KNYSNA NEWS - This coming weekend will see the opening of a fourth cricket pitch at Abbottsfield in Rheenendal, and with it the focus on village cricket in the Garden Route will be amplified to such a level that the organisers of the event hope this little community outside Knysna will draw teams from across the country to partake in the all-inclusive initiative.
According to Keith Cretchley, who built and has maintained three of the fields behind Tottie's Farm Kitchen for the past five years, the latest pitch will be dubbed the PG Bison Oval as the property on which the pitch is built has been provided by PG Bison itself.
On Sunday 20 January the new pitch will be heralded in with a day of village cricket in which eight teams of cricketers hailing from Knysna, Plettenberg Bay and George will take part.
International drawcard
A drawcard for the day is the retired and internationally renowned cricket umpire Rudi Koertzen, who will officiate one of the four matches as part of a team of seven local umpires. All four fields at Abbotsfield will be used for a 30-over game.
Cretchley has been pursuing his long-standing cricket interests since 1994. The concept of village cricket, he says, was borrowed from the English who have been playing this format of the game for centuries. Cretchley adds that village cricket is a game for “anyone and everyone”, and fits in perfectly with his and his organisation Sport at Backward Point's ongoing aspirations to provide sport for all.
“The essence of village cricket is that players of all ages and standards participate in the game in a social and yet serious manner, upholding the traditions and values of cricket played in a good spirit. Players from all communities are encouraged to take part,” Cretchley says.
“All cricket lovers are invited to attend and bring along their own picnic basket, chairs and umbrellas, or to book a Sunday lunch at the ever-popular Tottie’s,” he says.
To open the new field a brief ceremony will take place at 10:00, the toss for all games will take place at 10:45, and all games are scheduled to start at 11:00.
You can take part
Village cricket fixtures take place every second Sunday and anyone interested in joining either as a player, scorer or umpire can contact Cretchley on 082 782 7791.
In other cricket news, Knysna's own Cavaliers played Pacaltsdorp CC from George at Loerie Park in Knysna on Saturday 12 January and scored 211/5 in 50 overs. They went on to bowl Pacaltsdorp out for a mere 72 runs in 31.4 overs. Cavaliers star batsman AB van der Walt celebrated the birth of his baby boy by racking up 103 runs not out in the same game. The team have won three games "on the trot" according to captain JP Ellis and they currently lie fifth on the SWD premier division log. The Cavaliers play Harlequin Forces in Oudtshoorn on Saturday 19 January, and on Sunday 20 January, completing a double header, they play Union Stars from Oudtshoorn in Knysna.
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