Maties held on to their perfect record with a thorough 13-run win against UCT in a Cape Derby at Senwes Park on day two of Varsity Cricket on Tuesday night.
Maties’ Ben Ward (2/35) and Luke Holland (1/19) were the standout bowlers in a good team bowling effort, defending 164/7 as they restricted UCT to 151/5.
Although the scores seemed close, Maties looked in control and cemented their spot at the top of the table after three matches with four matches still remaining. UCT, though, scooped all the individual awards barring the log points at the end of the night.
Maties batted first and compiled 164/7. Vezokuhle Mntungwa made a brisk 28 (11) which included a few monstrous sixes, but he eventually perished giving UCT their first and much-needed wicket to leave Maties on 46/1.
Fritz de Beer received a lifeline when he was dropped at mid-on, on just 1. UCT did not need to pay too high a price as De Beer departed for 16.
This opened the door when Matthew Rudston struck again, removing David Rushmere for 6.
Maties’ middle-order batsman, Louis du Preez, followed Mtungwa’s example with a brisk 28 before falling prey to Samuel Alexander who trapped him in front to leave UCT on 92/4.
Maties managed to score 164/7 in the end, thanks to a fighting and aggressive innings from Daniel da Costa (41 off 30).
UCT made a poor start when Kwhezi Luthli was run-out for 5 courtesy of Jay Stevens’s sharp thinking. Robert Koenig (39 off 36) made a bright start, but Maties’ Luke Holland got the crucial breakthrough when he let Koenig’s stumps fly.
Joshua Coetzee (58* from 41) stood firm and made a resilient half-century despite the mounting pressure and climbing run rate. He played a number of fantastic strokes and kept his side in the game until the final two overs.
UCT needed 37 from the final 12 balls, but Maties’ bowlers kept it tight and pulled off a well-deserved victory.
FNB Player of The Match: Joshua Coetzee (UCT)
MTN Pulse Bowler of the Match: Matthew Rudston (UCT)
Steers Best Batsman: Joshua Coetzee (UCT)
Teams
Maties: Fritz de Beer, Vezokuhle Mntungwa, Branden Brodell, Louis du Preez, Isma-eel Gaffieldien, Daniel da Costa, Benjamin Ward, Khanya Dilima, Luke Holland, Anele Ngcwabe, David Rushmere
UCT: Siyabulela Ntuntwana, Khwezi Luthuli, Craig Meier, Robert Koenig, Donald Paterson, Brandon Tattam, Matthew Benning, Joshua Coetzee, Matthew Rudston, Jack Reinbach, Yelani Bonga
By Wouter Pienaar
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