Defeats all round in ACC cricket camp

AMANZIMTOTI Cricket Club’s first team played Harlequins at home on Sunday.

During the week leading up to the game, all the chatter was about the weather, with everyone was concerned it might rain again.

On Sunday afternoon they all wished it had rained. Quins won the toss and batted first. JJ de Wet was once again outstanding with the new ball, 10-22-2, and Justin Jones continued where he left off last week, bowling a superb 10 over spell and taking 2/14. Between them they each bowled one wide in 20 overs of line and length. In the remaining 30 overs the rest of the bowlers went for 150 runs, including 17 wides. Quins batted out their 50 overs scoring 186/8. They scored freely off balls bowled too full, too short and balls bowled both sides of the wicket (impossible to set a field to).

ACC’s top order batters were blitzed by a young quickie, who ran through them like a dose of salts. He too bowled 10 overs on the trot and before ACC’s players knew what had hit them, he had bowled 10/27/6 and ACC was well and truly ‘up the creek’. James Taylor made a useful 23, batting at number five and Justin Jones came in at seventh and compiled 66 not out off 58 balls. Robert Warrior and Nabeel Yunus tried hard to feed Justin the strike. For a brief period, it appeared ACC might just manage to sneak in a win. These thoughts were however dashed after Rob and Nabs were out and Justin was left high and dry with the score on 146. Isn’t it funny what a week does to a team? A 40 run loss to a team that ACC had hoped to beat in a bonus point victory.

ACC 2nd team:

Sunday afternoon’s fixture for the second side was due to be played at the Bayview field, but the pitch was not prepared and the out-field was not cut. Discussion among the captains, and a few quick phone calls saw a venue change to the Fynnlands ground where both teams were happy to play on a well prepared field. Newlands EK 2 were up to bowl first against the Toti side.

Toti batted gamely, but struggled to keep good partnerships going. Warren Pullock top scored with 44, with J Hennop next best on 29 and M Mare on 19. Toti finished on a score of 151 all out in 32 overs, and Newlands went after the reachable total with relish. The best bowling figures were returned by B Benadie with 2/22 in four overs. Three other bowlers each got a wicket; but this could not stop Newlands from winning the match in the 24th over. It was a five wicket loss for the seconds, one which they will perhaps prefer to forget.

ACC 3rd team:

On Sunday, 22 November the ACC 3rd team travelled to Berea Rovers to take on their strong 3rd team.

Hoping that the overnight rains might make the wicket a bit sticky, captain Mark Bingham decided that ACC should bowl first and use the drier track later. Rovers managed to get off to a fast start until a brilliant one-hand grab from Mark at first slip gave Dean Carson the first of his two wickets.

A couple of good partnerships at a good rate in the middle overs had the ACC boys thinking they would be chasing a really big score; but good bowling and catching in the latter stages slowed the scoring greatly and Rovers were bowled out for 207 with three balls still left in their innings. Best bowling figures went to Mark Bingham 20/3, Jacques Van Zyl 28/2, Dean 38/2 and Llewellyn Pretorius 38/2. Chasing almost seven runs per over right from the start, Mark and Mark McCalgan opened at a steady, but unspectacular rate. At the halfway drinks break, ACC were 71 without loss, needing a further 137 runs from 15 overs. In the chase for quick runs, Mark McCalgan (37), Darren Herbst (7), Matt Hamer (17), Jacques (2) all had partnerships with Mark, but lost their wickets at crucial times. With 39 needed off the last three overs, Goose Erlank came in and smashed his way to 19 not out off very few balls. Mark brought up his hundred with a six over long on in the penultimate over. Unfortunately 13 runs needed from the last six balls proved just too many and Mark was run out off the last ball of the match for a brilliant 102 runs. ACC ended on 205/5, losing by two runs.

ACC 4th team: The fourth team had a bye for the weekend.

ACC 5th team: The fifth team had a fixture versus Crusaders 4 on Saturday afternoon. Crusaders went in to bat first, and were 92 for nine wickets in 22 overs. Most notable among the Toti bowlers were Jason Hines with 3/12 off six overs, and Shane Swann with 3/21 off his six overs. The weather unfortunately then played its part; and the match rained out, and was declared a draw.