KNYSNA CRICKET NEWS - Knysna Cavaliers' second team has earned itself a spot in the semifinal after overcoming George last week, while the first team suffered a tough loss at the hands of Premier League leaders Union Stars.
The first half of the 2019/20 SWD cricket season has come and gone in a flash, with the final round of fixtures for the year and the decade being held across the district on Saturday 14 December.
Cavaliers' second team would fare far better in their clash last weekend, as they took on George Cricket Club at Rooirivier-Rif Sports Grounds in a bid to maintain their chances of qualifying for the Reserve League playoffs. George won the toss and elected to bat first, with the home side reaching 25 before losing 3 quick wickets to stand at 27-3.
Cavaliers' bowlers were on top form once again as they managed to tumble through the George batting line-up to dismiss the home side for 139, setting themselves a chaseable target of 140 with Kerwin Richtenberg the bowler of the day with 3 wickets for 34 runs in his 7 overs. The Cavaliers batsmen, while maintaining a decent run rate in their chase, suffered from a constant loss of wickets. This didn't deter them however, as they managed to reach the target with 23 overs and 3 wickets to spare, with captain Jannie Cremer top-scoring with 31.
This victory saw Cavaliers reach 35 points and finish second in pool C behind Pioneers, who finished on 37 points to top the group. Pioneers, the winners of pool A (Mossel Bay) and pool B (Union Stars) qualified for the semifinals as the top-placed sides, while Cavaliers qualified as the best second-placed side.
Cavaliers' first team faced the toughest task in last week's fixtures however, coming up against high-flying Union Stars who were hoping to one-up their runner-up finish from last season.
The two clubs and long-time foes locked horns at Loerie Park last Saturday, and after winning the toss, Cavaliers elected to have a bat first. This landed the home side in some hot water from the outset however, as Union Stars' opening bowler Hershell America claimed 3 wickets in the very early stages of the innings to leave Cavaliers reeling at 10-3. A solid partnership between AB van der Walt and Maurice White would follow, and they would manage to steer Cavaliers to 95 when Van der Walt was dismissed for 55 by Breyton Arries.
Van der Walt would be the light of the Cavaliers innings with his half-century, as the home side lost their remaining 6 wickets for 45 runs to be bowled out for 140, with America the pick of the bowlers with 6 wickets for 21 runs in his 10 overs. Union Stars' batsmen would make light work of the target, with three batsmen scoring 30-plus on their way to an 8-wicket victory. Jean Heunis would top-score for Union Stars with 46, while Francois Bonthuys picked up Cavaliers' only 2 wickets for only 24 runs in his 6 overs.
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