Actonville Spurs Cricket Club’s Premier XI welcomed Tembisa to Lords Cricket Grounds on Sunday, November 16, in an Eastern Premier League encounter.
Tembisa won the toss and put Actonville in to bat on a pitch that provided early lateral moments.
With all the rain around lately the wicket was slightly slow, with the ball occasionally holding up.
Actonville’s openers Ahmed Sayed Saloojee and Matthew Nielsen gave the team a flying start to the innings but then lost two quick wickets and were reduced to 51 for 2.
Provincial player Imraan Manack (78) and Mathew Nielsen (75) put on a century partnership and Actonville’s batsmen dominated the proceedings.
Nielsen’s 78 marked his third half-century of the season.
Actonville ended on 230/4 after the big partnership.
The team felt they were short of about 30 to 40 runs at the innings break.
Tembisa’s best bowler was Israel Hlengani (1/30).
In the home team’s bowling innings the Actonville bowlers picked up two early wickets until Tembisa’s Thando Bula (44) held the innings together with Howard Haroneki (54) and former Actonville player Bongani Radebe (25).
At the second drinks-break the visitors were 194/4, needing 37 runs to win.
Fifteen-year-old Mekyle Pillay entered the attack (three wickets for 12 runs in six overs) and bowled with the maturity of a seasoned professional.
His line and length, together with a cool head, got his team back into the game at 214 for 8.
Captain Clayton August (2/31) and Theo Naidoo (2/33) wrapped up the innings and bowled Tembisa out for 214, ensuring a 16-run win.
“The club is very impressed by new head coach Seun Beya’s approach to the team and his philosophy of giving youngsters the chance of playing at such a competitive level,” said club public relations officer Zunaid Seedat.
The Premier side has a bye this coming weekend, while the Director’s team are playing Tembisa at Barnard ‘C’ in Kempton Park.
