Uthungulu go down fighting

RH Construction Uthungulu cricket team were in Durban North on Sunday, attempting to do the double on log leaders Crusaders, having beaten them at Addison Park in the firstt round.

Unfortunately they lost the toss and were asked to bowl first in very hot and humid conditions.

Crusaders, through the batting of Riaan Minnie (62 off 93 balls) and Michael Alexander (49 off 57) amassed 123/2 in 31 overs and were heading for a massive total.

It took some tight and accurate bowling from Neil Jordan (1/ 14 in 6.2 overs), Garry Park (2/29 in 8), Stephan Joubert (2/31 in 10), and Dale van der Merwe (3/21 in 4) to restrict Crusaders to 190 all out in the 49th over.

It was an amazing feat by the Uthungulu team considering the conditions and the quality of the Crusaders batting line-up.

At the crease and chasing 191 to win at 3.82 runs per over, the task was very gettable.

Although Crusaders dropped a few catches early on, you are not Castle Premier League Champions for five consecutive years for nothing.

This they proved with excellent line and length bowling, thus putting the squeeze on the Uthungulu batsmen and forcing them to chase the game.

This resulted in the batters playing a few rash shots and losing wickets in regular succession, and after Stephan Joubert was out for a patient 31 off 80 balls Uthungulu were 61/5 in 27 overs and were staring down a barrel.

There was still however fight left in the Uthungulu camp and Ruan van Rensburg (14 off 21 balls), Dale van der Merwe (16 off 18) and a 40 off 46 balls from Neill Jordan took the total to 164 all out in the 49th over, falling a mere 26 runs short.

A great fighting effort from the Uthungulu team and with only two home matches remaining, they remain in third position on the log, 12 points clear of fourth-placed Delta.

There is a break in cricket this weekend as the KZN Coastal team is off to Potchefstroom to participate in the SA Rural Cricket week.

All the best to the team and the eight Uthungulu players selected.

Next Uthungulu match is at Addison Park on 22 February against Chatsworth United.

Congratulations must go out to former KZN Coastal and Grantleigh School player, Sizwe Mthembu on his selection to the Stellenbosch University cricket team that participated in the recent Varsity cricket week.

Best wishes also go out to Kyle Abbott for the ICC Cricket World Cup.