By Rex Hindman
The first team travelled to DHSOB last Sunday for a nine o’clock semi final showdown with Umzinto. Warren lost the toss and Umzinto had no hesitation in putting ACC into bat on a damp wicket which had sweated all night under covers.
The toss was as close as Umzinto came to winning the game. Robin was the first to go with the score on 14. Warren and Devon then took the score to a patient 61 before Warren was bowled for a well taken 24. That signalled the start of the DJ show.
Jarryd joined Devon and it took just five overs for them to push the score to 127 before Devon was bowled for 75 runs in which he hit nine fours and three huge sixes, all of them perfectly executed cricket shots.
Jarryd moved from his normal opening roll to bat down down the order at number four. He rotated the strike to perfection with Devon, and Umzinto fielders played fetch to a man who suddenly remembered why he took a bat with him to the crease. A well-deserved and long overdue 34 runs flew off Jarryd’s bat before he was bowled.
James and Justin put together a quick 20 runs to push the score to a very respectable 163 for four wickets.
Two dropped catches and a combination of good and bad bowling allowed Umzinto to believe for short periods but in the end, they managed 131 for five wickets, which ensured the boys a trip to Kingsmead for the final on Sunday, 25 October.
The team would really enjoy the company of lots of ACC cricket supporters at Kingsmead on Sunday at 9am to watch them attempt to win their first trophy for the season.
ACC 2nd team: ACC 2 played against Clares 2 at the Toti oval on Sunday afternoon. Toti batted first, and put on a hard fought score of 150. The team was all out in the 30th over. Notable contributions were made by TP Venter with 53 runs, and a nice 24 in support from Faf Strydom. Next highest score was extras with 22. Clares’ innings in response was unfortunately always going to fall short of the target, and they were all out in the 22nd over for 122. Faf was again on-song with the ball, and managed four wickets for 30 runs in his five overs. He was well supported by M Mare who took three wickets for 15 runs in four overs, and R Du Preez who took two for 25 in his five overs. This team is keeping its name high in their title challenge so far this season.
ACC 3rd team: On Sunday, 18 October the ACC 3rd team took on Newlands E/K3 at Fairfield Park.
Skipper Andrew Dickason won the toss and put ACC in to bat first. Andrew and Mark McCalgan opened with a 30 run partnership before Andrew was unlucky to be bowled by one that kept low. Darryl Herman walked in and took control straight away, scoring runs with ease. The 130 run partnership was broken when Mark was bowled for 55. The next few batsmen sacrificed their wickets in the chase for quick runs, and Darryl was eventually caught on the boundary for a well-played 88 runs. ACC3 212/7 in 30 overs.
The Newlands boys came out swinging right from the start of the big run chase. The gaps were found with such ease that it was like ACC3 was fielding with nine players. Matt Hamer finished with two wickets, and bowler of the day, Alan Brien keeping the match exciting with five wickets. A good effort from ACC3, but Newlands passed the score with three overs to spare, winning by three wickets.
ACC 4th team: No result received yet.
ACC 5th team: It seems the opposition had advance warning of what they might be up against on Saturday. The fixture was set for a game against Hillary Malvern at Malvern Park. The opposition unfortunately failed to arrive, and Toti was automatically awarded the points from the game.
Juniors:
ACC U15 team: The lads were up against a competent Umlazi side at the Comtech oval on Sunday morning.
Umlazi batted first, and put together a challenging score of 196 for eight in 30 overs. The best of the bowling came from J Jooste with two for 26 in five overs, and from R Whitling with two for 31 in six overs.
The batting response was a difficult one, and Jooste was the stand-out player again with a hard-earned 21. Extras made a large contribution with 25, but the rest of the team could not capitalise on the starts they got. The team was dismissed for 109 in the 27th over, and recorded a loss by 87 runs. It is worth noting however that ACC played with only 10 men, and this is always going to make fielding a challenge. Any U15 players who have not yet joined and who fancy becoming part of this determined group are most welcome to approach the club.
ACC U13 North team: The boys travelled up to the Kloof High School for a game against the team from Pinetown. The home team were keen to bowl first, and Toti was put in to bat.
The openers continued their strong run of form, and started the scoring at a steady five runs per over. Corne Nel was bowled for 17, but good contributions from Russell Heine and Michael Russell, both with 22 runs helped the cause. The star batsman was Usama Gusman who scored an unbeaten 52 from a superb knock that was never seriously challenged by the bowlers. Toti finished on 153 for five wickets.
The bowlers then set about their systematic attack on the Pinetown team. Janko Roets was top bowler with three wickets in his four overs, and Fourie Pieters and Michael Russell each contributed another two wickets. Pinetown found themselves all out for 77 with overs to spare but they were never truly up to the chase and slipped further behind as each over progressed. Another good win for this team that are also determined to finish the season at the top of their group.
ACC U13 South team: This team found themselves with only nine players due to a player being drafted to the North side, and one young man with a broken finger who could not join in the fun. They nonetheless made the journey to the Bayview grounds in high spirits, and were well prepared to tackle the FAM Folweni team.
While the result sheet is not yet to hand, the boys put up a magnificent effort and won their match by nine runs. Shaheen bowled beautifully, and took six wickets for four runs in just over three overs. A really laudable effort by all these boys, who have made everyone proud of them. Very well done to all.
U11 North team: No result received.
U11 South team: No result received.
