The 2018 edition of Varsity Cricket took Potchefstroom by storm today as eight highly motivated universities looked to stake their claim for the trophy with good first impressions.

Captains of all the teams wore green trousers to symbolise the new SpeakUp campaign for the 2018 Varsity Cricket tournament.

Tuks get first win under the belt against competitive CUT
Tuks started their campaign on a winning note with a four wicket win against newcomers CUT at Senwes Park on Monday, 29 January.

Tuks were the firm favourites against CUT on the opening day and made most of the overcast conditions, restricting the men from Bloemfontein to 129 all out at Senwes Park. The run-out of Wian van Zyl for 36 was the turning point as Tuks’ bowlers got the upper hand at the latter stages of the innings.

The pick of Tuks’ bowlers was the promising Corbin Bosch with 2/17 in his three overs. Niel Brand also chipped in with 2/29 from his four overs.

In reply Tuks’ Ruben Hermann hit 45 (29) to steer his team to a deserved win against a plucky CUT side. Brand was also on fire with his 29 (24) for Tuks as they chased down the target of 130 with 5 overs to spare.

Samsung Player of The Match: Rubin Hetman (Tuks)
FNB Best Batsman: Corbin Bosch (Tuks)
FNB Best Bowler: Rubin Hetman (Tuks)
Steers Best Catch: Jason Raubenheimer (CUT)

Defending champions NWU crush UWC with superb 10-wicket win
The champions started their campaign with a commanding 10 wicket win against UWC at the Puk-Oval on Monday afternoon. Janneman Malan (30 off 25) and Shane Dadswell (32 off 17) took the purple clad team in their new kit to an easy victory.

NWU’s bowlers were on fire from the start as the experienced Jovaun van Wyngaardt and Julian Soutter restricted UWC to 20/1 after 5 overs. Niel Durow picked up the first wicket clean bowling opener, Shabir Mallie for 2.

NWU kept on taking wickets as leg spinner Dyllan Matthews (4/23) kept the pressure up with economical bowling. Katle Leokaoke (3/7) also bowled brilliantly in tandem with Mathhews as the spin duo had UWC in tatters at 54/6 after 11 overs. Leokaoke also caught an absolute stunner off his own bowling to remove Warren Stoman for a golden duck. Only UWC’s Mujahhid Toffar with 26 could put up any resistance as UWC made 77 all out.

NWU also had no problem in the batting department as they strolled to an easy victory. The dangerous opening pair of Janneman Malan and Shane Dadswell opened the batting for NWU and were aggressive on anything loose. They reached the target of 77 with 13.3 overs to spare and will take a lot of confidence from the win.

Samsung Player of The Match: Dyllan Matthews (NWU)
FNB Best Batsman: Shane Dadswell (NWU)
FNB Best Bowler: Dyllan Matthews (NWU)
Steers Best Catch: Katle Leokaoke (NWU)

UJ get important win against Maties in Ibbies Oval clash
The North versus South derby saw UJ take victory by 5 wickets after a steady run chase saw them come out as the victors. UJ chased down Maties score of 132 all out as they reahed 136/5 with 8 balls to spare. Maties had a shocking start as they found themselves at 26/3 in the first four overs. UJ’s Justin Watson (2/29) and Delano Potgieter with (3/18) had an exceptional day with the ball as they toppled Maties charge with tight bowling.

Maties best batsman was Kyle Simmonds who contributed 34 with the bat. The left-hander played a number of classy shots amidst some tight bowling from the Orange Army. He though could not get enough support as Maties could only post an under par 132 all out.  

Maties needed a good bowling performance and opening bowlers Fenito Mehl and Brandon Glover obliged as they pegged back UJ to 14/2 early on. Glover made the early inroads as he took 2/24 in his first 3 overs. Potgieter and Juan Landsberg put up a solid partnership of 45 as UJ drew closer to the target, finding themselves at 76/3 after 10 overs.

Maties’ though did not stop fighting and a few quick wickets gave them hope. Joshua Richards though carried on and hit a crucial (38 off 27) to steer UJ home with a man of the match performance.

Samsung Player of the Match: Joshua Richards (UJ)
FNB Best Batsman: Joshua Richards (UJ)
FNB Best Bowler: Delano Potgieter (UJ)
Steers Best Catch: Ryan Rickelton (UJ)

Madibaz score narrow win against UCT
The NMU Madibaz held their nerve with a concise bowling display to thwart UCT’s hopes of victory with a narrow 11 run win in the first round of matches at this year’s Varsity Cricket tournament.

UCT were cruising along in pursuit of 163 as a victory target at 94/2, but then a collapse followed. The next seven wickets fell for only 49 runs, as a comfortable chase turned into an improbable defeat. Henco Vorstman was the star for NMU with 3/19. Brandon Tattum hit a blistering 40 (22) which included 3 fours and 3 sixes, but when he was dismissed with the score on 103, the wheels truly came apart. In the end UCT could only muster 152/9.

Earlier on, The Madibaz batted first and compiled 163/8 with Matthew Christensen hitting 31 (18) and Matthew Hansel contributing 36 (22) for the men from PE. Solomzi Nqweni also hit a solid 35 (34) in the middle order. Matthew Lees was the outstanding bowlers for UCT as he bowled a superb economical spell of 2/17 in his four overs.

Samsung Player of the Match: Solomzi Nqweni (Madibaz)
FNB Best Batsman: Brandon Tattum (UCT)
FNB Best Bowler: Henco Vorstman (Madibaz)
Steers Best Catch: Tian Koekemoer (Madibaz)

By Wouter Pienaar