DP, Kingswood produce winning cricket

UITENHAGE side Daniel Pienaar (DP) produced some excellent performances to return unbeaten from the Union High Cricket Festival at the weekend.

Better known for their prowess on the rugby field, DP showed they could mix it at the summer sport as well, defeating Pinelands, Paarl Gym and Paarl Boys High in their three matches in GraaffReinet.

In an excellent team effort, captain Zinzan Emmanuel led from the front with the ball in all three matches, and young Denver Klue performed admirably with both bat and ball.

Summarised scores were:

DP 206 (Klue 93); Pinelands 128 (Zane Roux 3/18, Emmanuel 2/7). DP won by 74 runs.

Paarl Gym 113 (Emmanuel 5/20); DP 114/3 (Bradley Petrus 52no, Klue 35no). DP won by 7wkts.

DP 159/6 in 30 overs (Emmanuel 45, Niyaaz Salie 33); Paarl Boys 88 (Klue 3/15, Emmanuel 2/10). DP won by 71 runs.

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THE young Kingswood first cricket team had a busy start to the year, playing five matches in six days and finishing with a record of five wins and one defeat.

In a trip to Gauteng, Kingswood lost their opening game to St Albans, but then won three tour matches on the trot and followed up with victories over Southwell and Namibia under-19. Against St Albans, Kingswood were put in a damp pitch and only Marco Lombard handled the conditions with a knock of 53 in their total of 142. As the surface dried, St Albans reached their target with five wickets in hand, Michael Braans taking two for 14.

Kingswood looked on target for a big score after a good 100-run second-wicket partnership between Michael Hansel (53) and Lombard (51) against St Andrews School, but they faded to 185.

However, the bowlers stepped up to the plate and decimated St Andrews for a paltry 75. The destroyers-in-chief were opening bowler Anelisa Mteto (2/20) and skipper Robert Sholto-Douglas (5/20). Mteto (5/24) excelled in the next game against Menlo Park, who tumbled to 15 for four before recovering to score 212. Kingswood won by two wickets.

Kingswood's Bathurst League match against Southwell was reduced to 30 overs a side due to wet conditions.

In their final match, Kingswood took on Namibia under-19 in a 30-over fixture under lights at City Lords.

Namibia took 22 off the first over, but offspinner Michael Braans (4/25) and Robert Sholto-Douglas managed to keep them in check and they eventually totaled 196 for nine. The home side got home by two wickets.