Gugulethu finally found their groove when they beat Saint Augustine’s by three wickets, at the weekend, following consecutive defeats against Goodwood, Primrose and United.
Saints won the toss and elected to bat first and were dismissed for 183 runs, thanks to some good bowling figures by Sikhumbuzo Mavumbe who took 15/3 after seven overs.
The win should be a confidence booster ahead of their clash against big-hitting Strandfontein.
However, they will have their work cut out as Strandfontein have lost only one out of their five games played this season and are currently third on the log, behind UCT and Northern Goodwood.
In their clash against Primrose, a fortnight ago, Gugulethu’s Sisonke Mazele impressed with the ball, taking four wickets during his spell.
However, it was not enough for victory as they suffered a 64-run defeat.
Primrose won the toss and elected to bat first. They scored 146 runs all out.
In return, Gugulethu battled to find a solid partnership after being bowled out for 81 runs.
Mazele took four wickets after 9.4 overs, while only conceding 19 runs.
Opening bowler, Sibusiso Maseko took 2/37 in his 10over spell while Siphelele Nothanda recorded 2/38.
Despite their struggles, coach Nicholas Mpulu, remained positive, saying he believes there will be a turnaround in their upcoming games.
“We gave way wickets easily. There were no partnerships. We let them go easily. We were struggling with the bat.
“In the first two overs we had already lost three wickets because our openers could not adjust.”
Mpulu said Mazele’s bowling figures are a testimony to his hard work.
“We must just stay positive and fight as a team.
“We are a very young team, we know where they lack and where they are good,” he said.
Meanwhile, Primrose opening batsman, Qaasiem Salie had a good day after scoring 30 runs before losing his wicket to Maseko.
Primrosedestroyer-in-chief,opening bowler, Rafiek Isaacs had one of the best figures for his side with an impressive five-wicket haul after nine overs, two maidens, and 30 runs. Isaacs also scored 20 runs with the bat. Roses’ left orthodox spinner, David Schierhout, bullied the batsmen, taking 4/9 runs and one maiden in eight overs. A visibly relieved Primrose coach, Achmat Brown, said in the previous games they had been struggling to strike with the new ball.
“On Saturday our opening bowlers were on target, which made it easier when the spinners came on.
“We worked on it last week and at practice,” he said.
Brown said they played four games, losing two – against Strandfontein and Green Point – but bounced back against United and Gugulethu.
Brown called his side “a work in progress”, saying the team has a positive mindset. “We have a core of senior players in the team, the bulk are still relatively young,” he said.
“The conditions are going to be different every week, particularly with the water shortages, but it is for us to keep on training hard and for the team to back their preparation and play with