THE KwaZulu-Natal Coastal Districts (KZNCD) team had reason to celebrate after their standout performance at the South African Rural Country Districts cricket week held in Kimberley from 14 to 18 February.
Entering the tournament unbeaten, the side managed four out of five victories to win the entire tournament, with Neil Jordan, Eugene Zwart and Fuzzy van Aswegen being selected for the South African Rural team.
Zwart will captain the side with Fuzzy the manager.
The SA side will play against a Combined forces side on 20 February and then compete in the Future Cup (Tri-angular series) from 14-18 April where they will play against SA Varsities and SA Colts sides in Kimberley.
The KZNCD side took on Border Country on day one where they won by 80 runs to get their tournament off to the perfect start.
The local lads won the toss and elected to bat first, posting 230/8 in the 50 overs spent out in the middle.
Eugene Zwart knocked a superb 56, with Johnny Riekert opening his account with 50.
Imtiaz Hatiya -Raja 6-2-13-3 and Stephan Joubert 2/36 bowled the opponents out for 150 in the 40.3rd over..
Day two brought a 83 run loss to Boland East.
The lads lost the toss and fielded first, restricting Boland East 270/6, thanks to Neil Jordan 10-5 -14-2.
The KZNCD side were bowled out for 187 in the 42nd over, with all rounder Neil Jordan making 50, Eugene Zwart notching up 47 and Trevor Kietzmann making 25.
Day three to five brought wins for the lads who were boasting great form at this stage in the competition.
EP Grahamstown was the next match which they won by 121 runs.
Batting first the local lads put on a mammoth 288/5, thanks to phenominal knocks from Lionel Jali (82), Eugene Zwart (86) and Gareth Bishop with 40.
The bowlers then came to the party, dismissing the side for 167 in the 45th over, thanks Neil Jordan 10-6-19-3, Sizwe Mthembu 2/32 and Stephan Joubert 2/43.
Day four brought a 113 run victory over Border Village.
Batting first and scoring 214 all out in the 47th over, thanks to Johnny Riekert 56 and Eugene Zwart 35, was a respectable score.
The bowlers the toiled hard a bowled Border Village out for 101 in the 39th, thanks to Neil Jordan 3/23, Stephan Joubert 3/27, Imtiaz Hatiya 2/21 and Otto Rode 2/3.
The lads ended the last day off like they started, with a 104 run victory over Boland West.
Batting first, Eugene Zwart (76), Lionel Jali (53) and Stephan Joubert (39) got the side to 273/5.
Boland West were then bowled out for 169 in the 40th over, with Stephan Joubert 5/21 and Eugene Zwart 3/10 picking up a few sculps.
‘It has been a great effort by the team in winning the Rural Cricket S.A. Week for the first, and it won’t be the last, time,’ said Manager Fuzzy van Aswegen.
‘Congratulations to Eugene Zwart who was chosen as captain of the SA Rural team as well as Neil Jordan who also made the team.
‘I will be the manager again this year as well.
‘We all thank the KZN Cricket Union for the support given to the Coastal team this season. The kit was fantastic and all our trips were handled by Sarah in a proffesional manner, for which we are very grateful.’
