Richard White
NCU PRO

Andrew White NCU Academy v Boland Invitation XI, at Scorpions CC, Oude Libertas, Stellenbosch, 2nd April

It may have been so different!

If only the off-bail had decided to fall rather than balance on top of the stump from that first delivery of the match by Matthew Foster, who knows what might have happened.

As it was Hendrik Brink took full advantage of his good fortune to smash his way to 86, albeit with another couple of lives generously given by some below average NCU fielding.

The NCU bowling toiled way manfully in the oppressive heat but with Foster leaving the field with a knee twinge at the end of that eventful first over, resources were always going to be stretched.

Luke Allison, Alex Haggan and Aaron Wright all claimed two wickets but with Juan Radenan scoring a century batting at number seven the home side looked set to post a total in excess of 300.

Photo: Hendrik Brink is 'bowled' first ball of the match by Matthew Forster but sees the off bail balance on the stump  - Brink went on to score 86 in the match - by such small margins.

In the end the NCU did well to bowl them out in the 49th over and a total of 281 was not 'out of sight' as far as the tourists were concerned.

Any thoughts of an NCU victory were quickly banished as the top six were quickly dispatched - Oliver Metcalfe (11), Harry Warke (0), Jack Burton (5), Aaron Wright (7), Max Burton (8), and Jamie Magowan (0), leaving the innings faltering at 30 runs for 6 wickets.

For the second match in a row it was captain Alex Haggan who pitched in with a run-a-ball 60, firstly in partnership with Archie Johnston (17) and then as further wickets fell, with number eleven Luke Allison (18), Haggan finishing not out in a game where the NCU were very much second best on the day. Boland Invitation XI were comprehensive winners by 121 runs.

Match Summary

Andrew White NCU Academy v Boland Invitation XI, at Oude Libertas, Stellenbosch, 2nd April
Boland Invitation XI - 281 (48.1 overs: J Radenan 100, H Brink 86; L Allison 2-23, A Haggan 2-24, A Wright 2-53)
Andrew White NCU Academy - 160 (36.2 overs: A Haggan 60*, L Allison 18, A Johnston17; M Papenfoes 3-12, J Wilson 3-32, M Hull 2-11)
Boland XI win by 121 runs

Tour Photos © Ian Johnston / CricketEurope