PINETOWN Boys’ High School headed to Werda Skool on Saturday for the first game of the season.
Mpumulelo Ngcongo, PBHS first team captain, headed off for the toss. After having looked at the pitch, it was felt that the pitch would prove difficult to bat on later, so if the toss was won, batting was what the Pines would look to do.
Werda won the toss and elected to send Pinetown to bat first.
PBHS sport coordinator, Thokozani Zulu, said the opening batters came out to face the bowling.
“Both Jonathan Moodley and Brandon Malherbe looked to be positive and put on a great partnership to get things going.
“The real danger men though came a little later. Mpumelelo Luthuli and Melikhaya Scott put on a great partnership which put Pinetown in the pound seat to win the game.
“Mpumelelo Luthuli scored 66 and Melikhaya Scott 31 runs. Mpumelelo Luthuli’s innings was impressive as he managed to constantly keep the scoreboard ticking.
“He was ever-alert, even at the non-strikers’ end, often catching fielders off-guard. Later on in his innings, once his eye was in, he managed to score boundaries. Pinetown were extremely happy with their opening half of the game,” said Zulu.
Pinetown put up an impressive 226/10 in just under 35 overs.
“This was a new experience for the team and it showed,” added Zulu.
“It was extremely important for Mpumulelo Ngcobo to get the boys’ heads fully focused on defending this impressive score. Emphasis was placed on the opening bowlers bowling well as a partnership. This showed as Skhonza Nxasana got bowling figures of five wickets, conceding only 13 runs in his spell.
“The Pinetown camp left confident in their performance and looking forward to their next game, especially fixing the mistakes they made versus Werda such as the four catches they dropped. Another day, against a different opponent, those mistakes can cost Pinetown Boys’ badly,” he said.
Pinetown managed to bowl Werda out for 57 runs and walk away victorious by 169 runs.
