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KNYSNA CRICKET NEWS - Knysna Cavaliers Cricket Club continued it resurgence in the SWD Premier League last weekend, earning its second-successive bonus point victory, this time at the expense of Ramblers.
Cavaliers had endured a rocky period in the middle part of the season, when they suffered four successive defeats before bouncing back with a hard-fought one-wicket victory over Pioneers on 18 January.
This was a much-needed confidence booster ahead of their encounter with Ramblers played at Rosemoor Sports Ground on 25 January.
Prior to the clash, fourth-placed Ramblers found themselves four points ahead of fifth-placed Cavaliers in the log standings, with the game being crucial in the battle for one of the two playoff spots. The game was scheduled as usual to begin at 10:00 in Rosemoor, and Cavaliers captain JP Ellis managed to win the toss and elected to bat first.
Cavaliers opening batsmen Thabo Dywili and Maurice White would have hoped to make early inroads, but White was dismissed with his side only on 9.
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The second wicket fell shortly thereafter, bringing Todd Walker to the crease. Walker and Dywili proved a formidable pairing as the two put on a 93-run stand for the third wicket. Walker made his way to 63 off 55 balls before being dismissed, with Cavaliers on 120-3.
Todd Walker raises his bat to the dugout after reaching 50.
The batsmen that followed all provided small contributions, while Dywili slowly made his way to his first half-century for Cavaliers.
The away side eventually reached 176-6, and with 11 overs remaining, a long way off the desired 250 mark.
An impressive seventh-wicket partnership between Trevano Thorne and veteran Francois Bonthuys took the game away from Ramblers, as the two put on a swift 76-run partnership to take the side to 252-6 at the end of the innings - the first time Cavaliers had batted out the full 50 overs this season. Bonthuys also reached a half-century, scoring 54 off 55 balls while Thorne made a vital contribution of 26 off 34 balls.
Ramblers' openers Dean Lewis and Envor Windwaai struggled to get their run chase off the ground, as Bonthuys claimed Lewis' wicket with only 17 runs on the board. Ramblers' batsmen struggled to kick their run chase into gear, as no real partnerships were formed until Bradley Carolus and Odin le Roux started to keep Ramblers' hopes alive.
Todd Walker lines up a backfoot punch on the offside.
Some wayward Cavaliers bowling aided their cause, as they reached the second drinks break at 133-4, needing 119 off the last 14 overs.
Le Roux however fell right after drinks, and despite resilience from Carolus and Fabian Campher, Ramblers was never able to come close to the target. The home side was bowled out for 191, handing Cavaliers a bonus point victory that sees the side overtake Ramblers on the standings to climb into fourth place, nine points off George.
Third-placed George occupy the second playoff spot with Harlequins Forces in second position in the first playoff spot.
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