Ditlhasa overcome Shining Stars
Dumisani Ncube | Wednesday August 20, 2014 10:30
Shining Stars skipper, Thatayaone Tshose won the toss and elected to field first while Aziz Mintu and Zain Abbasi opened the batting for Ditlhasa. The two opening batsmen started with a very high run rate scoring 50 in six overs.
Abbasi was bowled out by Mmoloki Mooketsi in the ninth over after getting with 30 runs from 49 deliveries. Hard-hitting batsman, Reginald Nehonde came in to partner Mintu. The duo created a solid partnership which lasted for seven overs when Mintu was bowled out by Thabang Nshomane going out with 26 runs from 22 balls.
Sooraj Nair came in to partner Nehonde. Shining Stars tightened their fielding, giving Nair and Nehonde some hard time.
In the 18th over, Nair was sent packing b spinner Mooketsi and all rounder Noor Ahmed came in to face the ball. The batsman displayed some brilliant skills with his partner Nehonde and broke the Shining Stars defence.
The batsmen’s partnership closed on 30 runs in the 25th over when Nehonde’s shot was caught by Tumelo Molema from a Dhruv Masuria delivery. After 25 overs, Ditlhasa had 131 runs. Ali Malek came in but did not last long getting 19 runs before he was run out by Nshomane. His departure led to the sinking of the Ditlhasa ship as the batsmen went out one by one. Ditlhasa closed with 224 runs all out.
Shining Stars started their batting on a very poor form with Rashaad Mosweu going out for a duck from a Namal Bandara delivery. Tumelo Molema and Obakeng Eyman tried to cover up for the early wicket, but Ditlhasa proved to have a strong fielding system as the batsmen found it tough to score runs.
Ditlhasa tightened their fielding and in the 13th over, Molema was run-out by Noor Ahmed when he went for a double run. Ogolotse Tshwene went in to partner Eyman whose wicket fell out from an lbw that came from Katlego Thuto.
Skipper Thatayaone Tshose came in to revive the sinking ship, showing some good leadership and scant respect for the experienced Ditlhasa players. In the 15th over the rookies had 84 runs.
Nehonde took Tshwene’s wicket from an lbw and the batsman walked out with 21 runs from 38 deliveries.
Thabo Motlhabane came in to form a solid partnership till Tshose was bowled out by Ahmed in the 32nd over. Dhruv Masuria replaced his skipper to partner Motlhabane. The two staged a tough fight with the Ditlhasa fielders giving them a hard time in the field as they scored double runs.
The rookies’s hope of winning the match came to an end in the 41st over when Motlhabane was bowled out and Maisuria went out with 24 runs from 34 deliveries. Shining Stars closed on 199 all out to lose by 25 runs.