Wolves are the last men standing

The inaugural Last Man Stands (LMS) Junior tournament came to an end last Saturday at the Mavericks Sports Club in Voortrekker Park.

LMS is a version of cricket that started in London in 2005 and expanded to South Africa in 2007, so it is not a new concept to cricket. But for the juniors it is new because it is the first time that they’ve participated in their own tournament.

Three teams, the APS Super Strikers, the Western Wolves and Merafong Smashers competed for eight long weeks in the tri-angular series. The Western Wolves took gold, leaving the Merafong Smashers and APS Super Strikers close behind.

It was the Merafong Smashers vs the APS Super Strikers in the semifinals, with the APS Super Strikers being victorious thanks to fantastic batting performances by Nathan Hoffman, Ryan Williscroft and Warren Patterson.

The finals were destined to be tough with the APS Super Strikers taking on the undefeated pack of Wolves. The Western Wolves batted first and posted a fantastic 130 for no loss at the end of their 20 overs. The Super Strikers played their hearts out, eventually beating the Western Wolves in 19 overs.

“The series has proven to be very beneficial for this under 13 group,” said Anne Macleod, organiser of the event.

“Many of the boys have found new sets of skills and overcame challenges both individually and in a team environment.

“This definitely will stand them in good stead as their careers advance.”

A new under 12 night series will commence in August and a brand new touch rugby league will be played on Wednesday evenings, commencing in September, says Macleod.

For more information contact Anne Macleod on 082 655 0574.

Congratulations to the prize winners:

• Bowler of the series: Dean Bezuidenhout (Merafong Smashers)

• Batsman of the series: Tristan Hendrikz (Super Strikers)

• Rising star: Nathan Hoffman (Super Strikers)

• Player of the series: Zander Coetzer (Western Wolves)

The Last Man Stands (LMS) rule:

All eight wickets are needed to bowl out a team. When the seventh wicket falls, the Last Man Stands (on his own). The Last Man can only score two, four or six off any ball. The ball is dead only when the batsman is behind the popping crease at the striker’s end of the pitch. When the Last Man Stands, he or she can be run out only at the keeper’s end. If a batsman is run out under this rule he or she will not get any runs for completing the first run (in other words it’s two if he or she completes the two, and zero if he or she does not).