The Pemberton Greenish Surrey Academy have got off to a winning start to their two week tour of South Africa.

The Academy flew out in the middle of last week, to start what Director Gareth Townsend predicted to be a tough two week examination of their winter’s hard work.

A much younger intake than usual, the youngsters showed what they lack in age, they are not lacking in spirit with two convincing wins in the first two matches of their tour.

Ahead of the tour Townsend commented, “We’d like to win every game although we have to be realistic. We are essentially an under 17’s team playing against Under 19 opposition but this will be a good thing. It will show me who responds to the challenge. It won’t be easy and the boys will learn a lot about their own games being put under constant pressure.

Six out of the 13 tour members have been on tour to South Africa before but more importantly, it will be a great opportunity for the squad to apply some of the skills they have been practising in training over the past four to five months.

Townsend added, “It’s always great to get there as we desperately need some match practice after months of indoor net sessions. The pitches are slow and challenging to bat on so it will be hard cricket out there.”

Taking on the notoriously tough Wynberg School, the Pemberton Greenish Surrey Academy batted first and found themselves in difficulty at 30 for three. However a hard hitting innings of 78 from Tom Lancefield, which was well supported by Tom Jewell and Zafar Ansari meant that the visitors could post 178 for five from their 40 overs.

In the field the opening attack of Jewell and Matthew Dunn did not fire as they struggled to find their rhythm. Nevertheless, the introduction of Richard Stevens and Ansari started the collapse with the latter cleaning up the innings as Wynberg were all out of 112. Stevens collected incredible figures of three for six.

The side’s second match came against Southern Suburbs in a floodlit encounter. Starting in the field, Jewell and Dunn hit their line and lengths early on and were well supported by Stevens and Nav Chaudhry. A superb middle section saw spinner Tom Winslade pick up two for 28 to halt any onslaught from the Southern Suburb’s team and they completed their innings on 140.

The Pemberton Greenish Academy made light work of this total, knocking it off only three down. The bulk of the runs came from a 95 run partnership between Seren Waters and Daniel Newton, with Waters scoring a free flowing 69.

Keep looking at www.surreycricket.com for the Pemberton Greenish Tour updates.

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