Gugs back to winning ways, Langa struggles

Bonke Ngingi’s five-wicket haul helped Gugulethu Cricket Club earn a back-to-back victory with a one wicket win over United Cricket Club during a Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA) First Division A one-day match, at the Green Point Track, on Saturday.

This comes a week after Gugulethu stunned Milnerton with a 13-run-win in Milnerton.

Ngingi averaged 2.4 runs in his 9.3 overs, while taking five wickets for 23 runs and one maiden.

Among Ngingi’s victims were United’s opening batsmen, Aqeel Burns (1) and Isma-eel Prince (5), as well as all-rounder Keiron Kenny who Ngingi bowled out for 27 runs in seventh spot.

Anele Mjezu, Lucky Tywaku and Luvuyo Gquma also had a good bowling spell. Mjezu took 2/26 runs and two maidens in eight overs, Tywaku received 2/31 runs in six overs and Gquma got 1/12 runs including a maiden in eight overs.

Despite not receiving a wicket, opening bowler Mondli Mahlombe received an impressive eight runs and two maidens in six overs. He was, on average, hit 1.3 runs in his six-over spell, to limit United to 122 runs all-out.

When it came to batting, openers, Siyabonga Madonono and Ivile Jokazi have a lot to consider at training ahead of their encounter against Primrose at home on Saturday.

Madonono and Jokazi were both dismissed on ducks after only facing four balls each.

Ncedo Tywaku (23), Khanyisile Mfana (28) and Lucky Tywaku (17 not-out) helped to carry the team to a winning 123/9.

United won the toss and elected to bat first.

“Bonke (Ngingi) and Anele (Mjezu) opened the bowling. They gave us a really good start. United were seven runs up for two wickets. We then had to have patience when Qaasim Adams came to the crease. We knew if we get that wicket than we’re in the game. Lucky (Tywaku) eventually got the big wicket,” captain Ncedo Tywaku said.

Tywaku said before lunch they lost a wicket and immediately after lunch they lost another wicket, the pressure was piling up.

“Myself and Khanyisile scored a partnership of 49 runs that gave the shift of the game towards our favour. During our partnership, we faced over 15 overs before I was caught out. Khanyisile stayed for another two overs than he was run-out,” he said.

Tywaku said United’s bowlers, Shaheed Abader (3/41 runs) and Francois Plaatjies (4/19 runs) were giving them a tough time on the crease.

“We needed about 18 runs with two wickets. We then needed nine runs with one wicket. When our number 11, Barky (Luvuyo Gquma) was batting we were standing on the boundary, clenching our teeth some of us closing our eyes. But he surprised us, he blocked well and left the wide balls to give Lucky strike,” he said.

Tywaku said they are ambitiously cautious of good results ahead of their first home fixture of the season against Primrose at the NY49 sports complex on Saturday.

“Our work in the preseason, we can see it now. We’re training hard and the rewards are showing. This will be our first home game. We’re always looking to improve ourselves and we don’t focus a lot on our opposition,” he said.

In WPCA First Division D results, Khayelitsha stunned Brooklyn with a 175-run victory in Brooklyn on Saturday.

Khayelitsha won the toss and elected to bat first, confidently scoring 261 runs in 50 overs.

Khayelitsha outbowled Brooklyn for 86 runs in 22.3 overs to ensure their third win out of three games played.

Last week they beat Belhar by 78 runs, a fortnight ago their game against Hanover Park was abandoned due to weather conditions, and they won their opening game by five wickets against Fish Hoek last month.

Khayelitsha will hope to maintain their winning streak when they host Pollsmoor on Saturday.

In WPCA Premier League action, Langa’s Phindile Tsolekile’s 72 runs was not enough to help his team beat Brackenfell at the weekend.

Tsolekile’s impressive 72 runs off 77 balls included eight boundaries and a strike rate of 95 percent.

Brackenfell won the toss and elected to bowl first, limiting Langa to 176 runs all-out in 49.3 overs. In response, Brackenfell reached 177/5 in 36.2 overs.

Langa will travel up to Rondebosch Cricket Club on Saturday.