CRICKET: Haywood, McKenzie down Duduza

It was no different on Sunday (November 15), as they duly dealt with Duduza at Prince George Park.

The national club champions emerged as four-wicket winners after being asked to bowl first, having lost the pre-match coin toss.

The visitors were also dealt a heavy penalty, losing four overs for arriving late for the match.

The penalty however, didn’t seem to affect Duduza, as they still managed to post a challenging score of 191 under the circumstances and gave Boksburg something to think about.

Their innings were sparked by Buntu Ndlele, with the opening batsman hitting a big 89 to improve his team’s chances of causing a PG Park upset – but it wasn’t to be.

Apart from Ndlele, Nhlanhla Nhlapo (30) also stood out for his side from the crease, before the team lasted their whole allotted 46 overs.

The hosts enjoyed a solid and encouraging start to their chase, with the cohesion between openers John Haywood (50) and Bruce McKenzie (58) handing their side the necessary platform for success.

The two ultimately combined for a 100-run first wicket stand.

Boksburg’s collapse within their middle order batting ranks emphasised the important start from their opening duo, as they suddenly found themselves under pressure again.

Michael Holtzhausen’s duck dismissal, Aubrey Swanepoel (11), Maxwell Meyer and the captain, Len Meyer (1), turned the game on its head.

Freddie Whitehorne (unbeaten 12) and JP van Staden (14 not-out) restored some sanity as they saved their side from a shock defeat at PG Park.

The Blues went on to finish with 194/6 after 28 overs, to secure the win and a bonus point.

“I’m very happy with the progress we, as a team, have made,” said skipper Meyer.

“To think we played in the Promotion League last season and, after all the hard work everybody put in, we are getting brilliant results. I couldn’t be more happy and proud of the boys, who give it their all every Sunday for the club.” – @SabeloBoksburg