A wonderful unbeaten half-century from Ferisco Adams and a stellar bowling effort, helped Goldrush Boland secure a 47-run bonus-point victory over the Moothee Ram Tuskers in the CSA T20 Challenge at City Oval in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday afternoon.
Adams struck four boundaries and three maximums from 35 balls to help Boland post 168 for six in their 20 overs after winning the toss and batting first. In reply, Glenton Stuurman (4-0-16-4) led a brilliant effort with the ball to roll over the Tuskers for just 121 in 20 overs, securing their place at the top of the log and setting up a first Qualifier engagement with the Dafabet Warriors in Paarl next Tuesday.
Stuurman began the slide, castling Chad Laycock for just three. Keith Dudgeon (4-0-36-2) then trapped Malcolm Nofal in front for the same score before cleaning up Slade van Staden for 15.
Sean Gilson (44) tried his best from 44 deliveries, while all around were crumbling like a flaky chocolate. Gilson struck two fours and two sixes in his innings but the rest all fell by the wayside. Siya Mahima (4-0-16-1) had Andile Mogokane (7) caught behind by Clyde Reeves-Fortuin before Imraan Manack (4-0-13-2) removed both Ntando Zuma (10) and Wayne Parnell (0).
Bamanye Xenxe had some fun at the back-end of the innings, striking two fours and a six from 14 deliveries to end unbeaten on 23 but Stuurman cleaned-up the tail by clean-bowling Daryn Dupavillon (4), Renaldo Meyer (2) and Ziyaad Abrahams (0) in his final over.
Earlier, Adams had rescued a faltering Boland innings after Grant Roelofsen (29) and Reeves-Fortuin (20) had briskly added 47 runs for the second wicket from just 26 balls after the early loss of Blayde Capell, castled by Dupavillon (4-0-30-2).
Dupavillon then removed Reeves-Fortuin before Xenxe (4-0-26-1) had Lehan Botha edging behind to Zuma for just five. Roelofsen then slashed a ball from Abrahams (4-0-51-2) out into the deep cover region before Meyer (4-0-29-1) had Jhedli van Briesies (22) caught off the back of his bat by Xenxe at shirt third man.
With the innings stuttering somewhat, Adams took the bull by the horns and played a wonderful innings, sharing in the highest stand of the match with Dudgeon (20), adding 54 for the sixth wicket from a patient 43 deliveries.
Adams was intent on reaching his fifty, striking the penultimate ball for four before launching Abrahams’ final delivery for six down the ground to bring up his half-century.
Dudgeon had struck one four and a six himself from 21 balls as he played second-fiddle to Adams’ mastery.
The Hollywoodbets Dolphins will be hoping to secure victory over the DP World Lions tomorrow to secure their place as the hosts for the Eliminator next Wednesday with the winner going on to face the loser of the first Qualifier between Boland and the Warriors.
MOOTHEE RAM TUSKERS: Andile Mogakane, Malcom Nofal, Wayne Parnell (capt), Ntando Zuma (wk), Slade van Staden, Daryn Dupavillon, Ziyaad Abrahams, Sean Gilson, Renaldo Meyer, Chad Laycock, Bamanya Xenxe.
GOLDRUSH BOLAND: Grant Roelofsen, Blayde Capell, Clyde Reeves-Fortuin (capt, wk), Jhedli van Briesies, Lehan Botha, Ferisco Adams, Keith Dudgeon, Aya Gqamane, Imraan Manack, Glenton Stuurman, Siya Mahima.