• AB steers Eagles to victory in Centurion

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    AB de Villiers rolled back the years in true fashion during Saturday’s 3TCricket Solidarity Cup at SuperSport Park, which his team, AB’s Eagles, won.

    The new format presented a number of challenges for both players and fans to get used to with the fielding side, in particular, having to front up with only eight players in a team.

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    The match consisted of 36 overs, divided into two halves, meaning each team had a total of 12 overs to bat – six of which were in each half.

    The first half

    The match started with all players and coaches taking a knee before the first ball was bowled, with Reeza Hendrick’s Kingfishers batting first after a random draw placed two teams on the field and one in the dugout.

    Janneman Malan did some big hitting to steer the Kingfishers to 56-2 in their first six overs, while Temba Bavuma’s Kites were in the field bowling.

    Quinton de Kock, due to lead the Kites, pulled out early on Saturday morning due to personal reasons, which had Bavuma taking over the captain’s armband.

    The second six overs were followed by the Eagles having the opportunity to bat, while the Kingfishers had to bowl to what was a rather strong batting lineup.

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    Aiden Markram and AB de Villiers guided the Eagles to 66-1 in their first stint at the crease, before the Kites posted 58-1 in their six overs.

    The second half

    Given the nature of the game, a rotation system was used so that teams bat and bowl in different slots in the second half of the match, depending on their first scores. De Villiers and Markram continued where they left off with both surpassing the 50-run mark.

    The Eagles would eventually post a formidable total of 160-4 from their allotted 12 overs as Markram top-scored with 70 off just 33 balls, while De Villiers managed 61 from 24.

    The Kites resumed their second stint on 58-1 but a couple of quick wickets by the Kingfishers had them reach only 138-3 in their 12 overs, despite some powerful hitting by Dwaine Pretorius towards the end of the innings.

    It meant the Kingfishers required 105 runs from their final six overs to surpass the Eagles’ total and win the match.

    But, it wasn’t to be as the Eagles bowlers remained patient and produced a disciplined six overs with ball in hand, with the Kingfishers posting 113-5 in their 12 overs.

    As a result, the Eagles claimed the gold medal, the Kites silver and the Kingfishers bronze.

     

     

     

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    Andre Huisamen