Rain-drenched Limpopo delivers low-scoring thrillers
Despite persistent rain over the weekend, Limpopo was the arena on Saturday for two humdingers as both Hoërskool Ben Vorster and Merensky Landbou Akademie bagged victories in a round that could put the cat amongst the pigeons in the Limpopo Super League.
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Ben Vorster’s Black Caps achieved a 69-run victory over Hoërskool Pietersburg, which put a big dent in the Pieties’ title defence. It means that the side from Polokwane will have to win their four remaining matches, preferably with a bonus point each, to get back in the race.
The Black Caps’ redemption after a telling defeat against Merensky the previous week sees them move to third place on the log, tied with Merensky. Both sides sit on 20 league points, four behind frontrunners, Hoërskool Piet Potgieter.
Due to the rain, both the matches at Ben Vorster and Merensky had to be restricted to 30-over encounters.
The Black Caps had the opportunity to bat first. Knowing it won’t be easy, opening batsman Ruben Pohl had to work to get his side off to a decent start. Pohl waited patiently for anything loose, hitting five fours and two sixes in his contribution of 37 runs.
Rivoningo Chauke (29) and Kuhlani Mnisi (20) also found it quite tough to score, but managed to grind out valuable contributions. The Black Caps did not bat their full 30 overs, with the last wicket going down in the 27th over.
Willem Viljoen did most of the damage with his 3/36 in five overs. He was supported by Hardus Schoeman (2/27) and captain Dian Gouws (2/14) in their 6.4 overs.
The Black Caps captain, Njabulo Maseko, might have failed with the bat, but did his part with the ball as his spell ultimately swung the game in favour of the side from Tzaneen. In just two overs, he caused a collapse, picking up four wickets for a mere eight runs. Chauke followed up his useful effort with the bat, contributing three wickets (3/32) in the four overs he bowled, thereby assisting in restricting the Pieties to only 86 to secure the victory.
Merensky, also batting first, could only manage a total of 61 in testing conditions against Mohodi Hub‘s strong bowling lineup. Randy Mosefowa had the Plasies sweating as he demolished their top order with unbelievable figures of 6/13, with Dumisani Manyama not far behind, picking up 3/8 as the Plasies lost nine wickets for a mere 21 runs. This trend, however, would continue into the Mohodi innings. They could eventually only manage a total of 39 runs.
Ian Meyer emerged as an unlikely hero, bowling accurately and fast to claim his maiden first XI five-wicket haul in a match-winning spell of 5/9. Rinaldo Bornman supported Meyer by spinning a web around the Modi batters, picking up 3/14 as Merensky won a very low-scoring affair by 22 runs.
Hoërskool Piet Potgieter kept their unbeaten run alive by thumping Nkowankowa Hub with nine wickets. A combined bowling effort, led by Ruben Oosthuizen (3/4), had Nkowankowa stumbling to 77 all out. The total was chased down with ease thanks to the efforts of Ridhwan Patel (32) and Zaid Vohra (31*).
Phalaborwa Hub beat Hoërskool Louis Trichardt by 34 runs to usurp the fourth spot on the league table, surpassing Hoërskool Pietersburg. Benjie Mathebula scored the bulk of his side’s 145 with his knock of 79. Rito Rikotso scored an additional 33, meaning that the pair contributed 112, or 77%, of Phalaborwa’s runs. Nduvho Muumba was exceptional for the Triegies, picking up 5/13, including the important wicket of Rikotso.
Xadrian Snyman (37) tried hard to get his side over the line, but the strong bowling attack from Phalaborwa proved to be just too much. Marcus Ngobeni led the charge with his 3/4, playing a massive role in restricting the Triegies to only 111 runs.
Summarised scorecards
Ben Vorster 155 (Ruben Pohl 37, Rivoningo Chauke 29, Kuhlani Mnisi 20; Willem Viljoen 3/36, Dian Gouws 2/14, Hardus Schoeman 2/27); Hoërskool Pietersburg 86 (Celliers van der Merwe 31; Njabulo Maseko 4/8, Rivoningo Chauke 3/32, Dumisani Manyama 2/1). Ben Vorster won by 69 runs.
Merensky Landbou Akademie 61 (Luka Heinlein 19; Randy Mosefowa 6/13, Mahlodi Sekuba 3/8); Mohodi Hub 39 (Ian Meyer 5/9, Rinaldo Bornman 3/14). Merensky Landbou Akademy won by 22 runs.
Nkowankowa Hub 77 (Ntsako Makaringe 23, Extras 22; Ruben Oosthuizen 3/4, Frederik Botes 3/5, Joshua Claasen 2/14); Hoërskool Piet Potgieter 81/1 (Ridhwan Patel 32, Zaid Vhora 31*; Alen Shiviri 1/21). Hoërskool Piet Potgieter won by nine wickets.
Phalaborwa Hub 145 (Benjie Mathebula 79, Rito Rikotso 33; Nduvho Muumba 5/13, Francois Nel 3/46); Hoërskool Louis Trichardt 111 (Xadrian Snyman 37; Marcus Ngobeni 3/4, Ripfumelo Nabunda 2/12, Hlulani Ngomane 2/14). Phalaborwa Hub won by 34 runs.
