This past weekend’s cricket matches between Union High School, Graaff-Reinet and Kingswood College, South Africa, contested in Makhanda, saw Union’s u/11A and u/13A teams achieve mixed success in a series of entertaining and closely contested games.
• On Friday, 22 September, Union’s u/11 team displayed their impressive bowling skills as they bowled Kingswood out for a score of 63 runs. Union’s bowlers all delivered excellent performances, with each managing to chip in with wickets. 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲, 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝘃𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝟯 𝘄𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲, 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝘁 𝟲𝟳/𝟳.
The following day, the u/11 team won the toss and chose to bat first. However, the team struggled to get going and were eventually bowled out for 80 runs in just 17.5 overs. 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗹 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝘀 and 𝗟𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝗹𝗶 were Union’s best performers, batting steadily with 14 and 8 runs respectively. Kingswood passed the target with just one wicket down.
• The Union u/13 team found themselves in a similar position on Friday, losing the toss and being asked to bowl first. Kingswood scored an impressive 127 runs, with 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝗛𝗲𝗻𝗿𝘆 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴 and 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗩𝗼𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 each taking three or more wickets. Union struggled in the initial stages of their innings, finding themselves 49 for 5 down in the 10th over. However, a strong performance from 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻 𝗛𝘂𝗱𝘀𝗼𝗻 almost turned the game in Union’s favour, scoring 40 runs from just 25 balls. 𝘋𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘴, 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘣𝘺 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘧 6 𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘴.
Saturday was a different story for the u/13 team, as they bowled first and their bowlers demonstrated outstanding skill. 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗻 𝗝𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗮 emerged as a brilliant performer, taking four wickets, while the team bowled Kingswood out for a score of 115. In reply, Union chased down the target with 7 wickets down. 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝗛𝗲𝗻𝗿𝘆 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴 anchored the innings with a well-played 33 that ensured 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝘃𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗯𝘆 𝟯 𝘄𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀.