Hoërskool Pietersburg and Bochum steamroll forward, Ben Vorster clinch important victory
Hoërskool Pietersburg continued their charge to the title by beating Phalaborwa Hub convincingly in their round-robin clash of the Limpopo Super League.
Pietersburg won the toss and opted to bat first. Making use of home ground conditions the Pietie batters got off to a solid start. Michael Nel (30, 48b) and Philip Weterman (22, 38b) laid the platform for a potentially big first innings total before they were both sent back to the changing room.
The in-form Nicholaas Oerlemans then strode to the crease to notch up yet another marvellous half-century, accumulating 53 of 55 deliveries. This set the stage for Oerlemans’ destructive colleague, Zandre van Rooyen, to send the ball to all parts of the ground with his vital contribution of 54 of only 38 balls.
Van Rooyens’ destructive innings helped the Pieties reach a very competitive total of 263 for 7 in their allotted 50 overs.
It was then Van Rooyens’ turn with the ball as the all-rounder stormed in to create havoc among the Phalaborwa batters as he managed to have them in early trouble with figures of 3/21. Winston Thati proved to be the team from Phalaborwa stalwart. Thati top scored with a mature 33 of 46 balls to go with his impressive figures of 3 for 55 with the ball.
Although, it proved to be in vain as, Michael Nel got in on the action as well with impressive figures of his own, claiming three scalps for 27 runs. Van Rooyen and Nel’s onslaught with the ball helped the Pieties bundle out the Phalaborwa side for a meagre 102 runs, claiming yet another convincing win by 161 runs.
Bochum continued their rich vein of form as they came out on top against a young Merensky side. The team from Polokwane also decided to bat first. Kamagelo Merema stood out with willow as the middle order batter contributed 64 runs from 77 deliveries.
Sello Mabitsela (35, 35b) and Mochau Molema (22, 26b) delivered vital contributions to help their side reach a first innings total of 202 all out.
The ever-impressive, Luka Heinlein, shone with the ball for the side from Tzaneen as he bagged figures of 4/39 in his allotted ten overs.
Bochum followed up their solid performance with the bat with a suburb bowling display, putting the young Merensky batters under severe pressure. Xander Schoeman showed his composure with the bat scoring 33 from 83 deliveries to go with wonderful bowling figures of 4/23 in six overs.
Schoeman’s fightback was deemed to be in vain as the Bochum bowlers continued their continued barrage of line and length bowling, led by Mahlodi Sekuba (2/14), to bundle the Tzaneen side out for only 113, continuing their march to the title with an 89 run victory.
Ben Vorster closed out an all-important victory against a struggling Nkowankowa side. The Vossies followed the trend and decided to set Nkowankowa a total. The senior man of the side, Ruben Vosloo, found some form as the opening batter accumulated a classy 66 from just 59 deliveries.
With the support from the in-form, Tristan Buglass (51, 60b) who brought up his third half-century in the league, and the destructive Gideon Goosen (51, 37b) the Vossies managed to make their way to an imposing total of 309 all out.
With their backs against the wall, the Nkowankowa batter tried valiantly with Nhlalala Malungani (45, 38b) and Amukelani Mushena fighting hard to keep their team in the game with solid contributions.
But a great display of swing bowling from Goosen (3/13) and support from Aiden van Straaten (2/27) put the final nail in the coffin as the last Nkowankowa wicket fell with the score on only 109, handing the Vossies a mammoth victory of 200 runs.
Summarised Scorecards:
Pietersburg 263/7 ( Zandre van Rooyen 54, Nicholaas Oerlemans 53, Michael Nel 30, Philip Weterman 22, Zandre Hatting 21; Winston Thati 3/55, Teddy Khoza 2/46); Phalaborwa 102/10 (Winston Thati 33; Van Rooyen 3/21, Michael Nel 3/27, Juan Rademeyer 2/4). Pietersburg won by 161 runs.
Bochum 202/10 (Kamagelo Morema 64, Sello Mabitsela 35, Mochau Molema 22; Luka Heinlein 4/39, Xander Schoeman 4/23); Merensky 113/10 (Xander Schoeman 33, Maan Mistry 25; Mahlodi Sekuba 2/14, Masilo Moremi 2/26, Kamagelo Morema 2/28, Thato Masasane 2/30). Bochum won by 89 runs.
Ben Vorster 309/10 (Ruben Vosloo 66, Tristan Buglass 51, Gideon Goosen 51, Njabulo Maseko 26; Nhlalala Malungani 4/65, Ntshunxelo Malangana 2/46, Tracey Shivambu 2/68); Nkowankowa 109/10 (Nhlalala Malungani 45, Amukelani Mushwena 22; Gideon Goosen 3/13, Aiden van Straate 2/27, Njabulo Maseko 2/28, Ruben Vosloo 2/30). Ben Vorster won by 200 runs.
