A low-scoring thriller was on the menu at the Ibbies Oval on Friday morning as UJ beat UWC by two wickets courtesy of a great lower-order fightback
It was a combination of Delano Potgieter’s dogged determination and clever use of the power play that gave UJ the victory when they were under severe pressure from a fantastic UWC bowling performance. Potgieter hit 30 (32) including only one boundary – an example of the tight UWC bowling.
UWC batted first and openers Josh Schippers and Mujaahid Toffar put on a composed 74-run partnership. Things were looking rosy for the Capetonians before Clayton Malgas (2/20) and the impressive Juan Landsberg (3/14) stifled UJ scoring ambitions with quick wickets. UWC eventually managed 115/6 which looked like a gettable score for UJ.
UJ, though, lost a couple of early wickets to leave them on 13/2. Joshua Richards skied an Emmanuel Sebarame delivery to long-on before Jacob Militz lost his wickets to the bowling of Thandani Majebe.
Sebarame (4/12) in four overs was in scintillating form and a true thorn to the UJ batsmen as his spin gave UWC a real chance for an upset.
Lions batsman, Delano Potgieter, came into the fold for UJ with the score on 46/5, and needed to use his talent and experience in a tricky situation. Potgieter stood firm even though wickets continued to tumble around him.
Luke Philander also got in the act and took a blinder of a caught-and-bowled to dismiss Chad Claasen for a golden duck. It was now 74/7 and UJ were staring down the barrel in this low scoring encounter.
Malgas was a more than willing partner for Potgieter in the middle and the two rotated the strike brilliantly with Potgieter hitting the majority of the runs in a match-winning 38-run partnership.
UJ used the power play to perfection as Potgieter smashed 14 from the over to steer the Joburg side closer to victory.
It was number 10 batsman Kamogelo Selane who hit the winning runs with two balls to spare as UJ crept over the line.
FNB Player of The
Match: Emmanuel Sebarame (UWC)
MTN Pulse Bowler of the Match: Emmanuel Sebarame (UWC)
Steers Best Batsman: Mujaahid Toffar (UWC)
Teams
UWC: Josh Schippers, Abubkar Samodien, Axola Ngwana, Mujaahid Toffar, Karl Vermeulen, Luke Philander, Mihlali Mpongwana, Lwando Tywaku, Keane Solomons, Emmanuel Sebarame, Kyle Pluke
UJ: Glen Adams, Cameron Shekleton, Jacob Miltz, Delano Potgieter, Joshua Richards, Kamogelo Selane, Juan Landsberg, Marco van Biljon, Chad Classen, Connor de Boer, Clayton Malgas
By Wouter Pienaar
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