On Friday, 20 March, the CATCH Trust Centre of Cricket Excellence played host to the touring Royal Engineers Cricket Club for a T20 fixture against the CATCH Trust U23 side. The afternoon was marked not only by competitive cricket but also by a meaningful act of generosity and partnership.
Proceedings began with a special kit handover to CATCH Trust. We are incredibly grateful to the Royal Engineers Cricket Club for their generous donation, which will go a long way in supporting the development of our players and programmes.
Following the handover, attention quickly turned to the cricket. The CATCH Trust U23 side won the toss and elected to bat first. However, the innings got off to a challenging start, with early wickets putting the team under pressure.
Ahlumile Sonwabe played a crucial role in stabilising the innings, showing composure and resilience in his contribution of 33 runs off 39 balls. He was well supported by Mphumzi Gabada, who added a quick 15 off 10 deliveries, and Sisize Mongo, who finished strongly with an unbeaten 23 off 14 balls. Despite these efforts, the U23 side was bowled out for 128.
In response, the Royal Engineers began their innings with intent, as openers Rodgers and Gabriel set the tone with an aggressive start. The standout performance came from their number four batter, John, who anchored the chase superbly with an unbeaten 54 off 38 balls.
The Royal Engineers successfully chased down the target, securing a 6-wicket victory.
At CATCH Trust, we are always grateful for opportunities to compete against touring sides, as these experiences provide invaluable exposure and growth for our players. We extend our sincere thanks to the Royal Engineers Cricket Club for both the competitive match and their generous kit donation.
