Tag: Nicky van den Bergh

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SACA Celebrates Tony Irish on Receiving the Prestigious Tim May Medal of Honour

The South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) is proud to celebrate its founder and former CEO, Tony Irish, who received the…

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Kyle Simmonds Crowned Overall Division 1 SACA MVP

The 2025/26 domestic cricket season concludes with Western Province all-rounder Kyle Simmonds named Division 1 Overall SACA MVP. Simmonds earned…

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Liam Alder Named Overall SACA MVP for Domestic Division 2

Following the completion of all domestic fixtures, Liam Alder of the Garden Route Badgers finished at the top of the…

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COBRAS, LIONS SETTLE FOR HIGH-SCORING DRAW

Nicky van den Bergh and Zubayr Hamza hit final-day half-centuries as the Sunfoil Series clash between the World Sports Betting Cape Cobras and bizhub Highveld Lions ended in a draw at Eurolux Boland Park in Paarl on Sunday.

The visitors were eventually bowled out for 562 in reply to the 574 for eight declared by the hosts.

Wiaan Mulder then took four wickets to leave the Cobras on 117 for four when the two captains shook hands.

The men from Gauteng had started out the day on 465 for four, and managed just under 100 for the final six wickets.

Van den Bergh was their highest scorer on the day after hitting 60 (190 balls, 6 fours) as Simon Khomari ended as the pick of the bowlers with two for 66 – the away side eventually dismissed in 178.3 overs and trailing by 12.

An excellent burst by Mulder, who claimed four for 25, threatened a late twist after the Cobras were reduced to 55 for four.

But Hamza hit 54 (67 balls, 10 fours) and shared in an unbroken 62-run stand with Aviwe Mgijima (20) to take the hosts to safety and a seventh draw of the season.

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VILJOEN SEALS LION’S WIN

A day-four fourth innings collapse of the Warriors, fashioned by pacer Hardus Viljoen, handed the Lions a 148-run victory at the Wanderers. With the Warriors needing 288 to win on the final day, the Port Elizabeth side were reduced from 34 for 0 to 34 for 3 in 11 balls.

The Lions elected to bat, and Nicky van den Bergh’s 99 and Dwaine Pretorius’ 97 took them to 308; the pair added 180 in partnership, the only significant stand in the innings – no other partnerships touched 40 runs. Andrew Birch and Sisanda Magala shared seven wickets between them for the Warriors.

In reply, the Warriors were wobbling at 24 for 2 with both their openers dismissed early before Lesiba Ngoepe put on 95 runs – the third batsman to be dismissed in the 90s in the game – in partnership with the middle-order to take his side closer to the Lions’ first innings score, before Pretorius rattled them further in returning 6 for 81. Birch, who came in to bat at No. 9, contributed 82 crucial runs to take his side from 201 for 7 to 356, a 48-run lead.

A 98-run opening partnership for the Lions scratched out any advantage the Warriors had; openers Reeza Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen scored 48 and 51 respectively. At one-down, Dominic Hendricks scored his second fifty in as many games; his 61 along with Yaseen Valli’s 40 led the Lions to 335, before they declared early on day four.

So the Warriors were chasing 288 and ran into Viljoen, who picked up three of the top-four batsmen in the side before coming back to polish off the innings. The Warriors captain Simon Harmer – who already had a match haul of six – top scored with 42 from No. 8 as the team slid to 139 all out.

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HENDRICKS AND COOK LEAD LIONS VICORTY

Centuries from Dominic Hendricks and opener Stephen Cook underpinned an innings-and-78-run victory for Lions over Cape Cobras in Potchefstroom.

Having chosen to bat, Lions lost Rassie van der Dussen early, but Stephen Cook and Hendricks combined well in a 261-run partnership to propel their side. Cook and Hendricks fell for 150 and 160 respectively, but there was no respite for Cobras. Yassar Cook, wicketkeeper-batsman Nicky van den Bergh, and Dwaine Pretorious all stroked fifties as Lions stacked up 580, before declaring the innings. As it turned out, they did not have to bat again.

