The SWD cricket team’s aspirations of winning their first CSA trophy received a severe blow this past weekend when they lost their first match of the season. A disappointing batting performance in their first innings was the main ingredient for a ten wicket defeat against Northerns in Pretoria.
In the three day match SWD won the toss and put Northerns in to bat but could not capitalize on early success from the debutant, Rhupino Plaatjies (4/59), allowing Abram Ndlovu (104) to score a century as Northerns posted 233 in their first innings. Gurshwin Rabie (3/55) had another impressive bowling performance for the SWD. The visitors had a nightmare day with the bat and were dismissed for only 73 – a deficit of 160 runs in the first innings.
In their follow-on innings SWD was in a solid position on 161/1 at stumps on the second day but the middle order offered very little support to the foundation as laid by Waldo Lategan (75) and Burton de Wett (58). SWD was dismissed for 282 setting Northerns a target of 123 – which the home side fromPretoriareached without the loss of any wickets.
Griqualand West, after a comprehensive win over KZN, are the new log leaders at 101.06 points with SWD (at 97.28 points) in the second position.Gauteng, who lost againstWesternProvinceis in the third spot on 94.34 points.
In the limited over fixture Northerns were put in to bat and SWD thanks to another impressive performance by Rabie (2/19 in 10 overs), supported by Ross McMillan (3/49 in 10 overs) and Kobus Scholtz (2/37 in 9 overs), restricted Northern to 207/8 in their allotted 50 overs. SWD, thanks to a partnership of 53 for the fourth wicket between Lategan (34; 1×6) and Christo van Schalkwyk (42; 2×4) were in a healthy position at 115/3 but another batting collapse saw Northerns taking the honours by 30 runs after SWD were bowled out for 177. Kobus Scholtz (29; 1×6, 2×4) added some resistance in the end.
