Cavaliers clinch nailbiter against Pioneers

KNYSNA CRICKET NEWS - Knysna Cavaliers edged Plettenberg Bay Pioneers by one wicket in a cold and wet rain-affected SWD Premier League clash in Rheenendal to climb off the bottom of the table.

The two clubs' first teams locked horns with Pioneers five points ahead of Cavaliers on the log standings, with the Knysna side needing to win the game against Pioneers to keep their playoff hopes alive having suffered four successive defeats.

Pioneers on the other hand were fresh off an underdog victory against log-leaders Union Stars, with their confidence on a high.

The sides played on the Abbotsfield A field behind Totties Farm Kitchen on the Rheenendal Road which is run and maintained by Keith Cretchley. Conditions were however wet and miserable, seeing to a delayed start that meant the match had to be reduced to 43 overs a side instead of 50.

The weather eventually improved enough for the captains to toss, which was won by Pioneers captain Robert Cunningham who elected to bat first. Cavaliers got off to a positive start with ball in hand courtesy of Irvin Campher, who bagged his first wicket in the second over, leaving Pioneers on 3-1.

Thabo Dywilio plays a defensive shot.

Cunningham and Mark Vermeulen showed fine resilience for Pioneers before the latter was dismissed by Campher, leaving Pioneers on 30-2. Pioneers were unable to establish a decent partnership thereafter as a strong Cavaliers bowling effort restricted the men from Plett to 80 all out.

Pioneers' top scorer was Keenan Vieira who scored 20, while AB van der Walt was Cavaliers' best bowler with four wickets for only 12 runs in his 5.3 overs.

Cavaliers' run chase started positively with Todd Walker scoring a four off the first ball of the innings, but he was dismissed three balls later. Maurice White and Thabo Dywili put up a bit of a fight but Dywili had to come off the field as he had hurt his finger.

Van der Walt took his place at the crease, but Dywili returned to the middle when White was dismissed. Van der Walt would reach 18 to be Cavaliers' top scorer for the day, but his innings could only last so long, and soon the Cavaliers started suffering yet another batting collapse.

Thabo Dywili prepares to turn for a run.

The home side found themselves at 59-7, still needing 22 runs to win with only three wickets in hand. A resilient innings by Neville McLean saw them home however, as he scored the winning runs to secure a much-needed one-wicket victory.

The victory sees Cavaliers rise from seventh to fifth on the table, four points off Ramblers who they will face in George this weekend.

Francois Bonthuys plays a block off the back foot.