Superlatives abound at the Ibbies Oval on Wednesday following Janneman Malan’s mammoth knock of 97 off 56 deliveries for NWU-Puk. It is the highest score of the 2016 Varsity Cricket tournament and came at a strike-rate of 173.21. UCT may have left the Cape of Storms, but they were thunderstruck by an innings that included ten boundaries and two sixes.
The hosts cruised to a 95-run victory, scoring 220/4 and restricting UCT to 125/5.
When the score read 111/0 after ten overs, UCT must surely have thought: “Where is Trevor Chappell when you need him?”
The youngest brother of the more famous Aussies, Ian and Greg, infamously bowled an unplayable underarm delivery in an ODI against New Zeeland in 1981. Short or full, a bit wide, smack in the middle, for Janneman Malan and Wihan Lubbe there was no corridor of uncertainty. When Lubbe eventually departed, bowled for 48, the damage was done. Lubbe blasted four maximums but not a single four.
Malan continued the onslaught as subtly as a Highveld thunderstorm and was nicely supported by a 34-off-20 cameo by Ruan Haasbroek. The 200 came up with two overs to spare, just before André Malan departed. The other Malan, Janneman, was in reach of his century and on strike in the last over. He was caught on the boundary for 97 off the second last ball of the innings by Jordan Leppan. Safe to assume the latter lost his place on the former’s Christmas list.
The chase began. UCT lost the wicket of Richard Tissiman in the second over and were three down by the fourth. At 25/3 the game was as good as over for the Capetonians. By the tenth over the run rate was below six. By the 15th over they were 93/4. By the 19th they were 119/7…it was almost over before it began.
FNB Best Bowler: JP le Roux (NWU)
Edgars Active – Best Batsman: Janneman malan (NWU-Puk)
Steers Best Catch: Jordan Lubbe (UCT)
Samsung Man of the Match: Janneman Malan (NWU-Puk)
By Bertie Jacobs
