It was a good day to be a batsman, but a horrid good day to be a bowler, as one of the first games of the Gauteng Cricket Board T20 Championship turned into a run splurge.
Medal Paints Marks Park hosted Old Parks from Bordeaux in a fiery group one encounter on 6 November. Boundaries became routine, and fielders became mere spectators as every bowler was dispatched to the fence, and over it, repetitively in Emmarentia. Even onlookers on the sidelines had to watch out for balls sailing out the grounds.
The game was closer than the results depicted, with Marks Park winning by 72 runs and taking a bonus point.
The home side batted first on a cool and cloudy morning, and all through the innings, it was a run fest.
Marks Park finished with a massive 242 for the loss of four wickets in their 20 overs, with number four batsman Ishan Maharaj scoring a majestic 103 not out off 45 balls, including seven fours and eight sixes.
“It is a lovely, hard and fast wicket. From ball one, I found the bat nicely,” smiled Maharaj after his incredible knock.
Mohammed Mayet also scored 60 off 31 balls.
GALLERY: Old Parks and Marks Park cricket game turns into a run fest
Old Parks had it all to do, requiring 12.15 runs per over. But the batsmen rose to the challenge, matching the required rate for several overs, and hurting the home bowlers before one too many wickets fell. The middle and lower order put up a fight, with a few destructive partnerships before a weak tail was exposed, which succumbed quickly.
Old Parks finished with 170 all out after 18.3 overs. Rob Lobo, the top scorer for Old Parks, smashed 55 runs from 32 balls, with four fours and three sixes.
“We showed no purpose in our bowling, and gave away 40 runs too many,” lamented chairperson of cricket at Old Parktonian Sports Club, Doug Neilson.
“The target was too high and once you start to lose wickets, it just gets harder.”
Head coach at Marks Park Cricket Club, Yasin Manack said the team’s batting clicked. “But our bowling and fielding is normally our strength, and they were under par today,” he said.
Details: Marks Park Cricket Club 082 852 4667; Old Parks 071 102 5997.
