Players flourish on Day 1 of CSA Cubs Week

The South African Schools’ captain of 2013, Yaseen Valli got his side the bizhub Highveld Lions of to a winning start at the 2014 edition of Cricket South Africa’s annual Cubs Week in Stellenbosch.

Valli (65*) played a mature half-century after his side was struggling at 63/5 at a stage in their match against the South African under-17 side. The Lions are the defending champions of the tournament of which there will be a final played to decide the champions for the first time since its inception in 2009.

Dayyaan Galiem grabbed for wickets for only 29 runs was the main destroyer for the national u17-side. Galiem was in the national u19-side which toured India last year. Two other players who performed well on the opening day of the Cubs Week was also members of this team.

Greg Oldfield of the Sunfoil Dolphins grabbed an impressive seven wickets for 42 runs with his off spin bowling in his side’s match against the Chevrolet Warriors. Oldfield didn’t make the South African Schools’ side last year after making the side in 2012. He did however took a hat-trick of wickets in his final match of the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Week in Durban last year.

His performance was however not enough to secure a victory as Warriors’ leg spinner, Lance Roelfse stepped to the fore as bowled his side to a 59-run victory. Roelfse grabbed six wickets for a mere 12 runs.

Aiden Markram of the Unlimited Titans was a member of the team to India, but is playing in his first Cubs Week. He also haven’t played at a Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Week in his career. He scored 72 runs as the Titans beat the Chevrolet Knights by seven wickets. Leus du Plooy (34*) also made a valuable contribution with the bat in hand. Du Plooy was also the best bowler for his side as he dismissed three batsmen for 19 runs.

The Knights struggled to 158 after they were in a commanding position on 77/2 after 11 overs. Christian Steyn (48) made the biggest contribution with the bat of which 16 runs came in the first over of the match bowled by Dustin Melton (2/50).

The Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras defeated Zimbabwe by six wickets in their encounter. Zimbabwe is drawn in the same group as South Africa for the ICC u19 World Cup which will be hosted in the United Arab Emirates next month.

Summarised Scorecards:

Chevrolet Warriors 222 (Lloyd Brown 39, Bradley Bopp 38; Greg Oldfield 7/42); Sunfoil Dolphins 118 (Jason Oakes 53; Lance Roelfse 6/12). Chevrolet Warriors won by 59 runs (Duckworth/Lewis method).

Chevrolet Knights 158 (Christian Steyn 48, Patrick Kruger 23; Leus du Plooy 3/19, Corbin Bosch 2/14); Unlimited Titans 159/3 (Aidan Markram 72, Leus du Plooy 34*; Paballo Mogoera 1/13). Unlimited Titans won by seven wickets.

South Africa u17 163 (Andile Phehlukwayo 47, Grant Roelofsen 21; Kagiso Rabada 2/11); Bizhub Highveld Lions 161/9 (Yaseen Valli 65*; Dayyaan Galiem 4/29). Bizhub Highveld Lions won by one wicket (Duckworth/Lewis method).

Zimbabwe 121 (Blair Lake 42; Justin Dill 2/17, Yolisa Mona 2/34); Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras 87/4 (Jason Smith 26*, Riaz Sader 25). Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras won by six wickets (Duckworth/Lewis method).