It was raining boundaries as the University of Fort Hare crushed Mangosuthu University (MUT) by nine wickets in their University Sport South Africa (USSA) B cricket Week match at Hams Cricket Club yesterday afternoon.
They continued their perfect start to the cricket week as they won their third match in a row.
“I am very happy with the guys performances over the first three games,” said Fort Hare captain Phumelelo Payi. “We will take a lot of confidence from this start into the rest of the week.”
Having bowled very well Fort Hare only needed 80 to win and having already had a rain delay with ominous clouds overhead the Fort Hare batsmen wasted no time as they bludgeoned their way to their target for the loss of one wicket off just seven overs.
Opening batsman Lwando Makhongolo was the rock, scoring 21 not out off 22 balls with two fours as he just looked to rotate the strike and hit the odd bad ball to the fence.
Fellow opener Jason van Zyl had only one thing on his mind as he struck a four and a six of his first two balls faced before being bowled for 10 by Archibald Khambule with Fort Hare on 24/1 in the second over.
Mkhululi Calana then joined Makhongolo at the crease and they took Fort Hare home superbly.
Calana was particularly in the mood as he plundered his runs at a 200 strike-rate, scoring 36 off 18 balls, clubbing seven fours to all parts of the ground.
“Our batting has been good, but our bowling a little patchy,” said Payi.
“We have been allowing teams a few more runs than they should and we will look to work on that over the next few games.”
In the first session MUT won the toss and elected to bat, however constant pressure from the Fort Hare bowlers coupled with regular wickets severely limited their scoring rate.
Fort Hare opening bowler Bongolethu Draai made the early breakthrough as he bowled opener Ndumiso Mbatha for a fifth ball duck. In the next over Edwin Toroveyi had Scelo Gwala (one) caught behind by keeper Jason van Zyl leaving MUT in a spot of bother at 7/2.
Mawethu Dlamini and Akani Chauke then shared a 14-run stand, only for Dlamini to be bowled for a run-a-ball 11 in Toroveyi's second over.
Unathi Mzileni was next in the wickets as he removed Hilton Chengeta (five) trapped lbw at the end of the fifth over as MUT slipped to 26/4.
Chauke and new batsman Mlungisi Nxumalo then briefly threatened to revive the innings with the highest partnership of 21 runs, however having gone over three overs without a wicket Athi Dasha bowled Chauke for 13 to end the resistance.
Two overs later and Dasha had his second, trapping Lethu Sithole in front for six with MUT on 56/6.
Dasha was on fire now and picked up his third wicket in three overs as Nxumalo was caught by Draai for 10 and MUT were in all sorts of trouble on 61/7.
Sive Vendle (10no) and Ziphozonke Mathoba (five) then raised the spirits a bit with a 16-run stand, however Dasha made it a wicket in each over he bowled as he had Mathoba caught by Calana.
Calana then cleaned the tail as he had Khambule caught by Dasha for a second ball duck and Gift Mgadi caught behind off the very next ball for a first ball duck as they crashed to 79 all out in the 16th over.
In the days other games Fort Hare beat Sefako Makgothu University by four wickets, University of Zululand beat the University of Limpopo (Turfloop) by six wickets and Durban University of Technology beat MUT by eight wickets in the morning session.
In the afternoon Fort Hare beat MUT, DUT beat Turfloop by six runs and the SMU v University of Venda match was not at hand at time of going to print.
Fort Hare show mean side
They continued their perfect start to the cricket week as they won their third match in a row.
“I am very happy with the guys performances over the first three games,” said Fort Hare captain Phumelelo Payi. “We will take a lot of confidence from this start into the rest of the week.”
Having bowled very well Fort Hare only needed 80 to win and having already had a rain delay with ominous clouds overhead the Fort Hare batsmen wasted no time as they bludgeoned their way to their target for the loss of one wicket off just seven overs.
Opening batsman Lwando Makhongolo was the rock, scoring 21 not out off 22 balls with two fours as he just looked to rotate the strike and hit the odd bad ball to the fence.
Fellow opener Jason van Zyl had only one thing on his mind as he struck a four and a six of his first two balls faced before being bowled for 10 by Archibald Khambule with Fort Hare on 24/1 in the second over.
Mkhululi Calana then joined Makhongolo at the crease and they took Fort Hare home superbly.
Calana was particularly in the mood as he plundered his runs at a 200 strike-rate, scoring 36 off 18 balls, clubbing seven fours to all parts of the ground.
“Our batting has been good, but our bowling a little patchy,” said Payi.
“We have been allowing teams a few more runs than they should and we will look to work on that over the next few games.”
In the first session MUT won the toss and elected to bat, however constant pressure from the Fort Hare bowlers coupled with regular wickets severely limited their scoring rate.
Fort Hare opening bowler Bongolethu Draai made the early breakthrough as he bowled opener Ndumiso Mbatha for a fifth ball duck. In the next over Edwin Toroveyi had Scelo Gwala (one) caught behind by keeper Jason van Zyl leaving MUT in a spot of bother at 7/2.
Mawethu Dlamini and Akani Chauke then shared a 14-run stand, only for Dlamini to be bowled for a run-a-ball 11 in Toroveyi's second over.
Unathi Mzileni was next in the wickets as he removed Hilton Chengeta (five) trapped lbw at the end of the fifth over as MUT slipped to 26/4.
Chauke and new batsman Mlungisi Nxumalo then briefly threatened to revive the innings with the highest partnership of 21 runs, however having gone over three overs without a wicket Athi Dasha bowled Chauke for 13 to end the resistance.
Two overs later and Dasha had his second, trapping Lethu Sithole in front for six with MUT on 56/6.
Dasha was on fire now and picked up his third wicket in three overs as Nxumalo was caught by Draai for 10 and MUT were in all sorts of trouble on 61/7.
Sive Vendle (10no) and Ziphozonke Mathoba (five) then raised the spirits a bit with a 16-run stand, however Dasha made it a wicket in each over he bowled as he had Mathoba caught by Calana.
Calana then cleaned the tail as he had Khambule caught by Dasha for a second ball duck and Gift Mgadi caught behind off the very next ball for a first ball duck as they crashed to 79 all out in the 16th over.
In the days other games Fort Hare beat Sefako Makgothu University by four wickets, University of Zululand beat the University of Limpopo (Turfloop) by six wickets and Durban University of Technology beat MUT by eight wickets in the morning session.
In the afternoon Fort Hare beat MUT, DUT beat Turfloop by six runs and the SMU v University of Venda match was not at hand at time of going to print.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos