19V72 E1 - 12 FEBRUARY 2013sport

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Enrolment and payment 31 March

Examination dates 20 May to 24 May

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Sean Culinan and Staff Writer

UCT performed admirably in this year’s USSA ‘A’ cricket

tournament in a predictably windy Port Elizabeth. Placed in a tough pool, including hosts NMMU and defending champions Stellenbosch, UCT’s finest cricketers finished in a respectable fourth place out of eight teams.

Day one saw UCT take on NMMU, themselves former champions in an event on their home soil. Winning the toss and electing to bat first, UCT posted a commanding 232/7 in 50 overs, largely thanks to a 101 run opening partnership between Adeeb Joseph (43) and Michael Pote (56). Wayne Lombard also chipped in with a powerful 68, including four huge sixes. Despite some good work from the opening bowlers, some ill-disciplined bowling in the final overs saw the team suffer an agonising loss off the second-to-last ball of the game.

On day two, UCT faced local rivals Stellenbosch. Batting first, UCT were all-out for 172, made possible thanks to Michael Pote (51) and Dewald Keulder (40). Defending a low total, the UCT bowlers restricted Stellenbosch to 46/5 in 15 overs, with Keulder and Dods picking up two wickets apiece. However, Stellenbosch recovered in the middle overs and by the final over needed just six runs to win with one wicket in hand. Dewald Keulder stepped up to the plate, conceding just four runs and taking the final wicket to hand UCT their first victory, completing a fine individual performance with figures of 4/41.

An effective quarter-final against UJ then took place on day three. UCT’s batsman started off cautiously on a difficult pitch, finishing on 220/6. Seb Golding anchored the innings with an outstanding 53,

UCT show strength in PEwhile an impressive 81 runs were added in the last ten overs by Graeme Beghin (21 off 10 balls) and Keulder (28 off 23). UCT’s opening bowlers started well, restricting UJ to 33/3 in the first ten overs, and the fine work continued with the ball as UJ collapsed to 121 all out, 100 short of victory. Bell finished with 4/23, ably supported by Dods (2/30) and Golding (2/10).

Riding high on their success, UCT then faced local rivals and Western Province League champions, UWC, in the semi-final. UWC posted an impressive 240/9 after some wayward bowling by UCT in the latter stages. Bell, however, returned with excellent figures of 4/37. In reply, openers Adeeb Joseph (26) and Michael Pote (32) took the attack to UWC’s,

Wesley Bell, UCT’s player of the tournament,

finished amongst the top wicket-takers

reaching 51/0 in ten overs. A mix-up led to captain Joseph being run-out, and a collapse then followed, leaving UCT’s lower order with a tough task; managing only 153 all out, 87 short of UWC’s total.

Following the loss to UWC, day five saw UCT face TUKS in the third and fourth play-off. Beating the former multiple champions proved to be a tough ask, as they bowled UCT out for 72, with only Golding (23) showing resistance with the bat.

Along with the fourth place finish, UCT had a lot of positives to take home. Opening batsman Michael Pote was selected for the SA Universities Team and bowler Wesley Bell, UCT’s player of the tournament, finished amongst the top wicket-takers over the five games.

Alasdair Fraser

The world’s number-one ranked Test cricket team rolls into Cape Town for the second Sunfoil Test against Pakistan at Sahara Park Newlands, starting on Valentine’s Day.

For all those foreign students who escaped the colonial clutches of the British Empire, therefore missing out on cricket, afternoon tea and cucumber sandwiches, this is no time for romance and red roses – just raw aggression for five days. This is what Test match cricket is all about.

The only red you’ll see is that leather ball being hurtled through the air at speeds of up to 150 km/h. Five days of it – unless Pakistan succumb to arguably South Africa’s greatest fast bowler of all time, Dale Steyn.

Test Cricket Anyone?

The Good in Sport

White line fever Rob ByrneSports Editor

It was an enduring image, and one that has stayed with me

for a long time. Andrew Flintoff crouched, consoling his adversary and fellow cricketing heavyweight, Brett Lee. The year was 2005 and a heady one for any English cricket fan.

