Saints and Alexandra cross boundaries in cricket

LYME PARK – St Stithians Boys' College hosts Alexandra Hub for an exciting cricket match.

October 20, 2017

Nicholas Zaal 2 minutes read

Lethabo Pila scores a wonderful half century for Alex Hub. Photo: Nicholas Zaal.

Alexandra and St Stithians Boys’ College cricketers crossed boundaries when they met for a Cricket SA and Momentum Friendship Match on 17 October.

The T20 day-night game was played in good spirits, as part of an initiative to connect the country’s best young cricketers who often grow up in different backgrounds, but later play with each other in franchise and national teams.

The match followed a rained-out draw between the sides in Alexandra in March.

Thando Tsima puts up a fight for Alex Hub. Photo: Nicholas Zaal.

In the end, Saints beat Alex Hub, a team made up of cricketers across the Alexandra area, by seven wickets. Yet the game went right down to the wire with only three balls left.

Alex won the toss and chose to bat first. Wickets fell around Lethabo Pila (62 not out) but he was later joined by Lethabo Gulwa (52) and through explosive hitting, the pair helped the team post a challenging 134 for the loss of three wickets.

In reply, Saints openers Muhammad Manack (52) and Jodi de Sousa (32) scored 70 runs for the opening partnership, allowing the middle order to finish things off, even though 50 runs were required in the last five overs.

“The game was uncompromising, played in a wonderful spirit and at a very high level,” said Saints coach, Vic Radloff.

“The skills displayed were of the highest order but the overriding impression was of a game played in a spirit of friendship, and a sense of camaraderie prevailed throughout.”

His opposite coach, Jason Maswanganyi agreed that the standard of cricket was excellent, and the organisers had thought of a good thing to bridge the gap between traditional schools cricket and township cricket.

A wide is signaled by the umpire as Saints’ bowling lets them down once or twice. Photo: Nicholas Zaal.

Liam Mostert bowls for St Stithians. Photo: Nicholas Zaal.

Cricket services manager for Cricket South Africa, Edward Khoza said three friendship games were played last year, and this year nine games would be played between township teams and traditional schools across the country.

Momentum’s head of field marketing, Andile Jonas said the teams were like teams on opposite sides of the railway track, and it was a good opportunity to test their mettle against each other.