Tygerberg Cricket Club lost by 65 runs against Victoria CC in their Western Province Cricket Association division (WPCA) 1A two-day fixture, at Flordia Park, in Ravenmead, last weekend.
The home side were on the back foot going into day two having trailed by 59 runs. On day one(November 26),Victoria skipper Robert van der Ross won the toss and chose to bat. His decision paid off as his side posted 206 in their first innings. Middle order batsman Marco Wyngard topped scored for the visitors, smashing 50 off 67 balls.
With the pitch spin-friendly, it was no surprise that Tygerberg off-spinner Luwaaz September was the pick of the bowlers taking six wickets. In reply, the home side were bowled out for 167 runs with the last wicket partnership of 50 runs between Carlos Koyana and Andley Adam playing a crucial role in the Tygerberg innings.
Koyana went on to score 60 runs. Victoria spin bowler Imran Qayyum, the chief destroyer, taking 6/69 in 25.2 overs. Victoria were 20/0 in their second innings at the end of day one.
Last Saturday, Victoria added another 200 runs to their total, setting Tygerberg a daunting task of needing 259 runs for victory. However, Tygerberg were bowled out for 194 runs.
Captain Reece Kensley said his side performed well in patches of the game.
“We went into day two as the underdogs; however, we gave it our best. We need to stick to our disciplines and execute our plans. We will fight till the end,” he said.
The Ravensmead side has had an inconsistent start to the WPCA division 1A two-day format, as they beat Edgemead by one wicket and lost to Milnerton and UCT by three runs and five wickets, respectively, before their game against Tygerberg.
“We have played well in stages but not capitalising on them. We are still finding our feet to put those complete performances together,” Kensley said.
With the two-day format finished for the year, Tygerberg will have the WPCA Grand Challenge one-day format to focus on. Kensley said it won’t get any easier for his young charges.
“We’re in a tough group that includes the likes of Durbanville and last year’s losing finalists, Western Province Cricket Club.
“However, this will be great exposure for the younger players who can test themselves against these clubs,” he said.
Tygerberg have been disappointing in the shortest format of the game, as they won one of their four matches to finish bottom of their group, in October.
They came into the WPCA division 1A 20/20 format competition high on confidence, reaching the final of a pre-season competition hosted by Elsies River/Northlink CC.
“We were well prepared, as we lost one match in the pre-season competition and made the final that will be played next year.
“In the WPCA division 1A 20/20 format competition, we could not pull wins together, and that’s when it really counted,” he said.
Last year, Tygerberg did not have the best of seasons in the WPCA division 1A two-day format, as they were in the bottom half for the most part and needed to win their final two matches in order to stay in the WPCA division 1A, which they were able to do, beating Northerns Goodwood and Fish Hoek by nine and eight wickets, respectively.”
“We left our best performances for last. We’re trying to not put ourselves in that similar situation. Last season proved to us that we will always come out fighting, even if our backs are against the wall,” said Kensley.
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