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PINNACLE POINT STREET CRICKET 2008 The Street Cricket project now its fifth season has enjoyed unprecedented success since its humble beginnings as a pilot project in Langa. This year sponsored by Pinnacle Point in association with Disney, ABSA, the City of Cape Town, Super Sport Lets Play and Good Hope fm, the league expanded to include four new regions in Cape Town. The league started on Friday 10th October with community cricket clubs and sports organisations in association with Sporting Chance organising weekly matches between opposing teams in the Cape Town communities of Langa, Khayelitsha, Elsies River, Nyanga, Manenberg, Gugulethu, Langa, Kwezi, Mitchells Plain, Lwandle, Atlantis, Masipumelele and Ocean View as well as in the Mossel Bay communities of Kwa Nonqaba, D’Almeida and Civic Park. After 5 weeks of fun and competitive round robin action the various regions geared up for the regional finals. Atlantis kicked off the series of regional finals mid week and despite the rainy weather, there was loads of passion and enthusiasm shown during the semis. Unfortunately the final match was postponed as torrential rain flooded the tar pitch, but both teams were out in full force the following day to battle for the title. Rygersdal emerged victorious in a league dominated by an excellent display of cricket. The community of Lwandle was bustling with their regional finals. Street Cricket has been a great success in the region which has little sports structure and it was excellent to see the support on the sidelines for the two finalists. Vulindlela Street put in an invincible display to claim the title. Friday 14th November, and all around the Western Cape the Street Cricket regions were playing simultaneously. Khayelitsha created a great township atmosphere with the finals being played amongst the narrow streets of the surrounding shacks with Zola Street taking the coverted Downside Cup title. Nyanga enjoyed a marathon of an afternoon with Cobra Street finally defeating their opposition to claim the Joseph Thejane Cup in the fading light. Just down the road the Guguelthu teams were testing their skill on the concrete crease accompanied by the Amy Biehl Foundation musical team whose tunes inspired the NY 141 team to claim the Marland Cup. The high rise flats of Elsies River provided the ultimate view point for the large number of spectators that gathered to witness the action in the courtyard below with May Street ending the evening victorious. The same could be echoed in Ocean View as parents and community members gathered courtside to catch the action. Cedarburg Flats took the title in what can only be described as a ‘nail bitter’. Still on that side of the mountain, to Masipumelele whose six week campaign had had its ups and downs, but what a final the teams produced. The final was played with the other teams singing in a wonderful harmony and it was Pokela Road that claimed first prize. Kwezi provided much entertainment with tightly contested matches that made it difficult to find the finalists. Eventually after a five hour session as the sun was starting to set it was Lunar Crescent that earned the trophy. The converging of the five Mitchells Plain areas proved to be a winner. The atmosphere was full of excitement and rivalry with the added joys of major spectator involvement and at the end of it all it was the team from Beacon Valley that will make the trip to Langa. The home of Street Cricket Langa warmed up the pitches for the Street Cricket festival finale with pulsating regionals and England Street were awarded the Ezra Cagwe Cup. Saturday 15th November in the heart land of Manenberg you would find the regional finals to crown them all. Starting at 12h00 in one of the main courtyards you saw the Street Cricket pitch surrounded by hundreds of spectators enjoying the festivities of the day. After an afternoon of classic matches it was Wye Road that took the title, with the prize giving taking place late that evening. Each regional winning team received their signature trophy and gold medals, but none of the Street Cricket participants went home empty handed with all team players been awarded a certificate (which has even been referred to as a “diploma” in some regions) and refreshments at the regional finals. Thanks to the support of Disney enterprises each participant also received a tennis ball to treasure and practice with. Friday 21st November, Langa, the home of Street Cricket hosted the Pinnacle Point Street Cricket finals. Each of the fifteen regions was represented by their championship team as they competed for the coveted Pinnacle Point Street Cricket Title. After an afternoon of tightly contested matches that brought all elements into play including backyard structures, crowds of spectators and competitive rivalry, there were two teams who emerged top of their respective pools. Sussex from D’Almeida in Mossel Bay made their trip to Cape Town even more worthwhile as they impressed the crowds with their determination and intelligent cricket to finish top of Pool A. Cobra Street from Nyanga fended off very strong opposition from Manenberg and Mitchells Plain to win Pool B. The stage was set… the tar pitch in Washington Street was carefully selected, the creases were re-marked and the spectators gathered around in their hundreds. The match was tense from the start as the spectators cheered and chanted with every ball bowled. After the end of each team’s allotted five over innings Cobra Street of Nyanga were crowned victors by the narrowest of margins. Both teams had certainly done themselves proud and they went home with fantastic prizes from the various sponsors. Many thanks to our sponsors Pinnacle Point, Disney, ABSA, the City of Cape town, Lets Play and Good Hope fm for their continued support of Street Cricket and for assisting us to make a difference and give the children of South Africa hope. |
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