The Northern Champions’ tailenders Mohammad Rasool (60) and Xander Venter (52) pulled their team out of trouble on the second day of Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) Cubs Week against the Coastal Conquerors here.
The Champions’ target was a mere 179 runs, but when the Conquerors’ pacers Rowen Rajah (2/42) and Dayalan Boyce (2/42) reduced them to 38/4 in the first nine overs, things looked dire.
Their other fast bowler, Bonga Mapanga (2/29), tightened the screws further by dismissing Vihan Pretorius (15) and Riley Miller (1), leaving the Champions struggling at 46/6 in the 12th over.
However, Rasool and Venter had other plans and, after a brave fight, guided their team to a vital victory.
Venter also impressed with the ball, claiming the best figures for his team with four wickets for just 36 runs. The Conquerors’ Ben Hockly (89*) recorded his second consecutive half-century but unfortunately ran out of partners before he could raise his bat again.
The Southern Superstars’ tailenders Michail Tarentaal (62*) and Unathi Magoloza (40*) were also their team’s heroes in a three-wicket win over the Central Gladiators on Maties’ C-field.
This means only two unbeaten teams remain after the first two days of matches, with the Champions and Superstars setting the pace.
Tarentaal and Magoloza joined forces after their team lost its seventh wicket at 161 runs—still 102 runs short of victory. Their unbeaten 104-run partnership over the eighth wicket will be talked about for a long time.
The Gladiators’ openers, Bafana Mthunzi (71) and Nkosana Sibiya (43), laid a solid foundation with a 120-run stand. Added to that were contributions from Kamogelo Phiri (40) and Troy Gordon (36), helping the Gladiators reach a strong total of 262 runs.
Daniel Cooke (4/23), the Superstars’ fast bowler, wrapped up the tail of the losing side.
The best performance of the day, however, belonged to legspinner Olefa Padi of the Western Legends. He dismissed six Eastern Warriors batsmen for only 36 runs.
When the Warriors’ last wicket, Samuel Scheckter (51), fell at 194 runs, it was just two runs short of denying the Legends a bonus point. That wicket, taken by Otto Krause (2/27), could still prove golden for the team.
Summarised Scorecards:
Western Legends 246/8 (Olebogeng Scott 58, Faizaan Kajee 46, FG Botha 38, Aiden Dodd 28, Naudé Botha 23; Sulaymaan Gangat 3/29, Rhys Wiblin 2/51); Eastern Warriors 194 (Samuel Scheckter 51, William Beamish 50, Rhys Wiblin 29; Olefa Padi 6/36, Otto Krause 2/27). Western Legends won by 52 runs.
Coastal Conquerors 178 (Ben Hockly 89*, Seth Simpson 21; Xander Venter 4/36, Vihan Pretorius 2/14, Nico Loggenberg 2/47); Northern Champions 179/8 (Mohammad Rasool 60*, Xander Venter 52; Bonga Mapanga 2/29, Rowen Rajah 2/42, Dayalan Boyce 2/42). Northern Champions won by two wickets.
Central Gladiators 262 (Bafana Mthunzi 71, Nkosana Sibiya 43, Kamogelo Phiri 40, Troy Gordon 36; Daniel Cooke 4/23, Timothy Short 2/31, Francois Prins 2/39); Southern Superstars 265/7 (Michail Tarentaal 62*, Unathi Magoloza 40*, Francois Prins 42, Sibahle Sigabi 33, Inam Bula 30, Extras 27, Luca Plekker 22; Morteza Manack 2/43). Southern Superstars won by three wickets.