The only two undefeated teams of the tournament, NWU and Maties, will go blow for blow tomorrow (Wednesday, 5 October at 12:00) in the highly anticipated 2022 Varsity Cricket final at the Tuks Oval.
Pound for pound, Maties and NWU are equal in this tournament if one looks at the balance and depth of both squads. These two teams have also shown elements of ruthlessness and composure during the tournament. Interestingly, Maties have won all their games batting second, whilst the NWU have won all their matches batting first.
Tomorrow only one team will be the undefeated heavyweight champion of 2022 Varsity Cricket.
Hat-trick hero puts Tuks in a spin and Maties into the final
Maties bowlers’ tore through Varsity Cricket tournament hosts and defending champions UP-Tuks this afternoon in an 8-wicket victory in the first semi-final.
Maties leg-spinner, Benjamin Ward (4/9), took a hat-trick and four wickets in his first over to take the stuffing out of Tuks.
He caught and bowled Keagan Lion-Cachet with his second ball of the over, and then proceeded to claim a famous hat-trick with balls 4,5 and 6: Matthew Boast (caught) for 0, James Richie (bowled) for 0 and Merrick Brett (LBW) with another first ball duck.
Ward’s heroic performance epitomised this superbly balanced Maties’ team who dismissed Tuks for only 76. Phillip Kleynhans finished off the tail with 3/21.
In reply, the Maroon Machine strolled to victory with the in-form George van Heerden easing to 42* (30) with 6 fours and a six to win the game with 53 balls to spare.
Scorecard:
Tuks: 76 all out – 13.4 overs
Maties: 79/2 – 11.1 overs
Maties beat Tuks by 8 wickets
NWU Eagles secure final spot after a narrow win against CUT
The NWU were just too polished for a fighting CUT-outfit in the second semi-final as the Potchefstroom-based side qualified for a showdown against Maties with a 5-run victory.
A miserly team bowling performance was just what the NWU needed as Hardus Coetzer (1/22) and JP King (1/24) showed good temperament in a do-or-die match.
CUT looked down and out, until Delano Williams 26* (9) revived hopes with some massive shots in a final powerplay over that added 32 runs to CUT’s score.
JP King of NWU during the Varsity Festival cricket match Semi-final 2 NWU Potch v CUT on Tuesday 04 October 2022 at LC de Villiers/Tukkies Photo by Christiaan Kotze/ C&C Photo Agency for Varsity/ AsemEngage
The second semi-final was a much tighter affair between the NWU and CUT with the NWU opting to bat first. For once, Eben Botha or Chris Britz did not trouble the scorers as the CUT bowlers got stuck in early reducing NWU to 28/2. JP King looked in good touch before losing his wicket for 36 (23) to CUT bowler Franklin Damons (2/22)
Although boundaries were hard to come by, the left-handed, Heinrigh Pieterse, contributed a handy 48 (41) and Taheer Isaacs a surefire 28 (22) to take the NWU to a defendable total of 157/6.
It proved to be just enough, as CUT fought until the end to bow out with their heads held high.
Scorecard:
NWU: 157/6 – 20 overs
CUT: 152/6 – 20 overs
NWU win by 5 runs
Amm goes out with a bang as Madibaz beat UJ
Mark Amm with 78 (37) was the hero for the Madibaz as his knock lead them to a resounding five-wicket win against UJ in the battle for fifth place in the tournament.
The Madibaz had to chase 134 for victory and did that with 22 balls to spare thanks to Amm’s blistering innings that included 11 fours and 3 sixes at a strike rate of 211.
To put Amm’s innings into perspective, no other Madibaz batsman could move past 20 in the chase.
Earlier, Ethan Frosler (4/11) and Mark Amm (2/23) were the top bowlers for the Madibaz as they reduced UJ to 58/6 at one stage.
UJ’s needed a bit of luck and Lucky Mofokeng provided with a feisty inning of 39 (39) to take UJ to 133 all out in 18.4 overs.
Scorecard:
UJ 133/10 – 18.4 overs
Madibaz 134/5 – 16.2 overs
Madibaz win by 5 wickets
Mpongwana gives UWC a sweet victory against Ikeys
UWC completed an easy 7-wicket victory against UCT-Ikeys in a Cape derby to end their tournament on a high note.
UWC’s Abubaker Samodien (4/30) and Mihlali Mpongwana (3/27) were too hot to handle for the UCT-Ikeys batsman as they collapsed to 116 all out.
Mpongwana used the momentum of his bowling performance to add 41 (40) with the willow. Together with Lwando Tywaku 28 (27), the pair took UWC to an assured victory with 26 balls in their locker.
UCT-Ikeys end their tournament winless, although they did put on a couple of top performances in patches during the tournament.
Scorecard:
UCT 116 all out – 15.5 overs
UWC 117/3 – 15.4 overs
UWC win by 7 wickets
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