In the first rain affected match of the KFC Mini-Cricket kids vs Proteas Tour, the spectators were kept in suspense as the game came to a thrilling and unexpected end. The match was judged on how many runs each team scored after 4 overs, with the KFC Mini-Cricket kids pulling out all the stops to end victorious.
Before rain put an end to the encounter, things started off with great excitement as the KFC Mini-Cricket kids won the toss and elected to get active on the field first against their heavily favoured opponents. When asked about the decision to bowl, skipper Kagiso Malau’s response was a decisive one, “well, I am good at bowling”.
Proteas captain AB de Villiers knew that such an answer must have come from a position of confidence, so his team approached the task of batting with due caution. A boy of his word, Kagiso instantly put the Proteas under pressure with some very accurate bowling. With pressure mounting on AB de Villiers and fellow opener Aaron Phangiso, the first wicket came in the form of a run out as the kids, being as active as ever, pounced on the opportunity.
From there the Proteas batsmen relaxed a little and started to play some shots. Something that saw not only the KFC Mini-Cricket kids chasing after the ball, but also the many spectators who also got active on the sidelines.
The second pair of Farhaan Behardien and Chris Morris came to the crease looking to up the ante, but failed to do so as the KFC Mini-Cricket kids combined tight bowling and ultra sharp fielding to keep their opponents in check.
The home team was showing great variety with their mixed bowling line-up producing all kinds of problems for the batsmen. Tamryn Lorence sent Chris Morris’ stumps flying with a brilliant yorker, while the sisters Tylo and Vanya van Wyngaardt bowled a brilliant line and length with Tylo bowling the over of the day taking 3 wickets for 3 runs.
Eventually the Proteas did manage to come good at the death, and after 8 overs finished up with 56 runs. It was a fine effort with the ball from the KFC Mini-Cricket kids, but as clouds continued to build, lightning bolts fizzed and a light drizzle started to fall the kids were not worried if they were good enough to chase down the total, but if Mother Nature would allow them to!
Determined to make a game of it despite the daunting elements, captain Kagiso Malau got his team’s run chase off to a steady start, with Michael Atkinson, the best of the KFC Mini-Cricket kids’ batsman on the day building impressively on the opening stand with some attacking stroke play.
With the weather worsening with each ball, the umpires decided to call for one more over after the 3rd, and having looked at what the Proteas were on at that same stage, declared that the KFC Mini-Cricket kids needed to have 29 runs on the board after the last over to win.
Quinton de Kock was entrusted with the ball. He started brilliantly with 3 dot balls. His 4th was a no ball however, and from that one break in concentration, the kids took full advantage. Some lusty blows were struck, and combined with some uncharacteristic poor fielding from the Proteas, the kids had the game in the bag!
The enthusiastic supporters who had braved the weather were delighted with the result, and the school’s headmaster, Bekker, praised his young heroes and their tremendous efforts in securing the victory, “We have never had an event like this at our school and our KFC Mini-Cricket kids made us proud with the way they handled themselves in front of their heroes”.
Tylo van Wyngaardt was awarded the player of the match award for her terrific bowling efforts in taking 3 wickets for 3 runs. She was naturally very pleased in the active role she played in the win, crediting her decision to bowl spin as being her ticket to success.
She intends to carry on developing her spin bowling potential and hopefully one day play for the Proteas women’s team. With the opportunity she got to get active against her heroes in this match, Tylo, along with all the other KFC Mini-Cricket kids that participated in the KFC Mini-Cricket kids vs Proteas tour, have experienced the perfect stepping stone to greater things, which will certainly keep them getting active playing the sport they love.
