PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Plett Pioneers Cricket Club claimed the SWD Cricket Promotion League title on Saturday and will be promoted back to the premier league competition next season.

Pioneers defeated Pirates United from Knysna in a pulsating encounter by 35 runs in a match that was played in front of a festive crowd at the REC Cricket Stadium in Oudtshoorn.

Pioneers, who won the toss, amassed a competitive 256/8 in their allotted 50 overs with Jacques Ahrendse (55) the top contributor.

The Pirates' run chase was threatening, but after the departure of Tyler Bezuidenhout, who was run out at 85, the men from Plettenberg Bay threw the knock-out punch and dismissed the Knysna-based team for 221 with more than seven overs to spare. 

For the champions, Darryl Damons (3/44) and Sinovuyo Dali (3/40) each bagged three wickets.

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