Cavaliers claim top spot in SWD

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KNYSNA NEWS - Knysna Cavaliers rewrote the history books on Monday, claiming the club's first SWD Premier League title in 23 years by overcoming Plettenberg Bay Pioneers in the final.

The final presented a chance at history for both clubs - Cavaliers hadn't won a Premier League title since 1998/99, when they were still playing under the banner of Knysna Cricket Club, prior to the club's rebranding.

Meanwhile, Pioneers had never before played in a Premier League final. The two clubs' first teams waged their battle for history at the Recreation Sport Ground in Oudtshoorn on Human Rights Day, 21 March.

PHOTO GALLERY: Knysna Cavaliers rewrote history

In honour of the significance of the day in South African history, both teams' squads wore red armbands. As the Oudtshoorn heat started to roll onto the Rec (as the ground is known), the two captains and umpires strode out to the middle for the ceremonial coin toss.

Pioneers captain Carlos Koeberg won the toss and chose to bat first, meaning Cavaliers skipper JP Ellis and his side would need to endure the morning heat in the field.

The decision to bat first proved the right one in the early overs for Pioneers, as openers Robert Cunningham and Mark Vermeulen once again got them off to a great start with a 71-run opening partnership.

Francois Bonthuys claimed Cunningham's wicket and Sean Whitehead dismissed Vermeulen on 48 (Pioneers' top score for the innings) immediately after drinks, to leave Pioneers at 77-2.

The men from Plett lost their next four wickets for only 32 runs, before a 49-run seventh-wicket stand between Danrick Moodien and Marcello Piedt carried them to a more easily defendable score.

Keenan Vieira, man of the match for the final, plays the ball fine on the leg side.

Keenan Vieira starred with the ball for Cavaliers, rolling through the Pioneers' middle and lower orders to claim five wickets for 36 runs in 10 overs as Pioneers were bowled out for 164.

The start of Cavaliers' run chase was far from ideal as the Knysna men lost their top three batsmen cheaply, leaving them reeling at 18-3.

However, the club's first- and second-highest run scorers for the season, Todd Walker and Keenan Vieira, put on a formidable 72-run stand for the fourth wicket to put Cavaliers in the stronger position in the game.

Pioneers weren't done fighting though, and after dismissing Walker, claimed a further two wickets to put Cavaliers on the back foot at 103-5.

Vieira remained steadfast in his determination and alongside Mesuli Vuba scored 57 runs for the seventh wicket to put Cavaliers within five runs of the target before Vuba was dismissed.

Cavaliers captain Ellis strode out to the crease to help see out the game for his side and they ended on 168-6 to secure a historic win - not only for the Cavaliers, but for Knysna as a whole.

For the first time in 23 years, and for only the third time ever, the SWD Premier League trophy belongs to a club from Knysna, a marked achievement considering Cavaliers were only promoted back to the Premier League in 2017/18.

Mark McCabe fields the ball for Knysna Cavaliers. Photos: Blake Linder