WEEK-END SPORTS REVIEW - Cricket, Rugby and a Sunday outing...!

Friday Night was T20 night at Newlands, the SA Home of Cricket. The Cobras came up against the Warriors from the Eastern Cape in a match which would secure them a spot in the Semi Finals of this seasons competition. With U2 performing on the other side of town and most of the other cricket fans opting to attend their concert at about R800 / ticket, we decided to take my kids for a night at the cricket at about R70 / head. We ended up spending the money saved going to cricket on food and some of SA's best beverages.

With a half-filled Newlands the Cobras did not disappoint us at all. They bowled well and their fielding was up to scratch as well, restricting the Warriors to a moderate score of under 130. Thereafter they batted without showing much nerves, although opening batsmen Levi and Gibbs went rather cheaply, Justing Ontong came to the crease and made the Warriors bowlers look ordinary and with him leading the local teams batting effort, the Cobras surpassed their score with about 2 overs left and made sure of an place in the Semi Finals. Well done Cobras...! 



The previous day, Friday the 18th, the new Super 15 tournament kicked off with a bang. There were a few upsets with the Highlanders beating the Hurricanes first up on Friday morning. The new Rebels team found it hard to keep pace with the Waratahs, one of this favourites perhaps to go all the way.

Saturday saw the SA teams opening their campaigns, with the Sharks beating the Cheetahs in a wet and scrappy game of rugby down at Kings Park in Durban. We took the kids for some fish and chips down at the old Gordons Bay harbour to watch the Bulls, raining champions and winners of last years final Super 14 tournament, take on the Lions. Another wet game and another game in which our local players seemed as if they needed another few weeks of rest. Apart from a few quality moves that ended in tries for both sides, it was the Bulls that dominated the game as expected. The Lions did show some real fighting ability, which looked promising for the rest of the season, with a fourth quarter comeback and managed almost to clinch the game in which they never looked like winning for about 45 minutes.

It is Sunday and family time, having a 'braai' and reflecting on some of the other highlights from this full week-end of sport, which included India beating Bangladesh in the opening encounter of the Cricket World Cup 2011, in India.

It feels as if I missed some sport this week-end? I saw no soccer action thus far and no Golf either...It has been a full, but very exciting and fulfilling week-end...! Now I look forward to the next 2 months of rugby and cricket action...