Otto kings of challenge after thumping Gelvan

OTTO du Plessis were crowned the first Alviro Petersen Challenge cricket champions after beating Gelvandale High at St Thomas High at the weekend.

The winners showed their class as they beat Gelvandale by 52 runs to become the inaugural holders of the title in a challenge set up by Petersen to raise funds for the two schools the Proteas opening batsmen attended.

Sent in to bat, Otto had a good start through opening batsmen Rendo Vorster (30) and captain Dilan Williams (20), who put on 40 runs.

Gelvan kept picking up wickets to restrict Otto to 105 for eight in their 20 overs.

Keegan Heilbron excelled with a return of 5/9 in four overs.

In their reply, Gelvan had the worst possible start when they lost captain Tevin Campbell off the first ball.

Otto showed fire to restrict Gelvan to 8/2 after five overs.

By the 11th over, with their score on 39/5, it looked like the writing was on the wall before Cirston Welman (20) and Lleveil Sumani (19) staged a middle-order fightback. However, that effort was quickly nipped in the bud by the Otto bowlers, as they picked up the last five wickets for just 15 runs to dismiss Gelvan for 53.

Quetyne Oerson led the Otto attack with figures of 4-1-4-5.

Otto coach Jaco de Jager said he was proud of his team.

"In the field, we never gave away easy runs, we made them work for every run."

Otto opener Vorster scooped the batsman's award, while Gelvandale's Heilbron bagged the bowler's award.

After the match, Petersen said the challenge would become an annual event.

"We want to help schools in this city. Port Elizabeth is the city I grew up in, so I want to make a difference in the community," he said.

Otto captain Williams said he was proud of his team and the way they had pulled together.

"The guys played their hearts out, what more could we ask for," Williams said.

"To be champions is the best feeling ever, we are really honoured to be part of the tournament." - Amir Chetty