Andrew Waitts recorded his second century of the week to help Boland to victory over Mpumalanga via the Duckworth/Lewis/Stern (DLS) method on day four of the Momentum Under-17 Boys Week in Durban on Saturday.
Alongside Boland, KwaZulu-Natal Coastal, Zimbabwe and Limpopo also claimed victory through the DLS method, while Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal Inland and Border secured comfortable wins on the penultimate day of the action.
After Boland won the toss and batted first, opener Waitts played a patient and responsible unbeaten knock, which included an incredible 20 fours on his way to a 157-ball 158, to propel his side to a healthy 280/2 after their 50 overs. Waitts found a suitable partner in Francois Joubert (72), as the pair dominated the crease during their 174-run partnership for the third wicket.
Mpumalanga could not quite get their rhythm with the bat, with Niel Henning (54) proving the only threat. Despite Henning’s contribution and a late cameo from Nathan du Toit (46), the Titans side always trailed the run rate and by the time the rain arrived, the DLS method ruled in favour of Boland – by 23 runs.
Kiano Valentine’s impressive figures of three for four spearheaded Boland’s efforts with the ball to leave Mpumalanga 187-7 (42.2 overs).
There was another big score during today’s action, with Erlank Barnard raising his bat after an impressive hundred in a losing effort for Northern Cape against Limpopo. After winning the toss and taking to the crease, Northern Cape lost wickets at regular intervals and if it was not for the gutsy 100 off 127 balls (5×4, 1×6) from Barnard, they would not have gotten anywhere near the end score of 191 all out in 48.3 overs.
Limpopo’s Ricardo Booysen finished with figures of 4-51 before the former then looked to be making easy work of the target, as the rain stopped them just 65 runs short on 126-5 (32.5 overs) before being awarded the five-wicket victory on DLS method.
Zimbabwe clinched their second triumph of the week, as Wesley Mahevere and Nkosinathi Nungu proved to be the key players in their 75-run victory over Easterns. The side from the neighbouring country won the toss and chose to bat, amassing 271-9 in their allotted overs after Mahevere’s thrilling 80 off 53 balls (10×4, 2×6).
Nungu continued the momentum for the visiting nation, taking three wickets for seven runs to help restrict Easterns to 79-5 after 30 overs before the heavens opened and gave the result to Zimbabwe by 75 runs on DLS method.
In the other results, KZN Coastal took the honours by 3 runs (DLS method) in their contest against Northerns thanks to Francis Moran’s 51 which helped them post 201 in their 50 overs before Northerns were halted on 102-4 (29 overs) due to rain.
It was two wins from two for KwaZulu Natal on the day, following KZN Inland’s thumping seven-wicket success over a Western Province. Inland’s Michael Booth (4-15) and Kyle Moodley (51) the stars of the show.
Elsewhere, there were dominant wins for Border and Gauteng over North West and Eastern Province, respectively. Border’s Challen Watson (50) and Matthew Fourie (42) were the main protagonists, while Heinrich Pieterse (71) and Michael Copeland (4-13) took the plaudits in Gauteng’s triumph.
The fifth and final day will be taking place on Sunday and live scores can be found at www.websports.co.za.
Photo: Cricket South Africa (Facebook)
