Maritzburg College defends low total to down Glenwood
Despite being limited to a moderate 115/8 by Glenwood High in their Eston One Insurance T20 Night League match at the Beaumont Eston Farmers Club on Friday evening, Maritzburg College was able to defend their average total and come away with a hard-fought 11-run victory.
The toss went College’s way, and they chose to bat first. They lost Kyle de Bruyn in the third over, bowled by Kyle Bryan for six, but Daniel Nadasan and Deolyn Naidoo then took charge, adding 29 runs in 3.4 overs before Naidoo exited, caught off the off-spin of Bryan for 14.
Three runs later, on 49, Nadasan was run out by a combination of Karabo Ntsieng and Olwami Zondi for 24 from 20, which had included three fours.
Karl Dedekind bashed a six and a four in a 15-ball 20, but College’s innings, which had struggled for momentum, just couldn’t manufacture it.
Luka Puddu weighed in with 16, but was unable to find the boundary, and Reece Willson struck an unbeaten 15 from 19, with only one four, but College’s 115/8 was nothing to write home about.
Esihle Gasa wrecked the Red, Black, and White‘s middle order on his way to figures of 3/20 from four overs. Kyle Bryan played his part with 2/20 from four, and Akhil Maharaj snapped up 2/24 from four.
Up front, Bandile Mbatha went wicketless but did a good job, conceding only 12 runs from his four overs.
In their reply, Glenwood saw only three batsmen make it into double figures, led by opening batsman, Karaabo Ntsieng, who top scored with 19 from 23 balls, with a four.
Kyle Bryan showed off his all-round game with 18 from 22, with two fours, and Krian Jugoo made 17 off 15, but once College claimed a second wicket, which left Glenwood on 38/2 in the seventh over, the Green Machine lost their way. They slid to 58/6 after 11.4 overs, then 80/9 after 16.2 overs.
A battling unbroken stand of 24 between Esihle Gasa, who made eight, and Vincenzo Loutz, who also made eight, took Glenwood beyond 100, but they couldn’t take the kinds of the risks that more wickets in hand would have afforded them in their run chase.
Nathan Pembridge was the destroyer in chief, knocking over 3/15 in four overs, while Reece Willson bowled splendidly with the new ball, capturing 2/14 in four. Akhil Barath undermined the Glenwood reply with a return of 2/20 from four.
SCORES
Maritzburg College 115/8 (Daniel Nadasan 24, Karl Dedekind 20, Luka Luddu 16, Esihle Gasa 3/20, Kyle Bryan 2/20, Akhil Maharaj 2/24); Glenwood High 104/9 (Karabo Ntsieng 19, Kyle Bryan 18, Krian Jugoo 17, Nathan Pembridge 3/15, Reece Willson 2/14, Akhil Barath 2/20).
Maritzburg College won by 11 runs.
