, aided by extras, set the girls a score of 76 to chase.
Wickets were taken, one apiece, by Yajna Singh, Saiesha Govender and Safiyyah Suleman.
The Jaguars finished on 54-6, with runouts – four of them – dominating on a day where some are still mastering the art of the quick single.
Stefanie Gerber top scored with 10 not out. Wickets were taken by Matthew Graham-Jolly and Ezra Langton.
In the main game, Challengers batted first against the CMCA Mambas and made 140, with Elijah Langton providing another whirlwind innings at the top, 42 off 21 balls.
Maybe one day he will bat more than 10 overs?
Benjamin Kunz produced a more measured innings, keeping things intact, with 27 runs off 42 balls.
Stiaan Fritz made 11, and Lutho Menziwa 18* with some superb hitting at the end.
One wicket each was taken by Seth du Plessis, Blake Vincent, Bryden Mitchell, Neil Bezuidenhout, Anton Bezuidenhout and Rorke Harris.
The Mambas started poorly, losing Rorke Harris and Blake Vincent to Zibu Malamba’s left-arm pace early on.
However, Justin Brown (19) and Neal Kronburger (18) kept the scoreboard ticking over.
The real power and shift in momentum came when Reece Ruiter walked in at number five. He smashed a quickfire 49 off 24 balls, including four 4s and four 6s.
He had some excellent assistance from Neil Bezuidenhout, who made 22*.
This helped the Mambas reach the total with five overs to spare and a few bruised egos on the bowlers’ side of things.
Zibu Malamba and Jaydon Koekemoer picked up two wickets each.
The matches were played in good spirits and once again provided youngsters with the opportunity to learn more about the game.
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