Redbacks top group after Guyana defeat

Callum Ferguson hits 55 and adds 88 for the fourth wicket with Cameron Borgas.

JOHANNESBURG: The South Australia Redbacks made sure of finishing top of their group when they beat Guyana by 15 runs in the Champions League Twenty20 at the Wanderers.

Callum Ferguson hit 55 and added 88 for the fourth wicket with Cameron Borgas (48) to allow the Redbacks to reach 191 for six after a poor start where they lost their first three wickets for 41 runs.

Guyana captain Ramnaresh Sarwan hit 70 as Guyana made 176 for seven in reply. The win meant the Redbacks finished top of Group B with four wins from four matches.

Captain Michael Klinger said it was an advantage because they can remain in Johannesburg for the remainder of the tournament because they will play in the second semi-final against the runners-up in Group A at Centurion on Saturday. He admitted, though, that his side had not played as well as they had in earlier matches.

“We need to pick up a little bit before the semi-final but we know that and we’ll work on it in the next few days. Our fielding was a touch down today.”

South Australia were without fast-bowler Shaun Tait because of a minor shoulder injury but Klinger said Tait would definitely play on Saturday.

Guyana finished the tournament with four defeats from as many games but they were competitive for much of Tuesday’s game.

“We showed what we are capable of,” said Sarwan. “It’s unfortunate we couldn’t do it throughout the tournament.”

Bushrangers crush dismal Wayamba

The Victoria Bushrangers outclassed a dismal Wayamba Elevens team at SuperSport Park in Centurion to keep alive their hopes of reaching the semi-finals.

Fast-bowler Peter Siddle took four for 29 as Wayamba crashed to 106 all out in 16.3 overs, losing their last eight wickets for just 25 runs. Victoria hurried to victory with 6.4 overs to spare with captain David Hussey hitting 47 not out and opening batsman Aaron Finch making an unbeaten 38.

“Hopefully we can go a long way in this tournament because we are playing some good cricket now,” said Hussey.

The Bushrangers, who have completed their round robin fixtures with six points from three wins, now have to await the result of a match between Chennai Super Kings and the Eastern Cape Warriors in Port Elizabeth today.

If the unbeaten Warriors beat Chennai, they will go through with Victoria, but if Chennai win, the semi-finals places will be decided on run-rate. Chennai have the best net run rate of 2.57 but need the win to draw level on points. The Warriors are on 0.98 and Victoria’s big win lifted them into positive territory on 0.03.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 22^nd, 2010.