The SWD cricket team is back to its best form when they defeated the Griqua Diamonds by seven wickets in a Cricket South Africa provincial challenge match that was played at the Recreation Ground in Oudtshoorn the past weekend. The victory will not only be a positive injection from Ross McMillan and his troops but it again underlines to potential of the team. SWD, who were without three key players (Waldo Lategan, Glen Addicot and Gurshwin Rabie) for the clash will also move positively to the ninth position on the CSA provincial log.
Griquas, who won the toss put SWD in to bat and a 4th wicket stand of 135 (175 minutes) between Adrian McLaren (87; 160 balls; 10×4) and Sammy-Joe Avontuur (58; 9×4) was the back bone of a solid innings total of 321. Brendon Louw (45) and the debutant Hanno Kotze (38) also added useful contributions.
Griquas was dismissed for only 94 in their first innings after fine bowling spells from Lyndon Volkwyn (3/10) and Marcello Piedt (3/28). With a deficit of 227 SWD enforced the follow-on. Griquas in their follow-on innings (335 all out) added much resistance but it was eventually the second new ball with again Volkwyn (3/83) and Piedt (3/35) which did the damage. SWD chased down the target of 115 with seven wickets in hand. McLaren again contributed with an unbeaten 50*.
The summarized score sheets are:
SWD vs Griquas
SWD 1st Innings 321 (Adrian Mclaren 87, Sammy Joe Avontuur 58, Brendon Louw 45, Hanno Kotze 38, Pieter Stuurman 34*, Jandre Coetzee 4/70, Alan Kruger 2/47, Cobyn Dolley 2/50)
GRIQUAS 1st innings 94 (Jandre Coetzee 28*, Alan Kruger 25, Lyndon Volkwyn 3/10, Marcello Piedt 3/28)
GRIQUAS 2ND innings 335 (Aubrey Swanepoel 77, Gerhardt Abrahams 73, Diego Rosier 58, Aloysius Seleka 36, Alan Kruger 36, Marcello Piedt 3/35, Lyndon Volkwyn 3/83)
SWD 2ND innings 115/3 (Adrian Mclaren 50*, Luthando Mnyanda 25, Hanno Kotze 23*) SWD won by 7 wickets.
Front Row: Sammy-Joe Avontuur, Pieter Stuurman, Albertus Kennedy (Chief Executive Officer), Adrian McLaren, Rudy Claassen (President), Ross McMillan, Raymond Avontuur (Convener of Selectors), Garry Hampson (Head Coach), Glen Addicot and Waldo Lategan.
The SWD cricket team, on Sunday, gave a massive step in winning their first trophy after a three wicket victory over the Griqua Diamonds in the Cricket South Africa provincial one day challenge.
Griquas, thanks to a faultless century by the promising former SA U/19 player and Knights batsman, Diego Rosier (109) posted a respectable 256/8 in their allotted 50 overs.
The SWD batsmen again showed mental toughness and skills, in chasing down the score with nine balls to spare and three wickets in hand. The experienced Adrian McLaren (90; 106 balls, 2×6, 7×4) laid the foundation for victory. Himself and skipper, Ross McMillan (57, 59 balls; 1×6, 5×4) added a match winning partnership of 108 for the 3rd wicket. Gareth Dukes (36*) played a vital knock in the end to get SWD over the line.
SWD’s destiny for trophy glory is unfortunately not in their own hands. They must rely on North West to beat log leader, KwaZulu Natal in Monday and in return beat North West on December, 22nd when the two teams clash in Oudtshoorn.
SWD vs Griquas
GRIQUAS 256/8 (Diego Rosier 109, Gerhardt 53, Griffin Nieuwoudt 28, Aubrey Swanepoel 23, Kobus Scholtz 2/47, Lhutando Mnyanda 2/48, Gareth Dukes 2/50) SWD 259/7 (Adrain Mclaren 90, Ross McMillan 57, Gareth Dukes 36*,
Jan Frylink 2/36) SWD won by 3 wickets
