Semi-final places decided as Tuks take on UJ and Maties face NWU

Jean during the Varsity Cricket match between UCT and NWU on the 30 January 2018 at the Ibbies oval in Potchefstroom on the 31st of January 2018

In the final round of matches on Friday, all the best teams put in one last effort to build momentum ahead of Saturday (3 February) when the semi-final and finals take place. It doesn’t get bigger than this and is a spectacle that no one would dare to miss.

In semi-final 1, UJ will take on Tuks at 09:30 with NWU and Maties squaring off in semi-final 2 at 13:00. The final will take place at 19:00. It’s time to fill up Senwes Park!

Here is a round-up of today’s action.

UWC squeeze out 7 run win against Madibaz
In one of the most closely fought matches of 2018 Varsity Cricket, UWC manages to outwit the NMU Madibaz by 7 runs on Friday at the NWU Oval.

UWC batted first and hit a competitive 139/6 with in form batsman Mujaahid Toffar hitting a 48 (49) as he anchored the innings superbly. Toffar saw wickets fall around him but he kept his composure and he can feel aggrieved to miss out on a half-century.

Aaqil Ebrahim played a fantastic supporting role with 40 (24) to push UWC’s scoring rate in the latter overs. Madibaz captain Lloyd Brown was a delight to watch with the ball in hand as he picked up 3/21 in his four overs.

UWC continued their momentum with the ball as precise bowling from bowler of the match Dawood Christians (3/13) restricted the Madibaz. It was once again Brown who played a fantastic 44 (50), but it just was not enough to bring the Eastern Cape men across the line. Kyle Jacobs tried his best with 32 (31) but when Williams disturbed his stumps, the match once again turned into UWC’s favour.

UWC showed today how to defend a small total and how to keep composure and they will be pleased to begin their day with a confidence boosting win.

Samsung Man of The Match: Dawood Christians (UWC)
FNB Best Batsman: Mujaahid Toffar (UWC)
FNB Best Bowler: Dawood Christians (UWC)
Steers Best Catch: Michael Hansel (Madibaz)

Ferreira wins match for Tuks with bat and ball against UJ
It was the Donovan Ferreira show at the Ibbies Oval on Friday morning as the Tuks batsman hammered his side to an important 39 run win against UJ.

Ferreira hit an unbeaten 79 (40) which consisted of 6 fours and 4 sixes which propelled his side to a big score of 182/6 in their 20 overs.

Tuks’ left-arm pacer, Ruben Trumplemann (2/25) got the crucial wicket of Joshua Richards for an unlucky 13 and that set the wheels in motion for a Tuks victory. The other blonde paceman, Corbin Bosch (3/27) was also on top form as UJ struggled to keep with the required scoring rate.

Ferreira also shined with the ball to cap off a dream performance as he got the important wicket of Delano Potgieter for 30 (14). Ferreira took 3/17 in four overs to cement his man of the match performance.

In the UJ could only reach 143 all out as Tuks took a brilliant victory when they needed it most.

Samsung Man of The Match: Donovan Ferreira (Tuks)
FNB Best Batsman: Donovan Ferreira (Tuks)
FNB Best Bowler: Donovan Ferreira (Tuks)
Steers Best Catch: Chad Claassen (UJ)

Tuks ease past UWC with one eyed on semi-final
Tuks’ Niel Brand (54 off 41) and Rubin Hermann (37 off 20) showcased their abilities in a dominant 8 wicket win against UWC to finish their group stage run on a high at Senwes Park.

Tuks had no problem in chasing UWC modest total of 124/7 as they sent a strong message ahead of tomorrow’s semi-final clashes.

Tuks bowlers were also in inspired form with a strong bowling effort making it difficult for UWC’s batsmen. Ruben Trumplemann (2/14) and Gideon Pieters (2/22) were once again outstanding with the ball on a batting friendly pitch.

UWC’s Jean Heunis played a lone hand of 56 (41) as he ended a solid tournament on a personal high note.

