UJ cruise to victory against UCT 
UJ made it look easy with another convincing 9 wicket win against UCT on Thursday morning at the NWU-Puk Oval. In a match reduced to 15 overs a side due to a wet outfield, UCT batted first and managed a respectable 112/4. Taariq Cheiktey’s 29 (31) and Josh Coetzee’s 29 (19) kept the ball rolling for UCT but one always had a sense that their score was not going to be enough.

UJ though were in a hurry to get the winning total of 113, with a crunch encounter against NWU lying in wait for them in the afternoon. Delano Potgieter was absolutely destructive with the bat as he smashed 67 (34) to claim man of the match and best batsmen honours. UCT also did themselves no favours by conceding 28 extras.

Samsung Man of The Match:
FNB Best Batsman: Delano Potgieter (UJ)
FNB Best Bowler: Neels Bergh (UJ)
Steers Best Catch: Juan Landsberg (UJ)

CUT gain historic first win in Varsity Cricket
In a nail-biting match, CUT finally got their first win of the 2018 Varsity Cricket campaign with a fantastic 20 run win against UWC at the Ibbies Oval today.

The win was set up by a 77-run opening partnership from Koot Pienaar 37 (34) and Mzukisi Singonzo 35 (31). Both openers though were run out when it seemed they would take their side to a big score. In the end CUT ended on 120/6 with UWC doing well to pull the game back. UWC’s kingpin bowler, Lizaad Williams was once again op top form with 2/11 in 3 overs.

CUT’s bowlers had their best match of the tournament as Rynaro de Lange (2/8), Thiardt Ingram (2/27) and Devon du Plessis (3/12) tore the UWC line-up to shreds as they could only reach 100 all out.

Ingram got the crucial wicket of the inform UWC opener, Mujahid Toffar for a golden duck, and that sent the CUT boys on their way to an historic win.

Samsung Man of The Match: Rynaro de Lange (CUT)
FNB Best Batsman: Koot Pienaar (CUT)
FNB Best Bowler: Rynaro de Lange (CUT)
Steers Best Catch: Jason Raubenheimer (CUT)

Maties get well deserved 34 run win against UWC
Maties got back on the winning track again with a belligerent 34 run victory against UWC at Senwes Park. It was an all-round display from both their batsmen and bowlers that set up the victory as David Bedingham 61 (47) and Merwe Erasmus 47 (33) entertained the crowd with some sumptuous strokes in Maties grand total of 177/4.

The pace of William Sendin (3/23) and spin of Neil Botha (1/17) was too much for UWC to handle as they did not construct a partnership of value to carry them to the target of 178.

UWC ended on 143/7 with Jean Heunis putting on their top score with 35.

Samsung Man of The Match: David Bedingham (Maties)
FNB Best Batsman: David Bedingham (Maties)
FNB Best Bowler: William Sendin (Maties)
Steers Best Catch: Merwe Erasmus (Maties)

NWU stay unbeaten with superb win against UJ
In a clash of the only two undefeated teams in the tournament NWU came through as the victor to keep their spotless record with a 8 wicket win.

NWU’s Janneman Malan was once again on the top of his game with a superb 60 (46) to set up the victory. Ruan Haasbroek and Jean Bredenkamp smartly sent NWU over the line with a well-constructed 50 run unbeaten partnership to reach their victory target of 151/2. Earlier UJ put on a score of 148/9.

UJ batted first and were soon in trouble at 16/3 as opening bowlers, Jovaun van Wyngaardt (2/25) and Sean du Plooy made a purposeful start with the ball.

The impressive Ryan Rickelton with 59 (44) and Juan Landsberg 44 (25) steadied the UJ innings with brilliant 76-run partnership under massive pressure.

NWU though found their way back Ruan Haasbroek getting the crucial wicket of Landsberg caught at midd-off by Dyllan Matthews. This parked a batting collapse, as brilliant fielding from Katle Leokaoke and Julian Soutter saw Tristan Blackie-Roden (1) and Michael Mahlaba (0) run out.

Rickelton did his outmost at the end as he hit a defiant half century to take UJ to 148/9.

In the end NWU’s calculated batting was too much for UJ to handle as the home side keep their unbeaten run after four day of Varsity Cricket action.

Samsung Man of The Match: Janneman Malan (NWU)
FNB Best Batsman: Janneman Malan (NWU)
FNB Best Bowler: Julian Soutter (NWU)
Steers Best Catch: Jean Bredenkamp (NWU)

Captains knock from Lloyd Brown take Madibaz to victory
The NMU Madibaz achieved a much needed 35-run win against CUT today at the Ibbies Oval thanks to a captain’s knock from Lloyd Brown (68 off 41) and half century from Matthew Christensen (50 off 38).

This set up the Madibaz score of 164/5 which proved too much for CUT to handle as they could only hit 129/5 in their 20 overs.

The Madibaz bowlers were economical and miserly at best with Odwa Xonxa (2/14) and Kyle Jacobs (1/10) putting in superb bowling performances.

UCT could not up the run-rate when it mattered most and had to settle for defeat at the hands of an inspired Madibaz team.

Samsung Man of The Match: Lloyd Brown (Madibaz)
FNB Best Batsman: Lloyd Brown (Madibaz)
FNB Best Bowler: Odwa Xonxa (Madibaz)
Steers Best Catch: Odwa Xonxa (Madibaz)

De Zorzi scores first century of the tournament as Tuks earn dominating win
The returning Tony de Zorzi of Tuks scored the first century of the 2018 Varsity Cricket tournament to lead his side to an impressive 57 run win against UCT.

De Zorzi scored a magnificent 101 (55) which included 11 fours and 4 sixes. This propelled Tuks to the biggest score in this year’s tournament as they put on, 203/8 in their 20 overs.

De Zorzi was ably assisted by Mitchell van Buuren who scored a fine 41 (34), but they fell by the wayside in the latter overs as UCT restricted the damage. UCT’s best bowler was undoubtedly Brandon Tattum with 3/25 from his four overs.

UCT needed a superhuman performance to haul in the massive target but only Josh Coetzee with ( ) could string a decent innings together.

UCT lost their way after the strategy break as Tuks’ bowlers Niel Brand (2/29) and Gideon Pieters (2/22) went in for the kill to leave UCT on 146/9.

Tuks in the end made light work of UCT in the final match of the day as the men from Cape Town were outclassed by the two time champions.

Samsung Man of The Match: Tony de Zorzi (Tuks)
FNB Best Batsman: Tony de Zorzi (Tuks)
FNB Best Bowler: Brandon Tattum (UCT)
Steers Best Catch: Ruben Hermann (Best runout)

By Wouter Pienaar