Tag: Pumelela Matshikwe

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Proteas Prepare for International Summer as SACA MVP Expands 

The South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) anticipates an exciting international summer for both the Proteas Men and Women. Kicking off…

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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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ELGAR, ADAMS BAT TITANS TO A DRAW

A tremendous batting performances by Dean Elgar and Qaasim Adams helped the Unlimited Titans take a step closer towards the Sunfoil Series title with a battling draw against the bizhub Highveld Lions in their high-profile clash in Centurion on Sunday.

Proteas opener Elgar struck a monumental 173 (386 balls, 23 fours, 3 sixes) after batting for over nine hours with his side eventually finishing on 385/6.

Adams too played his part and was there at the end on 71 not out (190 balls, 10 fours) – himself batting for over four hours having arrived at the crease with defeat looking the likeliest of outcomes at SuperSport Park.

The top-of-the-table Titans had started out the day on 156/1 in their follow on innings and still needing another 223 to make the Lions bat again.

But they lost four wickets in the first session on Sunday as Grant Mokoena (27), Theunis de Bruyn (7), Mangaliso Mosehle (0) and Henry Davids (0) fell to the pace of Pumelela Matshikwe.

They were precariously placed at that stage on 216/5, but a 110-run sixth-wicket stand between Elgar and Adams rescued them. Not only did the pair keep hold of their wickets, but more importantly, they ate up time as their stand lasted more than 40 overs.

Matshikwe, who took all six wickets to fall for figures of 6/58 in 31 overs, eventually dismissed Elgar with more than 20 overs to play, but Adams found an unlikely batting ally in fast bowler Marchant de Lange. The Proteas paceman batted for over 20 overs with Adams to make 23 not out as the game ended in a draw.

 

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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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MOMENTUM ONE-DAY CUP CHAMPIONS

Half-centuries by Stephen Cook and Alviro Petersen helped the bizhub Highveld Lions complete a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over the Cape Cobras to clinch the Momentum One-Day Cup title in emphatic fashion at PPC Newlands on Sunday.

The two senior visiting batsmen were not the only key contributors for their side with the bowlers also playing a vital role in Cape Town, where the Johannesburg side won with a massive 98 balls to spare. The plaudits will be taken by Cook, who ended unbeaten on 77 (94 balls, 9 fours) at the end, and Petersen, after his 55 (56 balls, 8 fours), but the real graft was done by the Lions’ bowlers.

After winning the toss and opting to field first, they turned in a splendid display with the ball to topple the hosts for just 169 in 42 overs. Pumelela Matshikwe and Aaron Phangiso claimed three wickets apiece, while there was one each for all the other frontline bowlers. Medium-pacer Matshikwe was particularly impressive with his 3/28 in eight overs, including two maidens. Phangiso bagged 3/33 in nine overs on a memorable day for the Lions.

Only one batsmen made a significant contribution for the Cobras. That was captain Justin Ontong with 60 (77 balls, 2 fours). But their total looked significantly short at the halfway stage, and so it told.

The Lions made light work of the chase and raced to 67 for none in the 15th over, before Rassie van der Dussen (29) fell. But Petersen and Cook, killed off any hopes that may have been raised by that wicket with a 96-run second wicket stand. Former Proteas opener Petersen took his season aggregate beyond the 700 mark, before he eventually fell with less than 10 to get, and Cook struck the winning runs to hit the 500 mark when they achieved the target in the 34th over.

Victory in the one-day competition was the first outright title for the Lions since the 2003/04 season when they did so as Gauteng in the pre-franchise era.. They did share the prize with the Cobras in 2012/13.

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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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