STELLENBOSCH: The race to the title of champions of Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) Cubs Week in Stellenbosch is still up for grabs.

At the conclusion of the third day’s play, there are only three sides that have managed to secure two victories in their three matches thus far. They are the Southern Superstars, Western Legends, and Coastal Conquerors.

No unbeaten side was left after the first two days of this year’s tournament in the Boland.

The defending champions, Southern Superstars, are slowly but surely getting into their rhythm for the tournament. They managed to record the highest total of this year’s tournament thus far by scoring 307/6 in their allotted 50 overs against the Eastern Warriors.

Maahir Joseph (75), Abel Mokwena (55) and Meeka-eel Prince (55) all chipped in with half-centuries, while Bongile Mfunelwa (43*) was also well on his way to also reaching his milestone.

Joseph and Mokwena shared an opening partnership of 140 runs which laid a solid foundation. Prince and Mfunelwa also shared an 80-run partnership over the fourth wicket to make the massive total possible.

The Superstars’ Abdullah Bayoumy (35) was also in devastating form. He faced a mere ten deliveries in his innings of which he struck four sixes. It was probably, in the end, the difference between the two sides with the Superstars coming out on top by only 11 runs.

The Warriors’ Jean Upman (83) and Ben van der Merwe (54) also managed half-centuries.

The Western Legends’ JP King (90) almost managed to record a second successive century as his side defeated the Central Gladiators by 47 runs. King scored a century (102) against the Superstars on the second day of the tournament.

Rico Fryer (45*) and Joe Meyer (38) also made valuable contributions with the bat which helped the Legends to reach 285/7 in their allotted overs. Fryer faced only 20 deliveries in his innings.

The Gladiators’ Reuben du Toit (92) did the hard yards but just couldn’t convert his innings into a century to get his side closer to the target. Zack Momberg (58) scored his second successive half-century of the week to showcase his talent.

The Coastal Conquerers’ Makabongwe Ngcobo (62*) and Chad Laycock (40*) got their team past the target of 130 set by the Northern Champions in 24.5 overs to bag an important bonus point victory.

The pair shared an unbeaten 89-run partnership for the fourth wicket to secure the seven-wicket victory.

The Champions was in deep trouble from the start. They stumbled to 36/7 before being bowled out for 129 runs. It was Arnaud du Plessis (52) and Schalk Engelbrecht (20) who managed to give their team’s total a bit more substance.

Alexander Vermeulen (3/21), Nathan Ngugi (3/23), and Banele Cele (3/35) were the bowlers who caused havoc to the Champions’ batting line-up.

The live Cubs Week action can be streamed on the SuperSport Schools App and website, with live scorecards available on www.pitchvision.co.za.

DAY 3 RESULTS:

Summarised Scorecards:

  • Western Legends beat the Central Gladiators by 47 runs.

Western Legends 285/7 (JP King 90, Rico Fryer 45*, Joe Meyer 38, Tshireletso Tikoe 21; Dean Bacher 3/60, Kyle Glennistor 2/51).

Central Gladiators 238 (Reuben du Toit 92, Zack Momberg 58; Jayden Davids 2/28, Stefan Nel 2/42, Mbongiseni Mhlanga 2/51).

  • Southern Superstars beat Eastern Warriors by 11 runs

Southern Superstars 307/6 (Maahir Joseph 75, Abel Mokwena 55, Meeka-eel Prince 55, Bongile Mfunelwa 43*, Abdullah Bayoumy 35; Akhona Ratyana 2/55).

Eastern Warriors 296/7 (Jean Upman 83, Ben van der Merwe 54, Casey Keevy 39, Hlonelo Bune 27, Siphamandla Bashe 26, Ethan Frosler 23; Tyler Williams 3/37, Abdullah Bayoumy 2/49)

  • Coastal Conquerors beat Northern Champions by seven wickets.

Northern Champions 129 (Arnaud du Plessis 52, Schalk Engelbrecht 20; Alexander Vermeulen 3/21, Nathan Ngugi 3/23, Banele Cele 3/35).

Coastal Conquerors 132/3 (Makabongwe Ngcobo 62*, Chad Laycock 40*; Schalk Engelbrecht 2/22)

CUBS WEEK 2022 FIXTURES:

THURSDAY, 13 JANUARY

  • Central Gladiators vs Northern Campions – Coetzenburg
  • Southern Superstars vs Coastal Conquerers – Tassies Oval
  • Western Legends vs Eastern Warriors – Maties C / D

FRIDAY, 14 JANUARY

  • Central Gladiators vs Southern Superstars – Coetzenburg
  • Northern Champions vs Western Legends – Maties C / D
  • Coastal Conquerers vs Eastern Warriors – Tassies Oval

CUBS WEEK 2022 TEAMS:

CENTRAL GLADIATORS

Nkanyiso Mkhize, Dean Bacher, Christopher King, Reuben du Toit, Zack Momberg, Simo Potelwa, Talha Chavoos, Billy van Zyl, Kyle Glennistor, Ravat Yusuf, Tshepo Stafa, Greg Ford, Richard Seletswane

COASTAL CONQUERERS

Banele Cele, Alexander Vermeulen, Romashen Pillay, Jake Carstens, Thabiso Ndlela, Chad Laycock, Nathan Ngugi, Makabongwe Ngcobo, Oyama Ntshona, Nathan Trevethan, Bonga Shezi, Ntando Zuma, Slade van Staden

EASTERN WARRIORS

Siphamandla Bashe, Daniel Ristow, Butsha Mfazwe, Cameron Williams, Ben van der Merwe, Russel Peterson, Casey Keevy, Cormey van der Watt, Ian Baard, Eathan Frosler, Akhona Ratyana, Bune Hlonela, Olwakhe Goqoza

NORTHERN CHAMPIONS

Nathan Steyn, Amaan Khan, Christiaan Daniels, Sinethemba Ngeyane, Letsholo Selemela, Schalk Engelbrecht, William Tshoke, Arnaud du Plessis, Shelton Ngobeni, Modise Maloka, Christiaan du Toit, Khaif Patel, Dewan Marais

SOUTHERN SUPERSTARS

Nathan Jacobs, Abdullah Bayoumy, Meeka-eel Prince, Jesse Prodehl, Abel Mokwena, Basil George, Liyema Waqu, Bongile Mfunelwa, Gysbert Wege, Tyler Williams, Juan James, Maahir Josesph, Cameron Fraser

WESTERN LEGENDS

Mvula Chabalala, Hanro Swanepoel, Matthew Davids, Corne Prinsloo, Jayden Davids, Bathabile Masigo, Mboniseni Mhlanga, Tshireletso Tikoe, Stefan Nel, Rico Fryer, Sello Sessing, JP King, Joe Meyer