UJ reach the semifinals after beating UCT comfortably, by seven wickets, at Ibbies Oval on Friday afternoon.
UCT won the toss and elected to bat first, hoping to end their tournament off on a high, by moving up off the bottom of the table, while third-placed UJ were hoping to cement their spot in the semifinals for a second year in succession.
UCT’s talented opener, Taariq Chiecktey left quacking for a duck and would have been disappointed to end his tournament with a zero to his name after what has been a fine individual performance with the bat in 2017.
The KES boy, Dean Horn was causing all sorts of problems with his pace and soon had Hlumelo Notoko trapped LBW. An over later, when Stefan Klopper trapped Brandan Tattam LBW, UCT were staring down the barrel early on at 24/3. Shortly after UCT reached the 50 mark, Matthew Hawken was bowled for 11 and UCT were on 52/4 after 10 overs, needing something special to dig themselves out of trouble.
Jack Newby still at the crease on 26, but watching his brothers in arms fall at the other end.
UCT took the Powerplay Plus in the 14th, but lost Josh Coetzee just two balls in. They managed 87/6 with five overs to play and Jack Newby still at the crease.
Newby reached his 50 at almost a run a ball, seeming to be immune to the problems his partners were experiencing at the other end. Dylan Beavan and Newby struggled to find the boundary for more than three overs and eventually pressure told as Beavan was caught and UCT were 101/7 with two overs to play.
Newby soldiered on and helped UCT post 111/7, scoring more than half of their runs himself.
UJ looked eager to finish off the match early, secure their top four spot and get some rest ahead of their semi-final tomorrow. Reaching 42/0 in the sixth over, Delano Potgieter went, caught off Hlumelo Notoko for 4. Ryan Rickleton continued to dazzle with the bat, smashing it around at a strike rate of around 162. Stefan Klopper, who was rested in the previous match following his ton at Senwes Park last night, went for just 6. But captain Neels Bergh and Rickelton did the dirty work, taking UJ to within 12 runs of victory before Rickelton departed for 60 off 40.
Bergh hit a boundary with UJ needing a single run for victory, easing his side to a seven-wicket victory.
FNB Best Bowler: Dean Horn (UJ)
Steers Best Batsman: Ryan Rickelton (UJ)
Samsung Man of the Match: Ryan Rickelton (UJ)
The post UJ dispatch of UCT to reach the semi-finals appeared first on .