CX cricket clubs in action

Gallery

KNYSNA | BITOU NEWS - Our local cricket clubs were in action again this past weekend, with the Cavaliers and Pioneers getting their 2021/22 SWD Premier League campaigns under way.

Knysna Cavaliers were the most successful, with their first team managing to down Harlequins Forces from Oudtshoorn and their second team overcoming Pirates United in what turned out to be a tight Knysna derby in the SWD Reserve League.

Plettenberg Bay Pioneers emerged victorious in one of their two games - their first team losing out to Union Stars and the second team beating their third team. It was a similar batch of results for Pirates United whose first team beat Thembalethu in the SWD Promotion A League, but whose second team lost against the Cavaliers.

Pirates A vs Thembalethu A

Home side Thembalethu won the toss and chose to bat first on Saturday 4 December.

A good all-round batting effort led by top-scorer Curnol Thorne, who scored a determined 59 runs, saw Pirates make their way to 172 before being bowled out.

Anoxolo Khitshini and Liviwe Bawulie were Thembalethu's top bowlers with three wickets apiece.

Photo gallery: Cavaliers and Pioneers 2021/22 SWD Premier League

Thembalethu's run chase would go down to the wire. Joseph Sonti top-scored for Thembalethu with 45 runs, but they could not reach the target and were bowled out for 167 runs, handing Pirates a narrow five-run win.

Just like their batting, Pirates' bowling was a team effort with Justin Meyer, Zynn Plaatjies, Tyler Bezuidenhout and Renaldo van Rooyen bagging two wickets each.

Jaden Brotherton hard at work for Cavaliers A. Photo: Blake Linder

Pioneers A vs Union Stars A

The two sides clashed in Oudtshoorn on Saturday, and the home side chose to bat first after winning the toss. Union Stars' batsmen couldn't get going and Anver Venter's top score of 23 helped get them to 109 runs. Mbuyiseli Malanga was Pioneers' best bowler with four wickets for 18 runs in six overs.

Much like their opponents, Pioneers' batsmen struggled to find momentum.

Robert Cunningham top-scored with 15 as they were dismissed for 59 runs, giving Union Stars a 50-run win. Lee-Henry Meyer was Union Stars' top bowler with five wickets for 16 runs in 7,2 overs.

Keenan Vieira plays a reverse sweep.

Cavaliers A vs Harlequins A

Playing at Loerie Park on Saturday, Harlequins won the toss and chose to bowl first. Cavaliers started slow, but courtesy of some middle order momentum made their way to 212-9 in 50 overs with Todd Walker top-scoring with 60 runs.

Hershell America and Sidwell Williams shared the spoils for Harlequins with three wickets each.

Some early wickets threatened to derail Harlequins' chase, but stability later in the innings saw them reach 156 before being bowled out. Rhupino Plaatjies top-scored with 45 runs. JP Ellis, Hayden Sweet and Lutho Ngqongwa got two wickets each for Cavaliers.

Irvin Campher in action for Cavaliers A. Photo: Blake Linder

Pioneers B vs Pioneers C

On Sunday 5 December, in New Horizons, Pioneers B won the toss and elected to send their C-team counterparts out to field first.

Darryl Damons (30 runs) top-scored for Pioneers B and with help from Leighton Jonas the side reached 108 all out. Garth Bock was Pioneers C's bowler of the day with three wickets for five runs in three overs.

The Pioneers C run chase never got off the ground and Litha Sodinga's top score of 11 wasn't enough to inspire his side. Pioneers C were bowled out for 59 as Pioneers B earned a 49-run win. Dewet Goedehals and Duane Olivier were Pioneers B's best bowlers with three wickets each.

JP Ellis prepares to take a catch.

Cavaliers B vs Pirates B

At Loerie Park on Sunday, Cavaliers won the toss and chose to bowl first, a decision that ultimately worked in their favour.

Despite a resilient innings from Warren Petersen (35 runs), the Pirates innings struggled to gain momentum and they were bowled out for 81. Blake Linder was the Cavaliers' best bowler with six wickets for eight runs in seven overs.

Despite a promising start, Cavaliers' run chase stumbled somewhat with a continuous loss of wickets. However, Rudolph Gerber and top scorer Werner Mels (19 runs) steered them to a three-wicket win. Lucien Grootboom was Pirates' best bowler with four wickets for 18 runs in four overs.

Marquin Stevens follows through in his bowling action.
Photos: Blake Linder