Cavalier leads SWD Rural to second place

KNYSNA CRICKET NEWS - The SWD Rural team, captained by Knysna Cavaliers cricketer Mesuli Vuba, produced a credible performance during the Cricket South Africa (CSA) Rural tournament for coastal provinces that was held in Oudtshoorn last week.

Vuba was initially named as part of the SWD Rural training squad to take part in an inter-squad trial match at the Recreational Ground in Oudtshoorn on Wednesday 9 February.

Subsequently he was selected for the SWD Rural squad to take part in the CSA Rural Coastal Week in Oudtshoorn from Thursday to Sunday, 24 to 27 February, and was named the team's captain.

Eight teams took part in the tournament, and the first two days were dedicated to 50-over matches while the third and fourth days were used for T20 matches. SWD won its first match against Eastern Province (EP) Grahamstown by 85 runs with Vuba scoring 39 runs in his side's innings.

In the second match SWD faced Border Villages and won by 123 runs to make it two wins from two matches. The shorter format on the third day made provision for two games per team.

SWD triumphed over Kei in the first game by eight wickets - Vuba took two wickets for only five runs. SWD rounded out the third day with a five-wicket victory over EP Midlands.

The final day kicked off for SWD with their first loss, coming against Boland, who ultimately won the tournament.

In their final match, however, Vuba and his troops made sure to end the tournament on a high in the form of a seven-wicket win over Border Villages to secure the runner-up spot in the tournament.

The SWD Rural team. Back, from left: George Burns, Shaun-Dee Meyer, Grant Esau, Unathi Mbathane, Mihlali Gcanga, Franklin Stuurman, Geronovan Erasmus and Yamkela Xakani. Front: Levin Muller, Bazil-Junior George, Ranwill Claassen (coach), Mesuli Vuba (captain), Joseph Sonti (assistant coach) Roann Bekker and Ravin-Lee Kemmies.