Tuks are once again the Varsity Cricket victors after a comprehensive eight-wicket Duckworth Lewis win in a reduced-over final against UJ at Senwes Park on Saturday night.
The Pretorians chased down 60 runs, required with 14 balls to spare, as their class and temperament shone through in the end as they claimed their fourth title in five years.
A frustrating floodlight failure delayed the match for two hours, before play resumed at 21:00 with the match shortened to eight overs a side.
Earlier UJ won the toss and elected to bat first but lost the wicket of the dangerous Richards for four off the second ball, as the blond paceman, Ruben Trumplemann, dismissed him caught behind. Trumplemann struck again in the first over as he got the wicket of Delano Potgieter for a first-ball duck.
Kundai Matigimu got the first wicket for Tuks after the floodlight delay, dismissing Jacob Miltz for a duck to leave UJ at 7/3.
Sean Gilson’s spin bowling compounded UJ’s problems as he got the wicket of Juan Landsberg with a beautiful googly as UJ slumped to 19/5.
Glen Adams made a valiant 18 for UJ, but the ever-impressive Trumplemann bowled him neck-and-crop.
UJ made 60/7 after 8 overs and needed to put in a heroic performance with the ball.
Chad Classen and Andrew Rasemene gave UJ hope with the ball as they had Tuks at 12/2 after 2 overs.
However, Neil Brand and Ruan de Swardt put on a composed and match-winning 55-run partnership to secure the win for UP-Tuks.
These two Tuks stalwarts finished the job in the powerplay over to retain the title.
FNB Player of The Match: Ruben Trumplemann (UP-Tuks)
MTN Pulse Bowler of the Match: Ruben Trumplemann (UP-Tuks)
Steers Best Batsman: Neil Brand (UP-Tuks)
MTN Pulse Best Bowler of the Tournament: Sean Gilson (UP-Tuks)
Best batsman of the tournament: Lourén Steenkamp (NWU)
FNB Player of the tournament: Neil Brand (UP-Tuks)
Teams
Tuks: Neil Brand, Jiveshen Pillay, Aron Visser, Ruan de Swardt, Donovan Ferreira, Sean Gilson, Modiri Litheko, Nkosinathi Msiza, Rubin Hermann, Kundai Matigimu, Ruben Trumpelmann
UJ: Glen Adams, Cameron Shekleton, Jacob Miltz, Delano Potgieter, Joshua Richards, Kamogelo Selane, Juan Landsberg, Marco van Biljon, Chad Classen, Connor de Boer, Clayton Malgas
By Wouter Pienaar
