Three Nelson Mandela Bay players showed why they are regarded among the most promising cricketers in the Eastern Cape.
All-rounder and captain, Jean Upman (Grey), and the spinners, Esa Gangat (Pearson) and Hamza Khan (Westering), represented the Eastern Warriors at the prestigious Cricket South Africa u/19 Cubs Week in Stellenbosch last week.
Upman was one of the best batsmen of the event. He scored 278 runs at an average of 56 runs per innings.
Gangat and Khan made huge contributions for the Warriors with the ball throughout the Week.
The Warriors won two of their five matches, and that was enough to secure third spot at a very competitive event.
The Warriors had a tough start when they were beaten by 63 runs in the first match against Northern Champions.
The Champions was the only undefeated team at the event.
Although it was a heavy defeat against the Champions, all three Bay players produced excellent individual performances against a classy opposition.
The Champions batted really well to score 269/9, but both Khan (2/37) and Gangat (2/39) produced quality bowling spells.
Upman was the top scorer when the Warriors replied with 206 runs. Upman made 56.
Things went much better in the second match when the Warriors beat Central Gladiators by a massive margin of 161 runs.
Upman was amongst the runs again, scoring 77 in a total of 277/9. He and Randy Syce (Woodridge College) were involved in a fourth-wicket stand of 150 runs.
Gangat came up with another good bowling performance. The Gladiators made 116 runs and struggled against Gangat, who picked up two wickets for only 15 runs in 7.4 overs.
In their third match the Warriors put up a brave fight but were beaten by Southern Superstars.
Syce top scored, with 88 runs in the total of 231 for the Warriors, and the Superstars reached the target to win by four wickets.
Khan picked up two wickets.
Upman played another captain’s innings in the next match when the Warriors made 215 against Coastal Conquerors. Upman scored 39 runs.
Although Warriors again fought hard in the field, Conquerors reached 220/5 to win by five wickets.
In the last match against the Western Legends, Upman was at his very best.
He smashed 98 runs from 77 deliveries and just missed out on a century that would have been well-deserved.
Upman led the Warriors to a solid score of 274/8 but the team still had to work hard in the field to secure victory.
Legends were bowled out for 246, and Warriors won by 28 runs to end the tournament on a high, in third place overall.
