The Umzinto Correctional Services Cricket Club ended the season on a high note when the A Team won the T20 competition.They beat Park Rynie by 7 wickets reaching the required 84 runs in the 12th over. Kereshan Kisten did the damage with the ball taking 3 wickets for only 9 runs in his 4 overs.
In the semi-final the previous week, the A team comprehensively dispatched of their junior Colts team by bowling them out for 51 after posting an imposing 135.
The A team also won the knock Out Cup by beating Syms in a hard fought final.
Batting first, the A team made 131 in their 25 overs with Thayuran Govender hitting a classy 46.
Syms were then bowled out for 90 in 23 overs with Faraaz Khan taking the 2 important wickets for just 14 runs. Thayuran took 2 good catches plus a stumping to end a great day for himself.
Both the A team & the Colts ended top of the points table of their respective leagues.
In the final match of the premier league, Fahiem Shaik of the A team battled hard to reach 47* against Braemar who posted 157.
The Colts though had the toughest match. They were lying third on the log going into the final match of the challenge league. They needed to bowl out the opposition, win the match & get at least 150 runs to go to the top.
The Colts bowled out klippies for 111 in 28 overs with Captain Paroshan Gramoney taking 2 for 16 off his 6 overs. That accomplished the Colts batted positively with Asghar Khan making 43 & Wesley Poole 30. But it was Paroshan that hit the winning runs in the final over, the team reaching 154.
Coach Andre Pretorius is very proud of both teams who worked very hard to achieve their victories. Goals were set & strategies implemented at the beginning of the season. Both teams achieved much more than their original goals & thoroughly deserve their accolades. It was not plain sailing as there were tight, tough matches that built the character of all players.
With the adopted High schools U/15 & O/15 teams also victorious, a coach could not have asked for a better season.
The Colts are very young & enthusiastic, playing together for the first time they are the pride of the Union whose aim it was to develop our youngsters.
The A team is a tight unit where every player contributes, not relying on 1 or 2 players to do the job.
Both teams were excellent in the field and they are very proud of all they have achieved this season. All the players are looking forward to the new season with new challenges. Andre Pretorius
