The Spiders received new game shirts from Vuxeni Information Technologies on Saturday morning, November 12, before their game.
The new kit gave the players motivation and enabled them to collect the most points.
Arie van Rensburg of Vuxeni Technologies said they felt proud and honoured to be a sponsor.
“We are thrilled to have given these kits to the team. We would like to encourage all other businesses to become involved in community development initiatives. We hope the Spiders have a successful remainder of the season.”
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Vusi Mathebula, the founder of the Hillaria Spiders Cricket Club, appreciated the efforts by Vuxeni Information Technologies.
“We want to thank the company for the donation of the shirts. It means a lot to the club and it will go a long way to encourage players in Hillaria and other townships to take up the gentlemen’s game.”
When the Spiders take on Malekutu Cricket Academy (MCA), there is never a dull moment. That was evident throughout their 50-over match on Saturday at Hoërskool Rob Ferreira.
The match was similar to witnessing two heavyweight fighters squaring it off. MCA won the toss and chose to bat first.
The MCA were soon ahead on points when they got Spiders’ talisman, Vusi Mathebula, caught for a two-ball in the first over. After those testing six balls, the home side, the Spiders, were on top and needed to go for the knockout punch.
The Spiders hesitated, and their adversaries counterpunched and ultimately defeated Mxolisi Silinda and his guys by using a combination of youthful energy and expertise.
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First, it was the trio of young batters, Malibongwe ‘Money’ Tibane, Mbuso Mashele and Bandile ‘Tito’ Mboweni, who laid a foundation for the team to make a big score on a challenging pitch by blunting out the attack. Then it was the old guard of Mongezi Mokoena and Mivuyo Fata who put on a 73-run partnership before Steve Mathebula’s quick-fire 30 led the side to an insurmountable 232.
The youth-and-experience combo was at play when the Spiders were fielding. They reduced MCA to 21-4, thanks to the opening pair of Tim Mthethwa and Teddy Ndlazi, the vice captain, who shared four wickets between them.
The youngsters then cleaned out the tail to ensure the Spiders’ team christened the new playing shirts with a win. The Spiders won by 76 runs.
Ndlazi of the Spiders reacted to the team’s win. “I’m happy with the win, but I’m disappointed with the performance. I think we could have been clinical on the field and bowled them out for less than 100 runs,” he said.