Africa-Press – Namibia. WANDERERS took a decisive lead in the 50-over Cricket Premier League when they thrashed the defending champions WHS Old Boys by 10 wickets at the Wanderers field on Saturday.
The victory put them on top of the log and although there is still a long way to go, they are now in the driving seat to reclaim the title from Old Boys who have won it for the past two years in a row.
On Saturday, Old Boys were dismissed for a handy 219, but it was never a problem for Wanderers as both their openers, Niko Davin and JC Balt scored centuries to take them to the target with 15 overs to spare.
After being sent in to bat, Old Boys got off to a steady start as Shaun Fouche and Malan Kruger put on 48 for the first wicket, but Wanderers’ new seam bowler Nyasha Nyashadzaishe got the breakthrough, when he caught and bowled Kruger for 18.
Fouche remained steadfast, but none of Old Boys’ other batsmen managed to stick around too long.
JW Visagie was dismissed by Danie van Schoor for 15, and when Dian Jacobs (18) and Donovan Zealand (0) were out in quick succession they were pegged back at 113/4 halfway through their innings.
Wesley Anderson was dismissed for 6, but Fouche grew in confidence, reaching his 50 off 76 balls.
He shared a 61-run partnership with Zhivago Groenewald before the latter was bowled by Nicholas Scholtz for 20, and then went on to reach his century off 116 balls.
Fouche was eventually dismissed for 118 off 127 balls (6×4, 8×6), before the whole side was out for 219 off 45,1 overs.
For Wanderers, Van Schoor (3/24) and Scholtz (3/29) took three wickets each and Nyashadzaishe 2/31.
Davin and Balt gave Wanderers a solid start as they gradually upped the run rate, and when Davin hit Balt for a six in the sixth over they were well on track at 30/0.
After 10 overs the total was 53/0, while Balt brought up the century, and his 50, with three fours off Melrich Robyn in the 19th over.
They picked up the tempo, hitting 18 runs off Dian Jacobs’ 22nd over, before both batsmen cruised to their centuries, with Davin scoring his off 89 balls and Balt his off 108 balls.
By now they were completely in charge and reached the winning target with 15 overs to spare. Davin remained not out on 108 off 96 balls (11×4, 2×6), while Balt was not out on 108 from 111 balls (15×4).
At Trustco United Park, United were pushed all the way before beating MR24/7 Welwitschia by two wickets.
The visitors won the toss and elected to bat, but couldn’t get going as they lost regular wickets.
United’s seam bowler Stefan Bezuidenhout was the main destroyer, picking up three wickets to reduce them to 58/3, but opener Samson Chivi gave them hope with a defiant knock.
He was, however, bowled by Jasper Engelbrecht for 55 off 43 balls (6×4, 3×6), and when Simon Shikongo (3) and Tawanda Ngwenya (8) followed shortly afterwards, Welwitschias were struggling at 101/7.
Reynard van Zyl (32) and Salomon Nuuyoma (13) revived their innings with a 45-run partnership, before the whole team was out for 154 off only 28,3 overs.
Bezuidenhout was United’s stand-out bowler, taking 5/61, while Engelbrecht (2/23) and Chris Freeman (2/31) took two wickets each.
In reply, United were reduced to 53/3 after some early wickets, but Hendrik van der Walt and Damon Coetzee, put them on track with a 51-run partnership.
They were reduced in quick succession, with Van der Walt scoring 55 and Coetzee 26, and after several more wickets fell, the match was evenly poised when KC Griffiths was dismissed for 21 with the total at 137/8. Franco Bergh (11 not out) and Engelbrecht (2 not out) however took them to the winning target, as they reached 157/8 with six overs to spare.
The victory put them on top of the log and although there is still a long way to go, they are now in the driving seat to reclaim the title from Old Boys who have won it for the past two years in a row.
On Saturday, Old Boys were dismissed for a handy 219, but it was never a problem for Wanderers as both their openers, Niko Davin and JC Balt scored centuries to take them to the target with 15 overs to spare.
After being sent in to bat, Old Boys got off to a steady start as Shaun Fouche and Malan Kruger put on 48 for the first wicket, but Wanderers’ new seam bowler Nyasha Nyashadzaishe got the breakthrough, when he caught and bowled Kruger for 18.
Fouche remained steadfast, but none of Old Boys’ other batsmen managed to stick around too long.
JW Visagie was dismissed by Danie van Schoor for 15, and when Dian Jacobs (18) and Donovan Zealand (0) were out in quick succession they were pegged back at 113/4 halfway through their innings.
Wesley Anderson was dismissed for 6, but Fouche grew in confidence, reaching his 50 off 76 balls.
He shared a 61-run partnership with Zhivago Groenewald before the latter was bowled by Nicholas Scholtz for 20, and then went on to reach his century off 116 balls.
Fouche was eventually dismissed for 118 off 127 balls (6×4, 8×6), before the whole side was out for 219 off 45,1 overs.
For Wanderers, Van Schoor (3/24) and Scholtz (3/29) took three wickets each and Nyashadzaishe 2/31.
Davin and Balt gave Wanderers a solid start as they gradually upped the run rate, and when Davin hit Balt for a six in the sixth over they were well on track at 30/0.
After 10 overs the total was 53/0, while Balt brought up the century, and his 50, with three fours off Melrich Robyn in the 19th over.
They picked up the tempo, hitting 18 runs off Dian Jacobs’ 22nd over, before both batsmen cruised to their centuries, with Davin scoring his off 89 balls and Balt his off 108 balls.
By now they were completely in charge and reached the winning target with 15 overs to spare. Davin remained not out on 108 off 96 balls (11×4, 2×6), while Balt was not out on 108 from 111 balls (15×4).
At Trustco United Park, United were pushed all the way before beating MR24/7 Welwitschia by two wickets.
The visitors won the toss and elected to bat, but couldn’t get going as they lost regular wickets.
United’s seam bowler Stefan Bezuidenhout was the main destroyer, picking up three wickets to reduce them to 58/3, but opener Samson Chivi gave them hope with a defiant knock.
He was, however, bowled by Jasper Engelbrecht for 55 off 43 balls (6×4, 3×6), and when Simon Shikongo (3) and Tawanda Ngwenya (8) followed shortly afterwards, Welwitschias were struggling at 101/7.
Reynard van Zyl (32) and Salomon Nuuyoma (13) revived their innings with a 45-run partnership, before the whole team was out for 154 off only 28,3 overs.
Bezuidenhout was United’s stand-out bowler, taking 5/61, while Engelbrecht (2/23) and Chris Freeman (2/31) took two wickets each.
In reply, United were reduced to 53/3 after some early wickets, but Hendrik van der Walt and Damon Coetzee, put them on track with a 51-run partnership.
They were reduced in quick succession, with Van der Walt scoring 55 and Coetzee 26, and after several more wickets fell, the match was evenly poised when KC Griffiths was dismissed for 21 with the total at 137/8. Franco Bergh (11 not out) and Engelbrecht (2 not out) however took them to the winning target, as they reached 157/8 with six overs to spare.
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