Back to back wins for Gugulethu cricket teams
Gugulethu Cricket Club’s men’s and women’s first teams showcased some fine cricketing prowess in the Western Province Cricket Association’s First Division A’s one-day and AMA20 matches, over the past two weeks.
The men’s first team were out for the hunt when they travelled over the railway tracks to face Avendale Cricket Club in Athlone on Saturday, January 27.
The young men’s first team squad, led by the experienced captain Mbulelo Nkomo, as well as player-coach, Mondli Mahlombe beat Avendale Cricket Club and Pinelands Cricket Club to make it five wins in 15 games played this season.
They scored a total of 185 runs against Avendale, before bowling them out for 157 runs in 30.1 overs, claiming a 28-runs victory.
Gugulethu's bowling pair of Luvuyo Gquma and Mbulelo Dube was instrumental in Athlone. Coming in as a first change bowler, Dube picked up 4/57 runs in 10 overs. He was expensive, but it was effective in picking up wickets.
Gquma, on the other hand, walked away with the match ball, following his five-wicket haul against Avendale. One of his victims was dangerman, Chad Reece Josephs, he caught him with a stumping, thanks to the safe hands of the 15-year-old wicket keeper, Olwethu Mathabeni. Gquma also took out Tariq Benjamin with an LBW. His bowling figures were 5/31 runs in 10 overs against Avendale.
This past Saturday, February 3, Gugs hosted Pinelands Cricket Club’s men’s team. It took Pinelands 49.4 overs to bowl out Gugs for 220 runs. Middle order batsman, Mangaliso Mthiya was in fine form with the bat, scoring a well deserved 88 runs before he was runout by Jono Bird.
Senior player, Sphamandla Hlakudi bowled a spell of five overs, taking four wickets and conceding 19 runs late on the day .
Jason Clothier (52 runs) scored an unbeaten half-a-century to edge Pinelands closer to the score, but his side was bowled out on the 195-run mark. Gugulethu won by 25 runs.
Gugs’ women’s team, too, showcased remarkable team spirit in their victory over WPCC women’s team, in the AMA20 women’s first division A match, at the Walley Wilson Oval, a fortnight ago.
Gugulethu Ladies defended a total of 77/6 in 20 overs by bowling out WPCC on 29 runs in 11.4 overs. Bowlers, Elihle Norongo (3/7 runs), Mbali Gqumayo (4/12 runs) and Buchule Nguza (1/2 runs), played an instrumental role in the women’s first team’s victory in Rondebosch.
To top it off, Gugulethu had a surprise visit from the Proteas captain last week, Themba Bavuma, during a hand-over of cricket equipment from the Themba Bavuma Foundation.
From the junior players that attended, at least two youngsters, Imange Matyolweni and Liyema Mkumbuzi, were a part of the foundation’s annual national cricket tournament. They were awarded for their participation in last years tournament in Gauteng.
Mthiya said the young boys efforts’ is a testament to the amount of hard work and dedication they give out, on and off the field.
The Sunrises Eastern Cape batter, Bavuma, from Langa, said the cricketing kit sponsorship will go a long way in pushing Gugulethu’s mission of driving the spirit of sport forward, to create more national and international players.
