Cavaliers bow out of Reserve League

Update

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Knysna Cavaliers' B team were knocked out of the SWD Reserve League last weekend, losing to Sussex Cricket Club C by four wickets.

Meanwhile in the Premier League their first team overcame Sussex A, and Plettenberg Bay Pioneers pushed log leaders Pacaltsdorp United as far as they could in a last-over thriller.

Cavaliers B were playing in their second Reserve League semi-final in as many years, hoping to go one further this year. But, a determined and disciplined Sussex C outfit had other ideas at Loerie Park in Knysna.

The two clubs' first teams faced off at D'Almeida Stadium in Mossel Bay, where Cavaliers managed to get revenge for their second team's loss.

Pioneers and top-of-the-table Pacaltsdorp meanwhile battled it out at Cavalier Pacs Park in Pacaltsdorp, and things went down to the last over as Pacaltsdorp won with only one ball to spare.

Cavaliers B vs Sussex C

Cavaliers skipper Jannie Cremer won the toss and sent his troops in to bat first. A strong bowling performance from Sussex followed, but runs from Rudolph Gerber (32*), Blake Linder (29), Werner Mels (11) and Bradley Booysen (10) helped Cavaliers to 118 all-out.

Wayne de Jager was Sussex's best bowler, taking four wickets for 19 runs in eight overs. He was aided by three wickets from Matthew Balindlela, two wickets for Bradley Fillies and one for Kiano Witbooi.

Despite two early wickets and a few in the middle overs, Sussex's run chase remained relatively steady with some level-headed batting from top-scorer Fillies (31*).

His efforts were supported by De Jager (20), John Cooper (14) and Balindlela (10*). They reached the target of 119 to win by four wickets. Mels was the pick of the Cavaliers bowlers, taking three wickets for 17 runs in eight overs. He was supported by Linder with two wickets and Gerber with one.

Cavaliers A vs Sussex A

At D'Almeida Stadium the home side chose to bowl first, a decision that would have paid off were it not for some runs in the middle order for the Cavaliers.

Hayden Sweet top-scored with 45, followed by 20* for Francois Bonthuys, 19 for Sean Whitehead and 14 for AB van der Walt as they reached 144 all-out. Geronovan Erasmus claimed four wickets for 39 runs in eight overs with Wayne Gelant, Basheer Walters and Ravin-Lee Kemmies taking two wickets each.

Sussex struggled to get going in their run chase. Walters top-scored with 12, while Kemmies, Gelant and Erasmus all chipped in with 10 runs as the team was bowled out for only 69 runs.

Whitehead shone for the Cavaliers, taking five wickets for 16 runs in 10 overs. Bonthuys claimed three of his own while JP Ellis and Quinton Visagie took one each.

Cavaliers B's Bradley Booysen in his bowling stride.

Pioneers A vs Pacaltsdorp A

In Pacaltsdorp the visiting team batted first, and identical scores of 69 not-out for Robert Cunningham and Jean du Plessis pioneered their side's innings. With 43 from Mark Vermeulen, Pioneers scored 210-3 in their allotted 50 overs.

Hanno Kotzé was the pick of the Pacaltsdorp bowlers, taking two wickets for 50 runs in nine overs.

A nervy run chase followed for the home side, that took matters right down to the wire. Randy Wesso top-scored for Pacaltsdorp with 56 followed by 44 runs for Leroi Bredenkamp, 23 for Kotzé and 22 for Franco Geldenhuys as they won by two wickets with only one ball to spare in the game.

Jade Titus was Pioneers' best bowler, taking three wickets for 53 runs in 10 overs while Marcello Piedt and Keith Oraai claimed two wickets apiece.

Sussex C wicketkeeper and captain John Cooper (left) looks to gather a wide delivery missed by Cavaliers B's Werner Mels.