WANDERERS’ fine early season form continued when they thrashed Trustco United by 283 runs in the Cricket Premier League on Saturday.
It was their third victory in a row which puts them at the top of the log, ahead of CCD Tigers, who went second after beating MR24/7 by six wickets at the CCD field.
At the United field, United won the toss and sent Wanderers in to bat, but any hopes of an early breakthrough were dispelled as Wanderers’ batsmen built up a huge total.
Niko Davin and JC Balt put on 48 runs for the first wicket, before Handre Klazinga bowled Davin for 29, and when Klazinga also dismissed Balt for 19, the match was evenly poised with Wanderers at 60/2.
Nyasha Nyashadzaishe and Karl Birkenstock, however, put Wanderers in complete control with a 186-run partnership.
Nyashadzaishe was unfortunate to miss out on a century when he was bowled by Klazinga for 95, which came off 74 balls (9×4, 4×6), while Birkenstock followed shortly after for 82 off 84 balls (4×4, 2×6).
The young Klazinga picked up his fifth wicket when he bowled Michau du Preez for two, but JJ Smit and Danie van Schoor prolonged United’s agony with another century partnership.
Smit was eventually dismissed for 71 off 52 balls (1×4, 5×6), while Van Schoor remained not out on 39 as Wanderers amassed a huge 391 for seven wickets off their 50 overs.
Amidst the batting carnage, Klazinga stood out amongst United’s bowlers with fine figures of 5/44 off 10 overs, but the rest of the bowlers suffered under Wanderers’ onslaught.
In reply, Christian Schumacher and Ramsay McDonald put on 43 for the first wicket before Birkenstock dismissed Schumacher for 21. McDonald followed shortly after for 13, and although Klazinga added 26, he received little support as United lost regular wickets, before the whole side was out for 108, giving Wanderers a 283-run victory.
For Wanderers, Birkenstock took 3/28 off six overs, while Niko Davin bowled only four balls, but got a hat-trick after dismissing Klazinga, Stefan Bezuidenhout (0) and Dion Venter (0) off successive balls.
Wanderers captain Nicolaas Scholtz took 2/9 off three overs.
CCD, meanwhile, completed their second successive win of the season with a six-wicket victory against MR24/7 Welwitschia, who’s batsmen could not get going against some tight bowling, with CCD’s off-spinner Mauritius Ngupita being the main destroyer.
He took 4/14 off 5,2 overs as Welwitschia crashed to 81 all out, while leg spinner Nicol Loftie Eaton took 2/4 off three overs.
The only Welwitschia batsmen to get double figures were opener Tawanda Ngwenya (12), Vincent Murapo (26 not out) and Simon Shikongo (13).
In reply, CCD got off to a quick start but they lost regular wickets and after seven overs were struggling at 35/4.
Nicol Loftie-Eaton and Tawanda Sithole, however, took CCD to victory with an unbroken 50-run partnership off seven overs.
Loftie-Eaton remained not out on 30 off 28 balls (2×4, 2×6), while Sithole, who also won the man of the match award, remained not out on 25 off 20 balls (4×4).
Tangi Nuuyoma was Welwitschia’s best bowler, taking 3/31 off five overs.
