The Northern Champions will enter the penultimate day of Cricket South Africa’s Cubs Week (for under-19 teams) as the only unbeaten side.
Moreover, it was once again the team’s two tail-end batsmen, Mohammad Rasool (75) and Xander Venter (51), who played a decisive role in the victory over the Central Gladiators with their batting.
The pair shared a partnership of 93 runs over the seventh wicket to help their team finish on 207-8.
On Sunday, the duo helped their team to a win over the Coastal Conquerors with a partnership of 105 runs for the eighth wicket.
The Gladiators are still searching for their first victory after the first three days.
The team’s Christian Sabela (3-20) and Kyle Butler (2-29) can be satisfied with their bowling performances.
The Gladiators were then restricted to just 127 runs, with only Wade McQuinn (55*) managing to provide some resistance.
The Champions’ Kamogelo Matlala (2-22), Xander Venter (2-24) and Nico Loggenberg (2-24) did most of the damage with the ball in hand.
The Coastal Conquerors are back on the winning track thanks to a six-wicket victory over the Western Legends.
The heroes for the KwaZulu-Natal team were Joshua van Biljon (95*) and Bonga Mapanga (72*), who shared an unbeaten partnership of 149 runs over the fifth wicket.
The Legends scored 224-9 in their allotted 50 overs, with Eduard Dreyer (54), Caiden Seleka (35), and Christian Kind (31) doing most of the talking with the bat.
South African under-19 fast bowler Dayalan Boyce (3-30) and Shiraz Perumal (3-45) each dismissed three Legends batsmen.
The Eastern Warriors caused a bit of an upset when they ended the Southern Superstars’ unbeaten run with a 19-run victory.
The Warriors batted first at Tassies Oval and posted 207-8 thanks to solid contributions from Cayden Wilson (71*), Dawid Vermaak (43), and Samuel Scheckter (31).
The team from the Eastern Cape then tightened the screws with their spinner Sulaymaan Gangat (5/35), who claimed a fiver.
The Superstars were bowled out for just 188. Gangat received good support from Luphelo Mdyesha (3-26).
SUMMARISED SCORECARDS
Northern Champions 207/8 (Mohammad Rasool 75, Xander Venter 51; Christian Sabela 3/20, Kyle Butler 2/29)
Central Gladiators 127 (Wade McQuinn 55*; Kamogelo Matlala 2/22, Xander Venter 2/24, Nico Loggenberg 2/24). Northern Champions won by 80 runs.
Eastern Warriors 207/8 (Cayden Wilson 71*, Dawid Vermaak 43, Samuel Scheckter 31, Daveric Petersen 21; Timothy Short 3/20, Sherwin Plaatjies 2/33, Taywin Adams 2/41);
Southern Superstars 188 (Gideon du Toit 34, Taywin Adams 23*, Timothy Short 22, Michail Tarentaal 22, Daniel Cooke 21; Sulaymaan Gangat 5/35, Luphelo Mdyesha 3/26). Eastern Warriors won by 19 runs.
Western Legends 224/9 (Eduard Dreyer 54, Caiden Seleka 35, Christian Kind 31, Aiden Dodd 24; Dayalan Boyce 3/30, Shiraz Perumal 3/45);
Coastal Conquerors 226/4 (Joshua van Biljon 95*, Bonga Mapanga 72*, Thandolwethu Zama 22; Faizaan Kajee 2/30). Coastal Conquerors won by six wickets.