SOUTHERN CAPE NEWS - Nelson Mandela University on Sunday, 10 March, became the South Western Districts Premier League champions for the second time when they defeated George by four wickets in the competition final, played at the Recreation Ground in Oudtshoorn.
The George students secured a place in the final after they defeated the defending champions, Union Stars, by 12 runs in a nailbiting, low scoring encounter at the Bridgton Sports Grounds on Saturday, 9 March.
NMU, who posted 104 (all out), restricted Union Stars for 92, thanks to a brilliant spin bowling performance by Joshua Klue (4/9) and Joshua de Ponte (3/15). It was the first time in a decade that Union Stars, who played in 10 consecutive finals of which they won nine, could not reach the final.
In the final, George posted 148 (all out) with Obus Pienaar (48), whose run-out was a turning point in the innings. He was the best contributor with the bat. NMU had an uphill battle in their run chase, but a 60-wicket partnership between Todd Walker (44*) and Joshua Klue (29) for the sixth wicket made them champions for the second time (after 2013/14).
The 17-year-old Heath Richards (29) played an impressive innings under huge pressure.
The George students will now, together with the winners of Western Province and Boland, play in a round robin series of matches from 29 to 31 March to determine the representative from the Western Cape for the Cricket SA Momentum National Champions in Pretoria from 13 to 17 April.
The summarised score cards are:
Qualifier: Union Stars vs NMU Madibaz George
NMU Madibaz George 104/10 (37.2): Joshua Klue 32, Todd Walker 26, Hershell Amerika 3/16, Enverino Swartz 2/13, Ayabonga Ngondo 2/31.
Union Stars 92/10 (35.5): Anver Venter 13*, Joshua Kleu 4/9, Joshua de Ponte 3/15, Stefan Tait 3/24.
NMU Madibaz George won by 12 runs.
Final: George vs NMU Madibaz George
George 148/10 (35.5): Obus Pienaar 46, Marco de Kock 22, Wiaan Oosthuizen 3/22, Travis Ackerman 2/12, Stefan Tait 2/32.
NMU Madibaz George 149/6 (34.2): Todd Walker 44*, Heath Richards 29, Joshua Klue 20, Obus Pienaar 2/18, Grant Simpson 2/26.
NMU Madibaz George won by four wickets.
The Nelson Mandela University George Cricket Club, who won the final match in the SWDC Premier League competition on Sunday.
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