Cricket South Africa & Standard Bank launched the National High Schools U/19 Pro20 tournament this term & the Umzinto & Districts Cricket Union was invited to enter a combined schools team. The squad consists of players from all the schools in the region.
In KZN 32 schools/districts participated in the first round. They were drawn into 8 groups of 4 and the winners of each group would be drawn into the last 2 groups of 4. The winners of these last 2 groups would play a final at Kingsmead to determine the winner of the Coastal stream who would play the winners of the Inland stream to crown the Provincial team. The Provincial team would then go on to participate in the National tournament in Pretoria where 1 team from each Province would be represented.
In the first round Umzinto was drawn into Group A together with Suid Natal Hoer, Amanzimtoti High & Southern Natal Cricket Union. Umzinto had to play all their matches away in the first round.
In the first match against Suid Natal, Umzinto fielded first & bowled out the opposition for 67 runs in 15 overs. Faraaz Khan took 3 for 12 in 3 overs while Captain Kereshan Kisten took 2 for 9 in 2 overs. Umzinto opening pair of Prineshan Pillay (38) & Jeerashen Mudaly (35) made it look easy to pass the score in just 13 overs.
In the second match against Southern Natal, Umzinto were put under pressure immediately when the opposition belted the ball all over the field. However the boys stuck to the task & S/Natal ended on 152/5 in 20 overs with Paroshan Gramoney taking 2/13 in 2 overs & Ameen Ismail 1/15 in 2 overs. Requiring 7,6 runs an over Prineshan & Jeerashen took the bowlers on. After 4 overs Umzinto were 35/1 (8,7 runs an over) when rain stopped play. Prineshan was on 21* & Kereshan 5*.
In the final group match against ‘Toti, Wesley Poole took 2/18 in his 4 overs & Reenan Chetty 1/9 in 3 to restrict the opposition to 96/6 in 20 overs. Once again Prineshan with 41 & Jeerashen with 34 set about chasing the total. The other batsmen struggled to keep the momentum due to some good bowling from ‘Toti. However Wesley & Faraaz saw the team through to a win in the second last over.
Umzinto thus ended top of group A & progressed into the final top 8 schools. In this group they are drawn with Grantleigh (Richards Bay), Glenwood & Clifton, all of them top cricketing schools.
In the first match Grantleigh was sent in to bat & were stunned by Umzinto’s tight bowling & fielding. They only hit 2 boundaries & 4 of their batsmen were run out as they were under constant pressure. Wesley, Kereshan & Ameen all bowled well to restrict them to 86/9 in their 20 overs.
While batting Jeerashen (17) & Prineshan (15) set the platform for the other batsmen to come to the party. A sensible 14* by Ashaylin Govender & an aggressive 21* by Wesley saw the team to victory in the 18th over.
Coach Andre Pretorius & Manager Strini Pillay are extremely pleased with the hard work, dedication & team spirit put in by all the players. For such a young team (half of which still play under 15 cricket), to do so well in the U/19 division against top cricketers is a feather in the Districts cap. The boys are determined to give their 110% every single match to get as far as they can. The management is thankful to the parents who come to support the team every match, those in Umzinto who have praised & encouraged the team and to the schools for releasing the players early on match days. With everyone’s support this team will not let Umzinto down, no matter what the circumstances.
Andre Pretorius