The Cobras, who had managed only 258 in their first dig, fared worse, after being asked to follow on. Left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin finished with a match haul of six wickets to clean up the lower order. Fast bowler Hardus Viljoen, who made light work of the top order, claimed figures of 4 for 42 to dismiss Cobras for 244.

Omphile Ramela Stiaan van Zyl, Wayne Parnell all had starts, but failed to push on. Parnell had a start in the first innings as well, which he converted to 62 before being pinned lbw by pacer Pumelela Matshikwe. Andrew Puttick scored 73 at the top of the order, but the middle order fell away. Lions ultimately walked away with 19.1 points to narrow the gap at the top of the table. Cobras, on the other hand, remained rooted to the bottom half of the table with just a solitary win in six matches.

 

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COOK, BOWLERS PUT LIONS IN QUALIFIER

The bizhub Highveld Lions booked their place in the Momentum One-Day Cup qualifier after a comprehensive four-wicket win over the VKB Knights at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

After winning the toss and bowling first, the Johannesburg side knocked over their hosts for a below-par 169 in 38.3 overs, before chasing down victory with 61 balls to spare. There were several stand-out performances with the ball for the Lions, including six wickets shared between Matt McGillivray and Eddie Leie.

Rookie fast bowler McGillivray was the pick of the bowlers with 3/32, while leg-break bowler Leie claimed 3/43.  But it was the single wicket by Aaron Phangiso (1/32) of Letlotlo Sesele (29) with the total on 109/2 that triggered a collapse of eight wickets for 60 runs.

Another inexperience bowler Carmi le Roux collected 2/29 to mop up the tail, while top scorer for the Knights was Reeza Hendricks (41).

The Lions lost stand-in opener Temba Bavuma (5) early in their chase, but his partner Stephen Cook anchored the chase with 64 (96 balls, 8 fours) to take his side to the brink. Nicky van den Bergh (43 not out) finished the job, while Alviro Petersen (36) provided some earlier support for the captain as the visitors moved to second on the table.

With the Warriors losing to the Cape Cobras also on Saturday, the result means that the Lions cannot be caught in second and will therefore host the February 24 qualifier. The Cobras also secured themselves an automatic berth in the final they will host on February 28 by winning in Port Elizabeth.

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COOK CENTURY PUTS LIONS ON ROAD TO LIKELY VICTORY

Stephen Cook’s 34th first-class century set the bizhub Highveld Lions on their way to victory over the Warriors on the third day of their Sunfoil Series clash at Bidvest Wanderers.

Cook turned his overnight 62 into an unbeaten 168, driving the Lions to a second-innings total of 294 for four declared that set the Warriors a target of 423 to win in four-and-a-half sessions.

The Lions looked set to wrap up the game swiftly when they reduced the Warriors to 39 for four, with Hardus Viljoen clinching his seventh and eighth scalps in the match, but Colin Ackermann and Clyde Fortuin dug in to see the Warriors to stumps on 104 for four.

Starting the day on 98 without loss and an overall lead of 226, the Lions held a commanding position that they were unlikely to relinquish.

Although his partner, Rassie van der Dussen (28), was bowled by Basheeru-Deen Walters in the fourth over of the day, Cook received support from Yassar Cook (35) and Dominic Hendricks (21) before a quick stand with Nicky van den Bergh preceded the declaration midway through the second session.

Viljoen ended an erratic first over by bowling David White as the Warriors reply began, and in the next over Yaseen Vallie was trapped lbw by Dwaine Pretorius.

Viljoen’s third over brought the dismissal of Somila Seyibokwe to leave the Warriors eight for three, and half an hour later Pumelela Matshikwe drew an edge from the bat of Colin Ingram which Cook held at slip.

Ackermann and Fortuin held up the Lions’ charge thereafter, and reached stumps on 45 and 34 respectively, but a great deal of work remains on the final day if they are to hold off Viljoen and company.

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