Samsung Man of The Match: Niel Brand (Tuks)
FNB Best Batsman: Niel Brand (Tuks)
FNB Best Bowler: Ruben Trumplemann (Tuks)
Steers Best Catch: Philander (UWC)

NWU and CUT share the spoils in rain affected clash
The NWU faced off against a game CUT side on Friday afternoon with the match ending a tie when rain forced the match to end prematurely.

CUT batted first and made 125/8, before NWU reached 63/3 when the heavens opened for a quick shower.

Things went downhill early for CUT as they lost Koot Pienaar and Devan du Plessis both for 4, as Sean du Plooy (2/24) struck twice to leave CUT on 9/2

CUT’s best batsmen were Wian van Zyl (20 off 19) and Tshepo Ntuli who scored a belligerent 35 (31) guided CUT to 125/8.

Jovaun van Wyngaardt (2/14) and JP le Roux (1/10) also played a tremendous role with the ball as they restricted CUT’s scoring rate with tight overs.

Shane Dadswell did not bother the scorers as he was out second ball caught in the deep. For the first time this tournament the NWU batsmen were struggling as the top order failed in their chase of CUT’s score.

UCT thought that they had Van Wyngaardt’s wicket but the ball went above shoulder heights and was named a no-ball.

Van Wyngaardt (7) and captain Edrich Lubbe (14) put up a good partnership to solidify Pukke’s momentum as they reached 63/3. Rain in the ended the game prematurely as the match ended in a tie.

Maties run through UCT to book semi spot
Maties were too strong for UCT on Friday as they won a rain affected match by 7 wickets with the Duckworth-Lewis method.

Maties’ outstanding performers were Gerhard Jansen van Vuuren (44 off 32) and Merwe Erasmus (24 off 23) as they steered Maties to their winning DL total of 94/3. The side from Stellenbosch were chasing a modest total of 133/9 after their bowlers put in a rock solid team effort with the ball.

The pick of the bowlers were Kyle Simmonds (2/21) and Timothy Whitehead (2/22) as UCT struggled to find boundaries at regular intervals.

Maties wholeheartedly deserve the victory and in the process booked themselves a semi-final spot tomorrow against NWU in the semi-final.

Samsung Man of The Match:
FNB Best Batsman: Gerhard Jansen van Vuuren (Maties)
FNB Best Bowler:
Steers Best Catch:

Senokwane takes NWU to win against Madibaz to end on top spot
The Friday night lights at Senwes Park brought about one of the clashes of the tournament as NWU beat Madibaz by six wickets with 4 balls to spare.

The heroes for NWU were Lesego Senokwane (35 off 31) and Neil Durow (20 off 10) who took NWU to victory with brilliant use of the Powerplay Plus over just as it seemed the Madibaz could clinch a famous victory.

Lloyd Brown was the standout bowler for the Madibaz as he bagged 3/30, with his memorable “sealed lips” celebration.

It was NWU who got the final say with Senokwane and Durow showcasing the depth that NWU has in their squad.

The Madibaz batted first and compiled 151/8 from their 20 overs with Vian Maritz hitting a run a ball 48. Madibaz though lost a number of important wickets early as Lloyd Brown was dismissed for 2 and Matthew Christensen for a duck. Sean du Plooy’s left arm spin was once again outstanding from the opening over as he picked up figures of 2/13. Durow also chipped in with 2/23 with Julian Soutter taking the most wickets (3/30)

NWU started steadily with the bat but Brown got rid of Janneman Malan early to keep the Madibaz in with a chance.

One of the catches of the tournament saw the dangerous Shane Dadswell head back to the changing rooms for 25 (15) as Matthew Christensen took a sublime catch at cover point.

The Madibaz though missed a number of easy catches in the field as they could have had NWU in trouble a couple of times. Jean Bredenkamp also contributed with an important 36 (31) to keep NWU in the game in the middle over

Senokwane and Durow though kept cool heads and took NWU to a good victory ahead of tomorrow’s semi-final against Maties.

Samsung Man of The Match: Lesego Senokwane (NWU)
FNB Best Batsman: Lesego Senokwane (NWU)
FNB Best Bowler: Lloyd Brown (Madibaz)
Steers Best Catch: Matthew Christensen (Madibaz)

By Wouter Pienaar