Club cricket heats up

KWAMBONAMBI tops the First Division cricket log with Brackenham.

The former do have a game in hand over the latter.

But these two sides are due to meet each other in the final round on 23 November.

Both teams should however qualify for the semi finals on 30 November.

In last Saturday’s matches, Brackenham, the Empangeni Rugby Club and KwaMbonambi were winners with victories over RBCT, Richards Bay Rugby Club 1 and Felixton respectively.

In the match at the uMhlathuze Sports Complex ‘A’ section, Brackenham won the toss and elected to field first.

RBCT struggled from the start and were bowled out for a disappointing 74 in the 19th over.

None of the batsmen got going and it was Brackenham’s attack of Temba Thubula 3/21 from six overs, Nishen Ishwarllal 2/11 and Owen Govender 3/17 that destroyed RBCT hopes.

Brackenham reached their target in the 14th over with Neil Pillay 31 not out and Owen Govender 27 not out putting on an undefeated 60 for the fourth wicket giving their side a seven wicket victory.

The Richards Bay Rugby Club took first knock in their clash with the Empangeni Rugby Club and were bowled out for 92.

Lazar Holmes and Chris Strydom with 13 runs each were their top scorers.

Chad Neuhoff with 3/12 was the pick of the bowlers.

The Empangeni Rugby Club, thanks to an excellent undefeated partnership between Simon Savides 43 not out and Stephan Joubert 52 not out, past this score without loss in only 9.2 overs.

In the final first division game, Felixton took first knock in their clash with KwaMbonambi and were dismissed for 50.

Moon Mustaq was their top scorer with 26.

Errol Boulle 3/24, Karl Marais 2/13 and Grant Harrison 2/19 were their top bowlers.

Kwambo lost three wickets in knocking off the required runs with Mark Morrison 30 their top scorer.

Second division

In the second division, Eshowe are current log leaders by one point ahead of Village.

eShowe won the toss in their match with Unizul and ran to a match winning innings of 132/8 in their 24 overs.

Adore Mhlongo 41 and Malcolm Munroe 20 were the pick of the batsmen.

Phiwe Dlamini 3/21, Sphanadla Ntuli 2/24 and Njadulo Mthembu 1/4 were the students’ wicket takers.

In their reply Unizul were dismissed for 84 with Heath Gush 5/26 and Adore Mhlongo 2/8 the wicket takers.

eShowe took a comfortable 48 run victory.

In the match at the uMhlathuze Sports Complex, another poor wicket resulted in another low scoring match.

uMhlathuze batted first and were dismissed for 55 with Nathan Alexander 14 and Nisar Hoosain 13 the top scorers.

Herman Muller took 5/18 and then followed this up with a top score of 13 in Richards Bay’s second team’s total of 54 all out, loosing by one run.

Jarred Shore 4/13 and Rowland Fourie 3/13 were the uMhlathuze wicket takers.

In the final match, eSikhaweni raced to 148 all out in their clash with Thandanani.

Bright Nkwanyani 41 and Sfundo Gundlazi were their top scorers.

Zakhele Ntuli 4/13 and Nkosi Khona 2/26 were the wicket takers.

In reply Thandanani were bowled out for 66 with Nkosi Khona Ntuli 16 the only batsman to get into double figures.

Bright Nkwanyani 4/10 and Philane Zulu 4/7 were the wicket takers leaving eSikhawini handsome winners with 82 runs to spare.

Cricket logs at 11/11/2013

First Division

1 KwaMbonambi 8 points

2 Brackenham 8 points

3 Empangeni Rugby Club 6 points

4 Richards Bay Rugby Club (1) 4 points

5 Mtubatuba Rugby Club 2 points

6 Felixton 2 points

7 RBCT 0 points

Second Division

1 eShowe 7 points

2 Village 6 points

3 Unizul 6 points

4 uMhlathuze 4 points

5 Richards Bay Rugby Club (2) 3 points

6 eSikhaweni 2 points

7 Thandanani 0 points