There were highs and lows for the Southern KZN U13 cricket team at this year’s KZN trials held in Durban.
First up was a run feast against neighbours Umdoni.
Khulubuse Mlondo led the way with 101 not out off 58 balls before being retired. He was especially good on the pull shot, punishing anything short.
Then came captain Ruben van Reenen with 102 not out off 47 balls.
Sphephelo Mlambo chipped in with a patient 36 and Damion Bezuidenhout a quickfire 21 towards the end.
The team made 363-8 in 40.4 overs.
Umdoni had their moments but fell way short, with 191 all out in 31.3 overs.
Spinners Thuso Mavundla (3-30) and Damion Bezuidenhout (2-25) did most of the damage after Jacques de Bruin had removed the dangerous Blake Vincent’s first ball of the innings.
SKZN won the match by 172 runs.
However, they bumped back down to earth the next day, losing by five wickets to RPC.
SKZN batted first and made 178 all out in 31 overs. Khulubuse was again in fine form, cracking 58 runs.
Benjamin Kunz lent valuable support with 26 in the middle order, but no one else really got going.
RPC got the runs quite quickly, passing the score in the 23rd over with five out.
Thuso again claimed three wickets for 53 runs in 10 overs.
Things were a lot better on day three, with a resounding nine wicket victory against North Coast.
North Coast batted first and made 121-9 in 40 overs.
Damion was the pick of the bowlers with 3-20, aided by Benjamin with 2-7.
In response, YY Moolla made a fast 40 not out, with Sphephelo making 31 not out as they passed the score with just Khulu’s dismissal for nine in the 14th over.
The team comprised captain Ruben van Reenen (Home School), Damion Bezuidenhout (Port Edward), Ethan Budd (Suid-Natal), Jacques de Bruin (Southcity), Karlo Jacobs (Suid-Natal), Benjamin Kunz (Home School), Zyev Mahadev (Izotsha), Thuso Mavundla (Margate), Sphephelo Mlambo (Izotsha), Khulubuse Mlondo (Creston), YY Moolla (Port Shepstone SP), Hlalumi Ntongana (Port Edward). Coaches were Gershion Lawrence, Jayden Scholtz and Brinley de Bruin.
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