A scorching NWU-Puk Oval played host to a match-up between the seemingly immortal UJ and a UCT side that were yet to register a win.
UCT were in to bat first and went about their innings steadily, going at roughly five an over. Apea-Adu Kofi was making life difficult for the Capetonians with some vicious pace and soon claimed the wicket of opener Riaz Sader.
The NWU-Puk Oval has been a batsman’s paradise, so it was unusual to see UCT struggle to 49 halfway through their innings. It showed just how clinical the UJ bowlers were.
Opener Tissiman batted right through to the 19th over, mooring the UCT attack before eventually falling to Kofi for 66. UCT never really got going and the loss of three wickets in the space of 12 deliveries hampered their efforts further. Hilio de Abreu had the only other significant knock with his 25 off 24.
Kofi ended on an impressive 3/27. The target set: 133 for a UJ side renown for their sweet-hitting batsmen. Not a pretty sight for UCT’s bowlers.
Things looked dim for UCT as early as the first over of UJ’s innings when Delano Potgieter hit three fours to put 12 on the board before his partner had faced a single delivery. Potgieter scored with ease, as fielders were left to fetch the ball from the boundary. UJ were finding more gaps than you’d find at a London Underground platform.
The only blotch on the masterpiece UJ innings was Farina’s dismissal in the sixth over, caught and bowled by Makan Prashan. Captain Neels Bergh entered the fray and together with Potgieter guided UJ to a nine-wicket demolition of UCT.
Potgieter ending on an unbeaten 59 and Bergh on 54. UJ march on, topping the table and unbeaten. Their final match of the day against defending champions Tuks this evening has Potch chomping at the bit.
Samsung Man of the Match: Neels Bergh (UJ)
FNB Best Bowler: Apea-Adu Kofi (UJ)
Steers Best Catch: Makan Prashan (UCT)
Edgars Active Best Batsman: Delano Potgieter (UJ)
