BACK L-R: ANDRE PRETORIUS, FARAAZ KHAN, THAYURAN GOVENDER, ADAM GOVENDER,THAVASEN SHANMUGAM, ASHAYLIN GOVENDER, DEVASHIN KISTEN.
FRONT: JEERASHEN MUDALY, JITESH MAHARAJ, FAHIEM SHAIK, GERARD MOONSAMY, KERESHAN KISTEN.
The Umzinto Correctional Services Cricket Club has started the new season on a high note. The club has two teams competing in the Umzinto & Districts Cricket Union local league. The first team is playing in the premier division while the colts team is in the challenge division.
After battling their way through the worst year ever had last season, the players of the first team were determined to prove their worth.
In the first match against PG Glass, they amassed 151/8 with stand in opener Devashan Kisten top scoring with 40 runs while his opening partner Thavasen Shanmugam made 31. Returning to his original club after a stint with UKZN, Ralton Baijnath added 27 valuable runs. Ralton also took 2 wickets for 12 runs while his spinning partner Fahiem Shaik took 4 for 23. Tight bowling plus two run outs from Devashan & captain Adam Govender resulted in PG being bowled out for 76.
In the match against old rivals and last season league winners, Saints, Thavasen made 48 & Ralton 34 to get to 159/10. Once again the spinners did the damage with Devashan taking 2/17 & Fahiem 2/21. Adam contributed with a catch & a run out resulting in Saints being bowled out for 122.
Against Syms the team was in early trouble reeling at 4 wickets down for 11 runs. Adam played a captains innings & together with Fahiem, put on a 76 run partnership to steady the team. Fahiem ended one run shy of his 50 and Adam ended on 37 to take the total to 138/9. Left arm fast bowler Gerard Moonsamy returned to form with 3/18 while Faraaz Khan returned 3/26 with his accurate medium pacers. Brilliant fielding from livewire Ashaylin Govender resulted in him taking a catch & a run out, while Kereshan Kisten took 3 good catches. The turning point was however when Faraaz took what must be the catch of the season at slip to get rid of the dangerous Yasir & resulting in Syms being bowled out for 116.
Andre Pretorius
