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KNYSNA NEWS - Courtesy of a huge win over Union Stars last week, Knysna Cavaliers have secured a home play-off this weekend.
In a repeat of last weekend's game they will face the same opposition in a bid to make the final and take on Pacaltsdorp United to try and defend their SWD Premier League title.
Heading into the weekend Cavaliers were lying in third position, four points behind Union Stars in second place.
Both teams had already cemented their place in the play-off match on 18 March, and the encounter on 11 March would determine who would be the hosts of the play-off.
A win, even without a bonus point, would see Cavaliers climb up into second place thanks to a superior net run rate. This while their Plett counterparts, the Plettenberg Bay Pioneers, had safely avoided relegation by putting themselves out of reach of last-placed Sussex two weeks ago and were hoping to end their season on a high with a possible win against Mossel Bay.
PHOTO GALLERY: Knysna Cavaliers secure home play-off
Cavaliers' AB van der Walt cuts the ball away onto the off-side.
Plett Pioneers vs Mossel Bay
With the game played in New Horizons in Plett, the home side won the toss and elected to bat first. This proved to work in their favour and they managed to reach 203 all-out in 43,5 overs as Denrick Moodien top-scored with 35 and Mbuyiseli Malanga contributed with 23.
Ruaan Moore was Mossel Bay's best bowler, taking three wickets for 24 runs in 10 overs. Tyron John and Jaco Groenewald each took two wickets of their own.
Mossel Bay's run chase never gained enough momentum with Pioneers bowlers taking wickets at regular enough intervals to cause disruption to the Mossel Bay hopes. John top-scored with 26* and Jan Hendrik Marx scored 20 as Mossel Bay were all-out for 128 in 29,3 overs, giving Pioneers a 75-run victory.
Malanga starred with the ball for Pioneers, taking five wickets for 23 runs in 7,3 overs. Darryl Damons contributed to the Pioneers bowling cause with two wickets.
Union Stars bowler Thurston Murphy follows through in his bowling action. Photos: Blake Linder
Knysna Cavaliers vs Union Stars
Cavaliers won the toss at Loerie Park in Knysna, also choosing to bat first. Despite two early wickets, the Cavaliers' innings was steadied by a knock of 73 from Hayden Sweet, aided by 26 from Mesuli Vuba and 24 from Johan Smal as they reached 201-9 in 50 overs.
Thurston Murphy was Union Stars' most impactful bowler, taking three wickets for 54 runs in 10 overs. Lee-Henry Meyer, Elridge Booysen and Reagon Rhode all took two wickets each.
The Union Stars run chase faltered from the get-go, never gaining any kind of momentum.
With the side bowled out for 73 in 29,4 overs, Grant Esau was top-scorer with 15 runs, followed by Merlin Masimela (14*), Rhode (12) and Keenan Arries (11). Lutho Ngqongwa was Cavaliers' bowler of the day, taking three wickets for 11 runs in five overs. Blake Linder, Irvin Campher and Francois Bonthuys took two wickets each while Bradley Booysen claimed one of his own.
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