Harlequins trumps Toti in warm-up cricket match

AMANZIMTOTI Cricket Club played host to Harlequins in the first warm-up game of the 2014/15 season.

Toti batted first, opening with JJ Fourie and Jarred Michaux. Rustiness was evident when Jarred went out in the third over bringing James Taylor to the crease. The two youngsters put on a good show bringing up a 50 run partnership after which JJ was caught on 32 runs.

After a brief flirt with the ball wicket keeper, Warren Pullock was headed back to the change rooms having not gotten of the mark.

Toti’s Francious Strydom also known to his team mates as Faf was in next, at no five and showed some good form with the bat knocking up a quick fire 18 runs while James continued to steady the Toti ship. Faf ended his stay at the crease guiding the ball to gully who took a good catch and was followed by a batting collapse by Toti’s middle order. The remainder of the batting line-up all fell within a period of six overs for just 10 runs, leaving Toti with a score of 148 to defend after just 31 of their 40 overs.

After a half-time talk by coach, Desigan Reddy, Toti took to the field to defend their 148 run lead with a superb run out in the first over by JJ Fourie. With such a good start Toti pushed on hard and was rewarded with the wicket of the other opening batsman just three overs later. The Harlequins batters then dug their heels in and with the loss of only one additional wicket by way of superb midwicket catch by Michael Campbell they managed to recover by the drinks break, leaving themselves with a mere 48 runs for victor.

During drinks, Desigan worked his magic again and the Toti boys made there way back on the field rejuvenated. If Harlequins were going to win we would make them work for it. Just two overs after drinks, Toti managed to take another wicket and was now into the middle order, some good bowling and fielding brought about the demise of two more wickets shortly thereafter, but alas with only four runs required, a misfield ended the game with a boundary at square leg.

All-in-all it was a good loss for Toti. What is a good loss you might ask, well we were able to see where we stand at this point and we now have a good idea of what we need to work on. The boys left in good spirits and a drink or two was a good reward for a hot day of cricket. Bring on 28 September.

For anyone interested in joining the cricket club, feel free to go down for seniors practise on Tuesdays and Fridays from 5pm and for juniors on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4.30pm at Toti Oval.

Or visit the new website www.amanzimtoticricketclub.co.za for more details, match reviews, results fixtures and more.