Cobram’s South African import — fresh from a Cricket Shepparton A-grade Twenty20 half-century on debut for Numurkah — is clubbing representative bowling units out of the park at Bendigo Country Week.
Van Zyl led the Murray Valley Cricket Association to victory against rival Goulburn Murray Cricket on day one of the tournament, putting the rest of division one on notice with 71 from 69 deliveries at the top of the order.
GMC had earlier made just 101 in 41 overs — thanks largely to Moama’s Will Devlin (27 not out) and Echuca’s Matt Hinks (21) — and were no match for Nathalia’s Ash Quinn (3-13) and Cobram’s Adam De Cicco (2-14) with ball in hand.
Van Zyl and Barooga young-gun Riley Gow (42) set a cracking pace for Murray against the new ball in the chase, with the rest of the outfit sneaking in some batting practice before the side was all-out for 227 on Monday afternoon.
Moama’s Jack Russell claimed the most poles for GMC with 3-44, while Tongala’s Daniel Coombs snared 2-13.
Yesterday’s Murray Valley fixture was again no more than a playground for Van Zyl.
The opener helped his side chase down Emu Valley’s 5-178 by whacking two sixes and five fours in his knock of 57.
Deniliquin’s Andrew Hogan (49 not out) was called upon to steer the Murray Valley ship home after Van Zyl’s departure, completing the task with three wickets in hand.
Gow (3-43) claimed the most victims with the ball in the first innings.
Murray Valley is one of two undefeated teams in division one after the first two rounds and plays Castlemaine today.
Scores for GMC’s clash against Castlemaine had not been entered at the time of writing, with the association facing Gisborne today.
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