Northen Champions Remain Unbeaten as Cubs Week Heats Up in Stellenbosch

The Northern Champions will enter the penultimate day of Cricket South Africa’s Cubs Week (for u19 teams) as the only unbeaten side.

Moreover, it was once again the team’s two tail-end batsmen, Mohammad Rasool (75) and Xander Venter (51), who played a decisive role in the victory over the Central Gladiators with their batting. The pair shared a partnership of 93 runs over the seventh wicket to help their team finish on 207/8.

On Sunday, the duo helped their team to a win over the Coastal Conquerors with a partnership of 105 runs over the eighth wicket.

The Gladiators are still searching for their first victory after the first three days. The team’s Christian Sabela (3/20) and Kyle Butler (2/29) can be satisfied with their bowling performances.

The Gladiators were then restricted to just 127 runs, with only Wade McQuinn (55*) managing to provide some resistance. The Champions’ Kamogelo Matlala (2/22), Xander Venter (2/24), and Nico Loggenberg (2/24) did most of the damage with the ball in hand.

The Coastal Conquerors are back on the winning track thanks to a six-wicket victory over the Western Legends. The heroes for the KwaZulu-Natal team were Joshua van Biljon (95*) and Bonga Mapanga (72*), who shared an unbeaten partnership of 149 runs over the fifth wicket.

The Legends scored 224/9 in their allotted 50 overs, with Eduard Dreyer (54), Caiden Seleka (35), and Christian Kind (31) doing most of the talking with the bat.

South African u19 fast bowler Dayalan Boyce (3/30) and Shiraz Perumal (3/45) each dismissed three Legends batsmen.

The Eastern Warriors caused a bit of an upset when they ended the Southern Superstars’ unbeaten run with a 19-run victory.

The Warriors batted first at Tassies Oval and posted 207/8 thanks to solid contributions from Cayden Wilson (71*), Dawid Vermaak (43), and Samuel Scheckter (31).

The team from the Eastern Cape then tightened the screws with their spinner Sulaymaan Gangat (5/35), who claimed a fiver. The Superstars were bowled out for just 188. Gangat received good support from Luphelo Mdyesha (3/26).

Summarised Scorecards:

Northern Champions 207/8 (Mohammad Rasool 75, Xander Venter 51; Christian Sabela 3/20, Kyle Butler 2/29); Central Gladiators 127 (Wade McQuinn 55*; Kamogelo Matlala 2/22, Xander Venter 2/24, Nico Loggenberg 2/24). Northern Champions won by 80 runs.

Eastern Warriors 207/8 (Cayden Wilson 71*, Dawid Vermaak 43, Samuel Scheckter 31, Daveric Petersen 21; Timothy Short 3/20, Sherwin Plaatjies 2/33, Taywin Adams 2/41); Southern Superstars 188 (Gideon du Toit 34, Taywin Adams 23*, Timothy Short 22, Michail Tarentaal 22, Daniel Cooke 21; Sulaymaan Gangat 5/35, Luphelo Mdyesha 3/26). Eastern Warriors won by 19 runs.

Western Legends 224/9 (Eduard Dreyer 54, Caiden Seleka 35, Christian Kind 31, Aiden Dodd 24; Dayalan Boyce 3/30, Shiraz Perumal 3/45); Coastal Conquerors 226/4 (Joshua van Biljon 95*, Bonga Mapanga 72*, Thandolwethu Zama 22; Faizaan Kajee 2/30). Coastal Conquerors won by six wickets.