SWD SMASHED GRIQUAS
The SWD cricket team moved to the top of the table of the Cricket South Africa provincial Three Day competition after they demolished their biggest rival by ten wickets in the space of only two days. The SWD, with another brilliant performance from their main strike bowler, Gurshwin Rabie, who led the onslaught defeated the men from Kimberley by 10 wickets and are now leading the table with 129.06 points (after 10 matches) with Griquas at 123.50 points in the second place.
After being put in to bat Griquas were dismissed for their lowest score of the season — 115 with Rabie picking up 5/48. He was well supported by Dougie Baartman (2/13) and Wessel Hartslief 2/19. Griquas were denied any batting bonus points. SWD replied with 273 — a first innings lead of 158 – after valuable contributions from Brendon Louw (72) and Pieter Stuurman (63).
In the Griquas second innings Rabie was again in full flight with figures of 6/60. Rhupino Plaatjies (2/25) offered good support as Griquas made 190. SWD reached the modest target of 31 with all ten wickets in hand to record their first ever first class victory over Griquas.
Both Rabie and Christiaan Jonker reached significant milestones in the match. Rabie surpassed a total of 50 first class wickets in the season and is now on 56 (including 8 for the Warriors) — only the 29th player to record this achievement inSouth Africa. He is currently the top wicket-taker in the CSA Three Day competition. The hard hitting Jonker also surpassed the thousand run milestone and by doing so he became the 44th player in domestic cricket reaching this achievement. At 1026 runs — (average of 68.40) he is currently the top run scorer in the CSA Three Day competition.
In the limited over match SWD displayed a very disappointing performance. Batting first, they were dismissed for 164 with Ross McMillan (47) and Louw (44) both having good starts. Griquas got home (165/7) by three wickets with Kobus Scholtz taking 3/32.
SWD TO TAKE ON EASTERNS IN OUDTSHOORN
The SWD cricket team can consolidate their aspirations in the CSA Three Day competition when they will play their last home match of the season against Easterns at the REC Ground in Oudtshoorn. As the log leaders Ross McMillan and his troops will desperately want to secure an outright victory before they will travel toJohannesburg(vsGauteng; 22-25 March 2012) andBloemfontein(vsFree State; 29 March — 1 April 2012).
The same game plan that resulted in the success against Griquas will again be on the table for this vital clash. Although Easterns struggled lately they cannot be underestimated and the home side will be aware of the fact that they could never in the past record an outright victory over Easterns in a first class match.
A consistent performance in all disciplines will be the key. The team will also need to focus on a better performance in the limited over format after a disappointing performance against Griquas.
The SWD squad for the weekend is: Ross McMillan, Waldo Lategan, Burton de Wett, Christiaan Jonker, Brendon Louw, Pieter Stuurman, Kobus Scholtz, Wessel Hartslief, Douglas Baartman, Gurshwin Rabie, Rhupino Plaatjies, Mpho Selowa, Christo van Schalkwyk, Phabhama Fojela, Rian Botha and Justin Jordaan.
FAILURE FOR SWD WOMEN’S TEAM
The SWD Women’s team failed to build on the success of their recent matches when they lost to both Western Province and Boland in matches played in Oudtshoorn over the weekend in the Cricket South Africa Women’s challenge.
In the match againstWesternProvincethe home side made 106/8 with which WP replied with 107/1 to record a nine wicket victory. In the match against Boland the visitors scored 185/8 in their allotted 50 overs for a comprehensive victory by 130 runs.
SWD vsWesternProvince
SWD 106/8 (Annemie Koen 29, Thalita Johnson 20, Ashton Heldsinger 4/29, Alexis le Breton 2/9)
WESTERNPROVINCE107/1 (Shandre Fritz 51*, Olivia Anderson 24*, Nadine Moodley 22)
WesternProvincewon by 9 wickets
SWD vs Boland
BOLAND 185/8 (Yolandi van der Westhuizen 86, Alison Hodgkinson 37, Berenice Golaith 2/27, Monique Booysen 2/30)
SWD 55 (Mochelle May 13*, Gail Abrahams 13, Sunette Loubser 4/22, Stacey Lackay 3/5, Yolandi Potgieter 2/16)
Boland won by 130 runs
LEAGUE RESULTS
MosselBay(126/5) caused a major upset when they beat UnionStars (123 all out) by 5 wickets in the SWD Premier league and thereby got the foot in the door for a place in the semi-final’s. Knysna Cavaliers (251) defeated Ramblers (137 all out) by 114 runs to move away from the bottom of the log.
