SWD CSA PROVINCIAL LOG LEADERS AGAIN
South Westerns Districts reclaimed their position on the top position of the Cricket South Africa Provincial Three Day competition after a hard fought five wickets victory over Boland the past weekend. The men from the Southern Cape overtook Gauteng, who suffered a seven wicket defeat against Northerns in Centurion. Garry Hampson and his troops have now won five out of six matches with one drawn – a rain interrupted match against KwaZulu Natal inDurban.
Boland, who won the toss and elected to bat were in early trouble at 43/6 with SWD pacebowler, Gurshwin Rabie (5/31), who bagged five wickets in the first session of the match. Captain, Lee Roy Walters (54*), added some resistance as Boland was dismissed for 163. Burton de Wett took 3/21. The foundation for the SWD 1st innings total of 360 – a lead of 197, was laid by a 4th wicket partnership of 124 (171 balls) between Ross McMillan (111; 2×6, 15×4) and Waldo Lategan (88; 3×6, 9×4). Pieter Stuurman (81; 1×6, 9×4) also made a valuable contribution with the bat whilst Petrus Jeptha (5/95) was the pick of the Boland bowlers.
The Boland batsmen fought hard against a disciplined SWD bowling attack and scored 273 runs in their second innings with Dewald Botha (68*) to top scorer. McMillan (3/31), Douglas Baartman (3/64) and Christiaan Jonker (2/23) were the top wicket takers in the Boland second innings.
SWD, who were set a modest target of 77 to win, lost five wickets to keep their aspirations for a trophy on course.
SWD are now five bonus points ahead of Gauteng with seven matches to be played. Their next match will be against Northers in Pretoria (26-29 January 2012).
SWD DEMOLISHED BOLAND IN TWENTY/20
SWD completed their commitments in the Cricket South Africa Twenty20 challenge on a high when they demolished Boland by 10 wickets at the REC Ground in Oudtshoorn on Sunday. It was SWD’s first success in the calypso version of cricket and indeed a great all round performance.
Boland, who won the toss and elected to bat first, struggled against quality bowling displays from Justin Jordaan (3/14 in 4 overs) and Erinn Ewerts (3/15 in 3 overs) and was dismissed for a modest 103 in the 18th over.
A brilliant unbeaten opening partnership of 104 (in 10.1 overs) between Ross McMillan (42*; 33 balls; 1×6, 5×4) and Christiaan Jonker (54*; 29 balls; 4×6, 5×4) entertained the crowd and steered SWD to convincing victory.
