Cavaliers bow out

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KNYSNA CRICKET NEWS - Knysna Cavaliers Cricket Club's 1st XI has bowed out of the SWD Premier League after a crushing defeat in the playoff at the hands of George Cricket Club last weekend.

Cavaliers had qualified for the playoff game after an astonishing run of form that saw them win five straight games with a bonus point, lifting them from seventh and bottom of the log all the way into third place, the second playoff spot.

Cavaliers' fantastic run began with a narrow one-wicket win over Plettenberg Bay Pioneers, followed by a confidence-boosting 61-run triumph over Ramblers. Cavaliers' next victim came in the form of Mossel Bay whom they beat by 36 runs, followed by George Cricket Club, whom they also beat by 36 runs. The final win that secured their spot in the playoff came in the form of a 103-run victory over Harlequins.

Photo gallery: Cavaliers bow out of SWD Premier League

George on the other hand had remained in a playoff spot for the vast majority of the season, and had their side bolstered by the return of their SWD players for the playoff. This, combined with Cavaliers' strong run of form, set up an interesting showdown in the playoff. George captain Johandre Barnard won the toss and elected to bowl first, sending Cavaliers in to bat.

The latter's innings got off to a rocky start, as they soon found themselves at 23-3, before losing another three wickets to stand at 48-6 before a partnership between Quinton Visagie and Irvin Campher stabilised the innings somewhat. This brought Cavaliers to 88 before Visagie fell, with Campher following shortly thereafter for 30, making him Cavaliers' top scorer the second week in a row. The Cavaliers were eventually all bowled out for 102, setting George a target of 103 to make it to the final.

George openers Gary Wagner and Levin Muller strode out to the crease with slightly different runs of form against their opposition. Wagner had scored 38 in their 36-run loss while Muller was without a run in his last two games against Cavaliers. Both batsmen were men on a mission however, and quickly set off to reach the target as quickly as possible. Wagner blitzed his way to 24 off 16 before he was dismissed by Todd Walker, the only wicket that George would lose on the day.

Muller was joined at the crease by captain Barnard, who held his own at the non-striker's end while Muller wreaked havoc. Muller would play a match-winning innings, reaching 64 off only 40 balls to steer his side into the final with a nine-wicket victory to take on Union Stars this weekend.

Cavaliers captain JP Ellis was still positive about his side's season despite the poor ending. "We achieved a lot this season that we can be immensely proud of," he said. "Last season we missed the playoff by a point, and now we made the playoff. While it might not be the ending we would have hoped for, there was a lot of progress and we are proud of what we've achieved."

Todd Walker sets off on a run.