Match report: Leading Edge hosts two touring UK teams

Locally, the cricket season is already in full swing, with many fixtures already on the calendar. Thankfully, the Leading Edge was still able to squeeze in these exciting matches against the two touring sides.

In fact, my co-colleague (and director of operations at the Leading Edge) Hilton Toro recently wrote about the impending UK-sides tour. Most enjoyable cricket matches were played. The Leading Edge was also surprised at the unexpected announcement of a cricket kit donation received from the Hornsey Club.

Results went as follows: 

The Leading Edge U12 vs Wellesley U12

On Friday 10 February, the 11- and 12-year olds on our program, played a 25-over match against Wellesley. This match was hosted and played at Somerset College.

The boys were very excited to be playing against international opposition. Despite our team’s lack of time to train together in preparation for the match, our young aspiring cricketers enthusiastically rose to the occasion, dominating the contest from the very first ball that was bowled.

Wellesley (UK) won the toss and elected to bat first. They got off to a good start, negotiating the pace and accuracy of our captain and opening bowler Xavier Basson very well. This opening pair retired after 5 overs. Simlindile Slamsi—with his off-spin—provided great support to restrict the openers. Aqeeb Fanie came into the attack and bowled brilliantly to end up as the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4 – 0 – 7 – 3. Aqeeb was well supported in the bowling attack, by Daniel Adonis who tightened the screws even further on the opposition with match figures of 2 – 0 – 4 – 2.

Our batters made light work of the target set by Wellesley chasing down the 92 runs required in only 14.5 overs for the loss of only one wicket with valuable contributions by Shuneal Paulse 20(15) and Aqeeb Fanie (13(21).

It was a great team performance with everyone getting a chance to showcase their skills. The team’s fielding effort in particular was outstanding with even the opposition complementing them for their brilliance in the field.

It was a good win for the Leading Edge team! What a brilliant way to kick off the new season! Our players’ performance will hopefully be the catalyst that inspires our young cricketers to work on taking their game to the next level—allowing them to give it their all when they come to play against their more familiar (local) ‘foes’ later this year.

Congratulations to the team! A big thanks to all the behind-the-scenes persons involved as well.

u/14 vs Hornsey

On Sunday 12 February, our ‘champion 2021 team’ reunited to play the visiting Hornsey club team from London. The Leading Edge team led by Troy Varie won the toss and elected to bat first. The opening pair of Owethu Moyi and David de Klerk dominated proceedings by putting the opening bowlers of Hornsey to the sword with some calculated aggression upfront. David 83(56) ended 12 runs short of what would have been a well-deserved ton. He was ably supported by Owethu 30(19) who chased after a wide one to end a promising partnership between the two. Xavier chipped in with a measured 24(36) after Hornsey got back in the game for a brief period with three quick wickets. Tauhier Joseph 22(19) helped put the finishing touches to a brilliant batting display with the team ending on 248/7 in their 35 overs.

Hornsey really struggled to put their stamp on proceedings but never really got going. From the get go, they were put under some real  pressure by our bowlers. Nathan, Xavier and Tauhier made sure the opposition never managed to slip the tight grip of this very young and promising bowling attack. Hornsey could only manage 130 in 34.2 overs.

The Leading Edge won this one by 118 runs, continuing in the same successful vein of their former days back in 2021 (as under 12’s back then). It was a wonderful reunion for this very talented young group of cricketers for whom the future looks very promising.