Energetic Rand Afrikaans University take title

Trevor Chesterfield

24 September 1998


CENTURION - Officially they had no man of the match award but all-rounder Zander de Bruyn would have collected the honour had the sponsors of the national club championship put up the cash.

An entertaining innings of 61 followed a steady bowling performance to help Rand Afrikaans University take their first club crown when they eased back on the throttle to beat Free State University by six wickets and overs to spare.

He was one of the few class acts in a final which promised much but in the end turned out to be disappointing for those hoping to see stars of the future in action. De Bruyn's undefeated innings off 87 balls saw RAU to a total of 211 for four off 40.5 overs in reply to Kovsies 207 for nine.

It was De Bruyn's partnership of 78 with Neil McKenzie which sunk what slim hopes Free State University had of winning the game. This followed an early platform set by Andre Seymore who feasted handsomely off anything short or of any width. Seymore ended with 61 off as many balls, but lacked the style of the classy De Bruyn.

Before the week started RAU captain Nic Pothas, who hit the winning runs, offered an opinion in which he saw his side contesting the final with possibly Claremont, the defending champions. He had reason to be confident as with seven provincial players in the side Pothas knew he had the edge on the others.

About the one hiccup yesterday was an embarrassing 13-ball over by all-rounder Ryan Venter in what can only be described as a poor display of bowling. He as called for two no balls and five wides, switching to off-spin to get the over out of the way.

Then again, just as well Free State were handed 45 extras on a plate: there were 30 wides, which shows the a of control by the RAU bowlers.

Pothas placed early pressure on the Free State youngsters when he put them into bat and at 92 for five at the end of the 29th over was in complete control until Venter's horrendous bowling lapse.

It was left to Wiaan Smit and Kovsie skipper Andre Volsteedt to rescue their side with a 81 for the sixth wicket, and although they clawed their way to 207 for nine, it was always going to be 30 runs short of what was needed to give RAU something worth while to chase.


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