Stuurman dismantles Dragons

Glenton Stuurman produced his best List A bowling figures to help bowl out the North West University Dragons for 179 in a CSA One-Day Cup Match at Eurolux Boland Park in Paarl on Saturday afternoon.

Stuurman, wearing the captain’s armband, grabbed 6-18 in 8.5 overs, beating his previous best of 5-33 for South Western Districts against Northerns in 2016-17 season, after winning the toss and electing to bowl first.

The Dragons struggled to push the run-rate over four runs to the over as Stuurman, assisted by Aya Gqamane (7-0-24-0), Aviwe Mgijima (10-0-36-0), Imran Manack (9-0-47-1) and Ethan Cunningham (3-0-16-1), put the visitors on the backfoot with some excellent bowling and fielding.

Manack handed the home side the perfect start, having Janneman Malan edging behind to Grant Roelofsen off just the second ball of the innings.

Meeka-eel Prince also offered Roelofsen an easy catch from the bowling off Stuurman for two before having Matthew Kleinveldt caught at mid-on by Manack for just five.

Rubin Hermann (37) and captain Wihan Lubbe (54) rescued the Dragons with a fourth-wicket stand of 65 before the introduction of the left-arm spin of Siya Mahima (3-0-21-1) broke the partnership with Hermann charging down the track, only for Roelofsen to whip the bails off.

Lubbe and Lesiba Ngoepe (33) then added 54 runs for the fifth wicket from 62 balls with Ngoepe cracking three fours and two sixes from 36 balls but was then caught at deep backward square-leg by Lehan Botha, diving to his right to take a two-handed catch, running around from fine leg to hand Cunningham his first wicket for Boland.

Lubbe, who had struck four boundaries, was run out at the non-striker’s end after excellent fielding by Gqmane in the covers, with Mgijima flicking the bails off.

Stuurman then returned to demolish the tail, having Ruan de Swardt brilliantly caught by Manack at mid-on, diving full-length to his right, taking a one-handed catch.

Caleb Saleka then edged behind without scoring before Stuurman clean-bowled both Kerwin Mungroo and Odirile Modimokoane without scoring, leaving Migael Pretorius unbeaten at the non-striker’s end on 13.

Boland will be hoping that they can chase down the required 180 to extend their lead at the top of the One-Day Cup log.

Goldrush Boland – Blayde Capell, Grant Roelofsen (wk), Gavin Kaplan, Aviwe Mgijima, Ethan Cunningham, Lehan Botha, Aya Gqamane, Nathan Jacobs, Imran Manack, Glenton Stuurman (capt), Siyabonga Mahima.

North West University Dragons – Rubin Hermann, Janneman Malan, Meeka-eel Prince (wk), Matthew Kleinveldt, Wihan Lubbe (capt), Lesiba Ngoepe, Ruan de Swardt, Migael Pretorius, Caleb Seleka, Kerwin Mungroo, Odirile Modimokoane.