Mixed fortunes for uThungulu cricketers
It is a must win for uThungulu to keep their T20 league hopes alive.
THE RH Construction uThungulu cricket team were in Durban on Sunday for a double header in the T20 Castle Premier League competition.
As runners-up last year, the team was confident of reaching the final again and with Dolphin Robbie Frylinck available they gained in confidence.
The morning match was against Berea Rovers, who won the toss and asked uThungulu to take first knock on a softish wicket.
A fine 43 not out from Jason Redinger and a quick fire 40 off 31 balls with four sixes by Frylinck saw uThungulu reach a formidable total of 145/4 in their 20 overs.
With Rovers reeling at 43/4 after eight overs, and after a first ball wicket on his debut for Grade 11 pupil Reikert Viljoen, a win was on the cards for the Zululanders.
But a match-winning 6th wicket partnership by Kyle Buckthorpe and Robbie Smith saw Rovers home with three balls remaining and victory by four wickets.
It was a bitterly disappointing defeat for the uThungulu players, but with no time to reflect on the result, it was off to DHS Old Boys club to play DHS Rhythm in their afternoon match.
Losing the toss and being sent in to bat first, uThungulu totalled 138/6 in their 20 overs. Shining with the bat were Jason Redinger 37, Eugene Zwart 27 and Trevor Kietzmann 22 not out.
DHS Rhythm put up a gallant fight and at 84/2 off 12 overs, they were on track for an upset win. But out came the uThungulu fight and it took three magical catches – one from Trevor Kietzmann and two from Ruan van Rensburg to turn the match around and ensure a nerve wracking 10 run victory for the visitors.
With only the top team from each section going through to the final, the RH Construction uThungulu cricket team will have to rely on Berea Rovers losing to have a chance of qualifying.
However, uThungulu will still have to beat Chatsworth United and African Warriors in a double header at Addison Park on 22 March to keep their hopes alive.
