George B reserves spot in reserve final

CRICKET NEWS - George Cricket Club's B-team has secured a spot in the final of the SWD Reserve League 2 competition, having overcome Knysna Cavaliers B at Loerie Park in Knysna on Saturday 27 January.

It will be their first shot at promotion from the league since the 2021/22 season.

Cavaliers B has reached the semi-final stage of the Reserve League 2 competition in each of the past two seasons, losing against Harlequins Forces C in 2021/22 and then Sussex C in 2022/23.

They would have undoubtedly been hoping that the 2023/24 season would be different, as they came up against George B for the first time since the 2019/20 season. George B meanwhile would have hoped to reach the Reserve League 2 final for the first time since the 2021/22 season when they lost to Harlequins Forces C.

Leroy Nortje was on fire for George B in the semi-final.

It was a mouthwatering encounter on Saturday, and the visitors won the toss, choosing to bat first. George opening batter Christo Stander led the charge for his team with 54 runs while Lourens Erasmus, De Wet Steyn and Etienne van der Merwe contributed with 28 runs each.

Werner Mels was the pick of the Cavaliers bowlers with four wickets for 31 runs in seven overs. Kyle Groome contributed with three and Byron Jantjies with two of his own.

Cavaliers got off to a decent start in their run chase, opening batter Jannie Cremer scoring 36 before he was dismissed with the team on 52-1. The Cavaliers batsmen struggled to build on Cremer's momentum as only Rudolph Gerber (26) and Groome (19) got going with runs.

Leroy Nortje and Steyn shared the spoils among George's bowlers with three wickets each. Van der Merwe took two of his own and Leon Marais and Kevin Owens contributed with wickets too.

George B won the encounter by 56 runs and will now face Mossel Bay B in the final at the Recreation Ground in Oudtshoorn on Saturday 3 February.

Leroy Nortje was on fire for George B in the semi-final.