Log leaders,Sussex(124/6) beat Harlequins (121 all out) by 4 wickets whilst George (229/8) beat Pacaltsdorp United (186 all out) by 43 runs to keep their hopes for a place in the semi-finals alive.
The summarized score sheets are:
PREMIER LEAGUE
MosselBayvs Union Stars
UNIONSTARS 123 (Erinn Ewerts 38, Sammy Joe Avontuur 21, James Marais 5/14, Thomas Boucher 2/37)
MOSSELBAY126/5 (Ruan Stander 54, Micheal Rehr 26, Marchello Piedt 4/34)
MosselBaywon by 5 wickets
Knysna Cavaliers vs Ramblers
KNYSNA CAVALIERS 251 (Rory Hopper 89, Francois Bonthuys 35, Jade Lawrence 21, Shael Lamini 4/31, Eugene Swartz 2/25)
RAMBLERS 137 (Shaun Pretorius 37, Danie Koert 36, Francois Bonthuys 3/21, Rudolph Gerber 3/31, Jacques Strydom 2/35)
Knysna Cavaliers won by 114 runs
George vs Pacaltsdorp
GEORGE 229/8 (Gideon Barnard 61, Byron Haycock 50, Wim Basson 35, Danie Liversage 22, Denvor Muller 3/18, Danzil Manewil 2/29, Roberto Davids 2/30)
PACALTSDORP 186 (Michael Eksteen 34*, Ruall de Reuck 34, Danzil Manewil 27, Brendell Carelse 22, Wim Basson 3/31, Stephan Gouws 3/47, Danie Liversage 3/54)
George won by 43 runs
Sussexvs Harlequins
HARLEQUINS 121 (Jo Ben Barends 23, Mario Jansen 21, Phaphama Fojela 21, Jonathan Blom 3/26, Jermaine Jeonna 2/18, Graig Thanna 2/26)
SUSSEX124/6 (Ranwill Claassen 44, Graig Thanna 16*, Ronald Dirks 3/33, Phaphama Fojela 2/18)
Sussexwon by 4 wickets
PROMOTION LEAGUE — 25 FEBRUARY 2012
Bongolethu vs NMMU
BONGOLETHU 176; NMMU 178/4
NMMU won by 6 wickets
PROMOTION LEAGUE — 26 FEBRUARY 2012
NMMU vs Selbourne
NMMU 302/9; SELBOURNE 74
NMMU won by 228 runs
LAST ROUND OF SWD PREMIER LEAGUE
28 February 2012
The last round of fixtures to determine the semi-finalist for the SWDCB premier league competition will be contested this weekend. Log leaders,Sussex(at 47 points) will play Union Stars (42 points) at D’Almeida whilstMosselBay(34 points) and George (32 points) will have an all-important clash at the Van Riebeeck Stadium. Pacaltsdorp (at 28 points) will have to win against Ramblers to qualify for the top four. Ramblers on the other hand are facing possible relegation whilst the winner in the Harlequins Forces versus Knysna Cavaliers clash at the Military Sport Club will definitely avoid relegation. George and Union Stars will also play each other on Sunday.
In the Promotion league semi-finals Pirates United will host Bongolethu whilst Ladismith will take on Melkhoutfontein.
The fixtures for the weekend are:
Saturday
Premier League
MosselBayvs George
Pacaltsdorp vs Ramblers
Sussexvs Union Stars
Harlequins vs Knysna
Promotion League (semi-Final)
Ladismith vs Melkhoutfontein
Pirates vs Bongolethu
Women’s League
Oudtshoorn vsMosselBay
George vs SWD U/18
Sunday
Premier League
George vs Union Stars
