For the first time in Varsity Cricket history, spring will be in the air as the 2019 edition of the tournament will take place under the September sky in Potchefstroom from 2-7 September.
Monday will see eight of the top university cricket teams battle it out for glory in this jam-packed tournament that will satisfy any cricket lover’s heart.
The first day of any tournament is always somewhat of a riddle – teams are still fresh and are unsure of the conditions and behaviour of the pitches, especially early on in the cricket season. Who will step up and answer the important questions and stamp their authority with boisterous displays out in the middle? Who will silence their doubters and be the surprise package?
Tuks vs Maties (Senwes Park – 14:00)
Three encounters will simultaneously kick off the tournament today with a barnstorming fixture in prospect at Senwes Park between defending champions, Tuks and the always dangerous Maties. This North-South derby will be closely contested and a few key players will look to play a hand in their team’s victory.
Tuks will look to make a dominant start in defense of their crown and with the likes of all-rounder and left arm paceman, Ruben Trumpelmann, as well as captain, Neil Brand, being the ones to watch. Brand was one of the stars of the previous tournament with his batting catching the eye of many pundits and fans alike. Former SA Under-19 batsman, Jiveshen Pillay as well middle-order batsman Rubin Hermann will also look to be big impact players for Tuks.
Maties, on the other hand, have a young team in Potch with only a couple of regulars from the previous tournament still in the mix. Their captain, Fritz de Beer, will be the dangerman with his explosive hitting at the top of order. Paceman, Isma-eel Gafieldien, will also be one to watch with the ball in hand.
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UWC vs CUT (NWU Oval – 14:00)
CUT are the perennial newcomers to this year’s tournament and will be a team that should play with nothing to lose. The men from Bloemfontein will go up against a former newcomer, UWC, who has also grown into a Varsity Cricket staple of late.
UWC will be the favourites in this encounter with a number of solid players in their ranks this year. Luke Philander will captain the side and this versatile first class cricketer will be one to watch.
Meanwhile, a well-known name in the CUT squad is Hanco Olivier, who was part of the NWU 2017 team which won the Varsity Cricket tournament. Now, the Grey College-alumni will want to make a mark in Potch yet again.
An intriguing contest awaits where a new hero will step up in a crucial must win clash for both teams.
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UJ vs NWU (Ibbies Oval – 14:00)
Another massive clash will see the hosts, NWU, take on close rivals UJ at the Ibbies Oval. The Ibbies Oval is known as quite a high scoring ground and fireworks could go off in this one with the amount of talent on display.
NWU will look to batsmen, Ruan Haasbroek, Louren Steenkamp, and Niko Davin for the big runs, with experienced and well-travelled paceman, Bantu Dandala (a former winner with Tuks and NWU) and spinner Danfred Sefoor looking to pick up crucial scalps.
UJ’s big trumpcard is, without doubt, the Highveld Lions all-rounder Delano Potgieter. Potgieter is a force with the bat and can also keep things tidy with ball in hand. Joshua Richards can also hit a ball a couple of miles.
Winning the key passages and keeping momentum will be most important here as both sides will want that confidence boosting start to their campaign.
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UCT vs Madibaz (Senwes Park – 18:00)
The final match of the day will see a coastal collision between UCT (Cape Town) and Madibaz (Port Elizabeth) under the floodlights of Senwes Park.
Both teams have young and inexperienced squads but this could turn out to be a good thing for two of the lesser fancied teams of the tournament.
Brandon Tattam will look to take his UCT charges to victory with a captain’s knock and he will be one of the batsmen to keep an eye out for in this tournament. The former first class fast bowler, Eugene Moleon, will want to guide his side to their first ever semi-final and the big work start here against Madibaz.
In the same breath, Lefa Mosena (assisted by former Proteas all-rounder Dave Callaghan), will want his Madibaz charges – captained by Joshua van Heerden – to do the same.
By Wouter Pienaar
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