UJ silenced the home crowd this afternoon as they beat NWU by 43 runs at Senwes Park to book their spot in the 2019 Varsity Cricket final against Tuks.
The semi-final was won through UJ’s fantastic score of 204/4 which was too much for the NWU who crumbled under the pressure, reaching 166/8.
Joshua Richards (65 off 41 balls) and Delano Potgieter (58 off 31 balls) batted brilliantly to secure the win for UJ. Andrew Rasemene (4/30) did most of the damage with the ball to kill NWU’s hopes of a final spot.
UJ batted first with the dangerous Potgieter (58 from 31) and Richards (65 from 40 balls) smashing the ball to all parts in a big stand of 95 to set the ball rolling for the Orange Army in their total of 204/4.
Richards showed no mercy for the NWU bowlers, hitting a couple of massive sixes, one hitting the roof of one of the buildings on the grass banks.
The NWU finally got their first wicket courtesy of a Hlompho Modimokoane run-out as Potgieter lost his wicket in unfortunate circumstances.
This did not deter, Richards, who continued to stroke the ball to every part of Senwes Park with precision and aggression. Richards eventually lost his wicket to a Hlompho Modimokoane, LBW, but with the score on 147/3, UJ already had the momentum to reach a big score. Jacob Miltz and Juan Landsberg finished off the innings in style to set the NWU a target of 205.
NWU made the worst start possible when Nico Davin lost his wicket, skying an Andrew Rasemene delivery into the hands of Glen Adams. Louren Steenkamp was dismissed shortly thereafter for 9 as Rasemene got his second wicket.
NWU captain, Lesego Senokwane, tried to up the pace, with a massive six from his second ball off the bowling of Chad Classen. Classen, though, had the last laugh when he dismissed Senokwane the next ball caught at long-off.
This left the NWU with a lot to do at 34/3, and this was further compounded when Tumelo Thlokwe got rid of the dangerous Ruan Haasbroek for 11.
Henro Janse van Rensburg did his utmost with a 73 (43), which included five huge sixes and two fours, but a superb power play over from Classen stopped the NWU in their tracks breaking the 47-run partnership. Eben Botha (36 from 30) tried a scoop shot but was caught at short fine leg. When Rasemene got Janse van Rensburg’s wicket, it was all but over for NWU.
FNB Player of The Match: Andrew Rasemene (UJ)
MTN Pulse Bowler of the Match: Andrew Rasemene (UJ)
Steers Best Batsman: Henro Janse van Rensburg
Teams
NWU: Nico Davin, Louren Steenkamp, Lesego Senokwane, Ruan Haasbroek, Nico Loubser, Bantu Dandala, AJ Jacobs, Eben Botha, Danfred Sefoor, Khanya Cotani, Henro Janse van Rensburg
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 Bronwen Bain
