NATALIE THOMPSON
The Tuks 1 cricket team beat Tuks 2 in a warm-up match for the Premier League on 23 February.
Tuks 1 narrowly beat Tuks 2 the previous weekend in the T20 league final. Unlike in the exciting T20, Tuks 2’s performance left room for improvement as Tuks 1 overwhelmed them in this match.
Tuks 2’s innings started slowly with their first wicket falling in the 16th minute of play. Tuks 2 batsmen Tiaan Koekemoer and Waldemar Bodenstein built a partnership of 92 runs before Bodenstein’s wicket fell. The rest of Tuks 2’s wickets fell at regular intervals. Their total at the end of the innings was 232.
Tuks 1 batsmen Ernest Kemm and Regardt Verster established a solid partnership of 181 runs. Kemm ended the innings on 101 not out. Tuks 2’s bowlers did not manage to take a single wicket and the only Tuks 1 wicket to fall was as a result of a run-out. Head coach Pierre de Bruyn applauded the efforts of both Kemm and Verster, reiterating that their partnership put Tuks 1 in the position to win.
De Bruyn said that “[Tuks 1] got the bonus point we needed. However, we bowled below standard. We have four home games left. The next big game is Pretoria High School Old Boys and we cannot afford to slip up or be complacent.”
As defending champions of the NCU (Northerns Cricket Union) Premier League, Tuks 1 will have to win all their upcoming matches to be able to defend their title in the final. If they manage to do so, they will go on to represent the Northerns in the National Club Championship. Tuks are the reigning National Club champions.
Photo: Hendro van der Merwe