On the final day of the Edgbaston Test, Lee had battled to 43 and with a mere three runs left to chase down, it seemed for all the world the Australians were going to win the Test. But when his batting partner Michael Kasprowicz gloved a Steve Harmison delivery to the wicket keeper, it was all over. England had won.

What happened next was remarkable. Flintoff, himself man of the match, chose not to celebrate with his teammates. Rather, he recognised the herculean efforts of Lee, now hunched down in disbelief. He was a kindred spirit, an adversary who left everything on the field. In a moment of supreme ecstasy he showed compassion and allegedly muttered a few words along the lines of “bad luck mate…I’ll see you inside for a beer.” Hardly poetic, but the gesture was still a grandiose one.

You may ask why I am so concerned with something that happened some seven-and-a-half years ago. At that specific moment, I, and a lot of people, held Andrew Flintoff up as a talisman, a modern day Ian Botham of English cricket.

A talented player no doubt, but following an unsuccessful stint as captain, unfounded criticism of Michael Atherton, and even an attempted boxing career, his reputation has been eroded.

I even saw Freddie boozed up in a nightclub once and wanted to tell him how disappointed I was in him (beer is a recurring theme). In the interests of my own safety it was probably for the best that I didn’t. He is a big man after all.

The point is this: Despite whatever flaws Flintoff has, he got one thing right. He was able to show compassion, he was able to recognise that his greatest enemy in a fiercely contested series was not at all that different to him.

I write this article at a time when the sporting world has been turned upside down. The Armstrong saga and now the Australian investigation into doping have sparked a common theme in many editorials, calling into question “winning at all costs.”

It seems that in the heat of the battle many sportsmen, whether through a desire to be the best, or to falsely influence referees or umpires, have forgotten that they are cheating not only themselves, but their worthy adversaries too. And if they’re not worthy, let them face the consequences, not you.

Call me sentimental, but the image of Lee and Flintoff reminds me of everything good about sport. Here at UCT, where sport is intertwined in the fabric of the institution, we must remember that fair play and a sporting gesture can go a long way.

We have our own intense rivalry to be played out on the Green Mile on March 4th, and let’s not forget to treat our adversaries with the respect they deserve.

The fiercest competition has even been known to spark friendship. Just ask Brett Lee. He has the iconic photo hanging up in his house, with a message from Flintoff reading, “Any danger of you getting out? Well batted. Looking forward to the next battle.”

You can follow Rob on twitter @ByrnseyGsy.

There are those that find Test cricket “a bore” and often chortle with sarcasm when they discover that even after both teams have slugged it out for five days, a draw is possible.

It is the purest form of the game, with both players and pundits labelling it as the most prestigious format of cricket.

Both teams play in the same colours – the traditional white. The ball is almost the same as it was a century ago and the rules haven’t changed much either.

There’s a reason why they call it a ‘Test’: it is an examination of stamina, strength and mental toughness from each team-mate while both teams deal with the elements of nature for five days – which can dramatically alter playing conditions and player performance.

With what other sport can you read a book while intently following the action? Or be able to have a nice snooze, catch a suntan and still wake

up just in time for the new ball to be taken (for those who are confused, a new ball is offered after the previous new ball has had its 80 overs – this

often brings a flurry of wickets)? Still confused? Find an

encyclopaedia and read all about it in our well-stocked and splendid world-class library. Or just log onto Wikipedia.

Yes folks, the Proteas are in town, and for just 60 Randelas, you can see them ‘live’ in the flesh showing exactly why they are the best Test team in the world.

Why pay over a R100 to watch a T20 match (we’re not that good in this newer format of the game and you only get to watch 40 overs) when you can watch Hashim Amla (World No.1 Ranked Batsman), Dale Steyn (World No.1 Bowler) and Jacques Kallis (World No.1 All-Rounder) play 90 overs of what they do best.

Do yourselves a favour, buy a ticket and be part of something great. Who knows, you might even fall in love.

Rob Byrne previews the Newlands Test in full on - www.varsitynewspaper.co.za/sport

Image: Paul Gallo