It was a bag of mixed results for UCT’s cricket team in the Western Province Cricket Association’s First Division A one-day fixtures at the weekend.
On Saturday, former champions, Northern Goodwood Cricket Club (NGCC) travelled to Rondebosch where they faced the students in an exhilarating match.
UCT won the toss and elected to bowl. NGCC set a defensible total of 227/10 in 49.5 overs.
Experienced NGCC batter, Morne Pentz scored an aggressive 93 runs off 94 balls before he was dismissed by a catch to the bowling of Kieron Adams.
Pentz had a fruitful six-wicket partnership with teammate, Ambrose Visagie before he was caught and bowled for 43 runs by UCT’s Harry Nel.
Another aggressive batting spell was by NGCC’s third-placed batsman, Tertuis Raubenheimer, who hit six fours during his 35 runs of 50 balls.
UCT had 50 overs to chase the 227 score, but NGCC’s Eric Osner had other plans, following his five-wicket haul over the young UCT side.
UCT’s Aiden Van Wyk scored an unbeaten 45 runs off 66 balls. However, wickets kept falling and UCT were dismissed for 126 runs in 34 overs, with NGCC winning by 101 runs.
Meanwhile on Sunday, the students bounced back to winning ways when they hosted Victoria Cricket Club in an epic clash at middle campus.
Vics won the toss and elected to bat. The side from Chukker Road scored an impressive 243/8 in 50 overs at UCT following a good batting display from the whole team.
But the spotlight on the day went to UCT’s Aiden Van Wyk who was good with both the ball and the bat. Van Wyk received a bowling figure of 4/52 runs in 10 overs. With the bat, he scored an unbeaten 53 runs off 61 balls.
It was a team effort all round. Opening batsmen, Khwezi Luthuli (24 runs) and Yaslen Saeman (48 runs) got off to a good start for UCT. Sukhraj Ghatoara scored 35 runs off 32 balls, while Abdul Malik scored an unbeaten 21 runs off 15 balls.
UCT reached 246/7 in 44 overs, winning by three wickets. While currently seventh from the 12 teams in the league, UCT will look to jump a spot when they host log-leaders Milnerton on Saturday, before travelling to Avendale in Athlone on Sunday.
